Roger Crockett Collects ASCS-Northwest Region Win At SSP; Wins 200th Career Main Event
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Ken O'Neil)
Sunset Speedway Park would host a great night of racing on Saturday August 9th as the American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region would pay their only visit of 2014 to the ¼-mile clay oval. A total of fifteen cars were on tap for racing action which included drivers from the states of Oregon, Washington, California, and Arizona as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia.
In the main event Garen Linder from Central Point would take over the lead on the opening lap to put his Cook Crane Corporation/Linder Powdercoating/Speedmart Inc./Rodgers Racing Engines #22 KPC in front of the field. Linder would set a rapid pace and was very dominant while out in front in the early goings. A caution on lap thirteen would stack up the field on just one occasion.
On the restart Linder would stay out in front but in the final ten laps he would have to hold back a very fast Roger Crockett. Crockett, of Medford, would make a key move on lap twenty-five to make the pass for the lead. Crockett would blaze the trail the rest of the way to win his first series race of 2014, his fourth at the “Banks Bullring”, and his thirty-sixth career ASCS-Northwest triumph. But when it comes to overall wins in his illustrious career it would mark the two-hundredth time he has visited victory lane.
Garen Linder was second while in the third spot would be the Meyer Electric/Go Fast Stuff/Don Ott Racing Engines/Speedmart Inc. #3 XXX of Quilcene, Washington’s J.J. Hickle. The balance of the top five would consist of Colin Baker from Cottage Grove, driving the Hedge Carter owned Huddle Automotive Repair/Steelhouse Metal Roofing Supply/Oregon West RV/Hedge Carter Gutter Service/Astro Titanium #71 XXX, was fourth and Logan Forler, hailing from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, was fifth in his Steve Forler Trucking/P.G.H. Excavating/Lucas Oil Products/Rod Ends by LRB Manufacturing #2L Maxim.
Two sets of heat races were utilized resulting in a total of four total heats being completed. Logan Forler would win two heats while Roger Crockett and Citrus Heights, California native Willie Croft, in the Doug Rutz owned Richmond Engines/Firedown Graphics/XXX Race Co./Rutz Racing #8R XXX, would be triumphant in one heat race each.
The American Sprint Car Series-Northwest Region will be back in action in about a month’s time as they will compete at the Central Washington State Fair Raceway in Yakima, Washington for the final two races of the season. Those dates for the events are Friday September 19th and Saturday the 20th in what will officially decide the 2014 title. For more information log on to www.ascsnorthwest.com.
Race Summary:
ASCS-Northwest Region Race #14
Saturday August 9th, 2014
Sunset Speedway Park
Banks, Oregon
A Feature: 1. 11-Roger Crockett[3]; 2. 22-Garen Linder[2]; 3. 3-J.J. Hickle[1]; 4. 71-Colin Baker[4]; 5. 2L-Logan Forler[6]; 6. 7N-Jared Peterson[8]; 7. 8R-Willie Croft[5]; 8. 3G-Garret Johnson[14]; 9. 7K-Kyle Mehner[10]; 10. 6A-Kady Adelman[12]; 11. 8J-Brady Janson[13]; 12. 42-Ron Osbourne[11]; 13. 9R-Reece Goetz[7]; 14. 11X-Jake Gilman[9]; DNS 16-Nick Tomlinson
Current ASCS-Northwest Region Point Standings (Top Ten):
- 71-Colin Baker 1679; 2. 3-J.J. Hickle 1600; 3. 9R-Reece Goetz 1533; 4. 22-Garen Linder 1453; 5. 77-Kyle Hirst 1373; 6. 7N-Jared Peterson 1136; 7. 16-Nick Tomlinson 1127; 8. 2L-Logan Forler 1056; 9. 33V-Henry Van Dam 1049; 10. 6A-Kady Adelman 1046