Bumblebees swarm to race
By Kristy Palmer
Thirty-three Yelm National Auto Parts Bumblebees flocked to South Sound Speedway Saturday. It was the best car count in the class since its introduction three years ago and there were many new drivers.
It was also a great crowd as many fans were anxious to get back to racing after four weeks of rainouts. There were two trophy dashes, four heat races and two main events.
Points leader Andy Acton took the first trophy dash and Billy Wing took the second one. Roy Talbott led all eight half-track laps of the first heat race to win with Kevin Thornton in second and Bryan Christoffer in third.
After a first-lap accident took Shannon Chase out, Tonya Hird led all the laps in the second heat race and was followed by Renny Marose and Glen Wharton.
Jacy Lawrence took the lead on lap two to win the third heat race with Brian Wilson and Michael Ebeling in close pursuit. Norm Upson was victorious in the final heat race after Acton and Craig Wright had led the three laps each. Acton finished second and Wright was third.
Aaron Johnston, Shawn Kinney and Michael Jones were the only two cars unable to make it in the main events, so only 14 cars started the first Yelm National Auto Parts Bumblebee main.
Chet Kinney took the lead from lap one. Derek Vetter was the first out of the race after taking out a cone on lap one. Howard Herringdine tried to hang on to second but Norm Upson took that spot over on lap six.
Colby Payment was the next flagged for passing in the no-pass zone. Rick Hollmer, Roy Talbott, Jacy Lawrence, and Jim Ragsdale were all flagged for not using their horns. As the white flag flew Norm Upson got around Chet Kinney to take the lead.
Upson won with Kinney in second.
In the less eventful, but still exciting, second main event, Renny Marose led from the get-go. Marose finished first with Shannon Chase and Brian Wilson in tow.
Willy Thom clocked in with the fastest time for the ASA Late Model Super Stocks while Nick Behn took the dash. Bob Presley took the lead in the main event followed by Nick Behn and Angela Cope.
Jim Moen set a new track record for the ASA North Star Yachts and Commercial Drivers Services Sportsmen with a 14.734 second lap. John Boyatt won the dash.
Mike Saylors, who had to replace a rear end in his car after practice, took the B heat win.
Jerry Clark won the A heat race with Tom Smitham in second.
Carver won his first main event of the season and cushioned his point lead.
Dan Woodward clocked in fastest in the ASA Top Notch Trailers Street Stocks. Josh Bradley won the trophy dash.
Woodward took the main win, with Bobby Micielli finishing second and Dustin Wilkinson third.
