Opening Night at Grays Harbor Raceway

04/14/2010 By George Wade

The 2010 racing season gets under way at the ASA track member Grays Harbor Raceway this Saturday Night at the fast 3/8’s clay oval located at the Fairgrounds in Elma, Washington. Local divisions taking to the track for their first points race of the year, include Whitney’s Auto Group 360 ASCS Sprint Cars, Shipwreck Beads Modifieds, Triple X Ford Focus Midgets, and the Cut Rate Auto Parts Hobby Stocks.


All the 2010 Grays Harbor Raceway Champions will be back to defend their titles including, four time Sprint Car Champion Glenn Borden Jr. from Raymond, two first time champions, Montesano’s Josh Muller in the Shipwreck Beads Modified division and Snohomish driver Seth Hespe in the Triple X Ford Focus Division. As well Aberdeen’s Zack Simpson will be going for his fourth straight Cut Rate Hobby Stock Championship, Simpson looks to join Mike Zvano and Elma Auto Racing Fall of Famer George Wixon as the only drivers who have won four straight championships at Grays Harbor Raceway. GHR will add a new champion in 2010 as there will be a Non Wing Sprint Car Champion for the four non wing events.


In an effort to bring more excitement back to GHR in 2010, double file restarts will be used in the Modified, Midget, Hobby Stock and Hornet divisions this year. The leader will start on the front row alone, with all other drivers lined up double file. There will be no more cone on the front straight, on all restarts passing will begin when you pass the chalk line in turn four.


Highlights for the 2010 season at the fast high banked 3/8’s mile clay oval considered by many as the top facility on the West Coast, includes the 2nd annual three day Little Creek Casino Resort Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Dirt Series that starts on Thursday July 15th, , Friday July 16th and Saturday July 17th for the running of the 4rd Annual Fred Brownfield Memorial race. Thursday will feature the North West Wingless Tour Sprint Cars and Midgets, while Friday and Saturday will include the best ASCS Drivers in the country along with the Triple X For Focus Midgets.


The Rolling Thunder Big Rig Racing Series will make their second appearance at Grays Harbor Raceway on July 24th, this event was one of the biggest attended events at Grays Harbor Raceway in 2009 as these diesel pushing Warriors put on a excellent show.
The 11th Annual Shipwreck Beads Modified Nationals will run on Friday July 30st and July 30th, that will see the top Modified drivers on the West Coast vie for the biggest Modified event in the Northwest. Friday night will feature qualifying and heat races that will determine starting spots for Saturday Night’s features, highlighting Friday will be the Pete Muller Logging Race of Champions that will include former Nationals winners and track champions. Saturday night will feature Main events and Last Chance races.
The DAA Northwest Spec Dirt Late Models Mountain Dew/AMP Energy 50’s will be here forr two shows, the first on June 19th and the second on August 28th. The Cut Rate Auto Parts Hobby/Street Stock Challenge that will feature two races at each Grays Harbor Raceway on these dates, as well as two races May 29th and August 7th at Sunset Speedway Park in Banks. Each race will pay $500 to win with an overall points Champion.


The highlight of the year as always will be the BIG E Weekend Open Wheel Extravaganza presented by the Lucky Eagle Casino on Labor Day Weekend, featuring three big nights of open wheel action. Staring off on Saturday, September 4th as the North West Wingless Tour Sprint Cars and Midgets make their third appearance of the year Grays Harbor Sunday, September 5th will see the ASCS Northwest Region event named the Night Before The Big One along with the Triple X Ford Focus Midgets and on Monday, September 7th the race everybody waits for all year along, the World of Outlaws, featuring the best 410 Sprint Cars Drivers in the world again backed by the Triple X Ford Focus Midgets. Sunday will also feature the second annual Elma Auto Racing Fall of Fame Induction Ceremony that will start at 1:00 pm


New and exciting events for 2010 include a Domino Car Jump on May 22nd by Mr. Dizzy, Fair Night on August 14th will include Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Hornets and a Bus Domino highlighted by a Fireworks Show.


August 21st will see something totally new at Grays Harbor Raceway as Extreme Night hits the Raceway with Monster Trucks, Extreme Motorcycles and Mud Drags.


September 25 will feature the Eve of Destruction Demolition Derby, a Bus Jump and Fireworks.


Other highlights include the two day ASCS Northwest Region event on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday May 29rd and Sunday May 30th, this will be a big tune up as the top ASCS drivers in the Northwest will have their only stop at GHR before the National event in July. The North West Wingless Tour will make two other stops at GHR in 2010 on July 12th and September 18th. The annual Whitney’s Auto Group Fireworks Spectacular will be on July 10th , as fans get to see the biggest fireworks display in the harbor.

Championship Night for all Classes will end on September 11th as all classes will be in action for Trophy Dashes and Main Events.
Bulldog Trailers located in Chehalis will once again be a big part of the Raceway as for the third year in a row they will be giving a trailer away in the Hobby Stock division, to be eligible you must run 80% of the races and attend the 2010 banquet.


Triple X will be the class sponsor for the Ford Focus Midget Division at Grays Harbor Raceway, which will be referred to as the Triple X Ford Focus Midgets.


As part of their sponsorship, Triple X will give a new chassis away at the 2010 Championship Awards Banquet, to be eligible to win the chassis, competitors must run a Triple X sticker on their car, finish in the top ten in points or compete in 80% of the scheduled races and attend the 2010 Championship Awards Banquet.

Start times are a little different this year as the front gate will open at 4:30 pm, time trials at 5:30 pm, with racing to start at 6:30 pm.

For more information please go to www.graysharborracewayway.com or call the Raceway office at 360 482- 4374