Swift Tools ET Series Race #12

12 Aug 2017 Kent, WA – The road to the E.T. Finals and track champions got a bit clearer at the end of race number 12 of the Swift Tools ET Series at Pacific Raceways. Add to this it was also a “Super Saturday” and the last of the season and everything turbo in the Buick world with a “Turbo Thunder” event.

Super Saturday with this many classes to run takes the planning and execution by track manager Ed Garfield and his drag crew. This came to focus in the combination of smart driving by Lane Cavar after pitching a rod when he pulled to the wall, kept the oil trail short and aiding in the very fast clean up by the drag crew to back to racing and finishing before curfew.

Tons of great pictures for this event – click here to view them. As always thank you for your support and purchases!!

WINNERS

Super Pro – Greg Linne
Pro – Nick Douglas
Sportsman – Kenny O’Keefe
Motorcycle – Chris Benda
High School – Lane Cavar
Jr. Lightning – Josh Schmanke
Jr. Thunder – Ryan Warnke
Jr. Street – James Ryland
Stock – Scott Burton
Super Comp – Darral Petitt
Super Gas – Bernie Plourd
Super Street – Dustin Martin
Top Comp – Tory Lea
Turbo Thunder – Robert Hainline
Turbo Open – Gurts Singh

Swift Tools ET Series Make-Up Race at Pacific Raceways

11 Aug 2017 Kent, WA – Having dates that you can use in case of early season rain-outs is a must. Here in the northwest the early season races are in the hands of Mother Nature and she likes to keep it green around here. Now with the E.T. Finals on the horizon the makeup date comes into play and the points count for those in the hunt.

Along with the makeup race, Car Club, High School and the Grudge racing group that came out in force. Formally called “The Cars of the 253” it’s good to see how much it has grown during the season.

Over 500 images are now available – click here to go to the photo album.

WINNERS

Super Pro – Dave Wakefield
Pro – Dan Herrmann
Sportsman – Art Kirby
Motorcycle – Andre Westmoreland
High School – Lane Cavar
Jr. Lightning – Josh Schmanke
Jr. Thunder – Cole Dickhoff
Car Club – Larry DeCamp

Car Club, Cars of the 253, and United Nitro Funny Cars!

07 July 2017 Kent, WA – Starting off a big weekend of racing at Pacific Raceways was the Friday night “instant” green for The Cars of the 253 and Car Club with their pack of members sporting their daily drivers and pure race cars.

Running their series on Fridays thru the season the car club members gather pretty much together in the upper “bowl” area of the track. This club of racers has also grown over the years as word spreads of the fun with family and friends and the “common” bonds they share. Not easy to be a repeat winner with the diversity in the club’s race cars. This fact really gives no one an edge and it can be anyone’s night to win.

Coming out on top this night Craig Smith and his ’95 Camaro edged out Bill Cadle and his ’64 Polara.

Also building is the “new” class called “The Cars Of The 253”. Running on selected dates, The Cars of the 253 also use the “instant” green start for racing. Only running to the 1/8th mile the reaction to the green can and will catch you off guard. With “no” amber lights counting down to green to set you up you have to be ready once both are staged. Brain to finger or thumb on a button or foot on the brake pedal “will” really test your reaction to the green. Those that cut some pretty good lights under the “normal” tree are finding a bit bigger number on their time slip. Adding to the fact once you get that slip you get “no” info on who you raced. Call someone out, pair up and hit the tree with first to the stripe the winner. This is pure “heads up” racing at its best taken from the streets to the “safety” of the dragstrip.

Top of the list tonight is Lloyd Flatum and his ’01 S-10. Next race for this group is Aug. 11th.

Rounding out the evening was the United Nitro Funny Cars (UNFC) setting up for their race on Saturday; the teams got their first qualifying hit. There is nothing like “nitro” sounds reverberating around the track. The class is the combination of Bill Doner and Bucky Austin bringing the United Nitro Funny Car event to the track. Not quite the “64” funny car event from Doner’s past here at the track but a big event none the less.

Also not the nitro funny cars you see at the national event held each summer at Pacific Raceways these are “old school” race cars like they raced back in the day. Yes they “do” have current safety equipment on the cars and a little help from the lessons learned from the technology developed since these cars ran in their heyday.

Top of the field going into Saturday is Mark Sanders throwing down a 5.677 et at 224.81 mph.

Lots of great images are now available, including some from up high – click here to check them all out. Again thank you very much for your support and purchases!