Category Archives: Pacific Raceway

Pacific Raceway Events and Activities

Goodguys Is A “Goodtime”

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More than 250 vintage “hotrods” converged on Pacific Raceways for the “racing” part of the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association’s 25th Anniversary Edition of the Pacific Northwest Nationals “presented by Wesco Auto Body Supply” this past Friday.

The silver anniversary edition of this annual “happening” was special in a lot of ways.  The racers in attendance put on a great show highlighted by “Twig” Ziegler’s vintage Pizza Haven Plymouth Satellite Nitro Funny Car in a “match” race with Bucky Austin’s Bucky’s Brake and Muffler Plymouth Arrow Funny Car.

One of the other cool aspects of this weekend was the variety of classic drag race machinery. Some of which only come out for this event each year, and don’t attend any other drag racing events on the Pacific Raceways schedule. All of the cool race cars plus some of the areas most unique street rods parked in the pits; put on an entirely different “car show” than you would see at the Puyallup Fairgrounds a mere 15 miles away!

Photos from both locations are included in the photo gallery. You can view the photos by clicking here.

It’s All About The Wally

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An action packed Saturday night under the lights at Pacific Raceways was highlighted by the annual “National Dragster Challenge” in which the winners from each category earn the coveted NHRA “Wally” for winning their class.

This particular Saturday was the 10th event in the 12 race Auto Max USA Bracket Series. Time is growing short to earn a spot on Team Pacific to compete at the 2012 Summit E.T. Finals team which will represent Pacific Raceways. This year the opportunity is even more highly sought after because for the Pacific racers will race at home at Pacific Raceways as Pacific is the host track this year!

A near record count of competitors were treated to perfect weather and a great race track. Although the event was not completed due to the county imposed curfew; only trophies and valuable series points in Sportsman and Super Pro were left undecided. Those categories will be completed at the next Auto Max Series Event on Saturday 7/28/2012.

Photos from the event are available by clicking here…

The winners in the classes that were decided are below:

Class/Category Driver Hometown Car/Vehicle
Motorcycle Jim Werre Renton 07 Suzuki
Pro Brad Burton Kirkland 72 Firebird

WINNERS

Auto Max Bracket Series Race #9 Results & Points Battle Update

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As is usually the case by the time a typical race series reaches the 9th event in a 13 race series everyone involved becomes acutely aware of the points chase. The Auto Max Bracket Series is no exception. Event winners last weekend and a brief points by category update is always fun to do….

In Super Pro Puyallup’s Mark Cavar has been dominant for the majority of the season, further extending his points lead with a win last Saturday night. Although looking at the points going into Saturday’s action first and second place are separated by a mere 18 points! With this win Mark put a bit more distance between himself and AL Chinn who sits in second place.

Pro Bracket is even more tightly bunched at the top of the points standings with the top five drivers separated by 35 points prior to Saturday’s action. A single point separates Brad Craig from Dustin Martin who won the double header the previous weekend to vault into contention and the championship aspirations that go with it. Former track and Division Champion Kenny “O Light” O’Keefe won the category last Saturday.

Sportsman action saw Jerry Durant Jr. from Oregon City, OR play the roll of spoiler in his 2005 Dodge Ram truck with a win! While the points in Sportsman seem to be a six driver battle with future Division Six “Hall of Famer” Don “the Worm” Elgin leading the chase that features the top six drivers separated by 70 points going into Saturdays event!

Points in the Motorcycle division are even more entertaining as Jacob Havens and points leader “Mighty Joe” Lind were separated by only 30 points leading into Saturday’s action. But the win by Mark Sires was important as it at least for the moment propelled him into contention for a possible entry into the all important Summit Race Of Champions at this years Summit E.T. Finals hosted this year at home at Pacific Raceways!

Over 240 images are available now in the galleries – to go there, click here.

WINNERS

The Story Lines Are Taking Shape

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As we draw closer to the Summit E.T. Finals, racers in every class from Super Pro to Jr. Dragster begin to mount the charge toward the possibility of making “Team Pacific” and a hopeful championship run. During last Friday’s “Friday Night Test and Tune” featuring the PRDC, High School and Jr. Dragster competition; Amber Arthur in Jr. Lightning virtually locked up the season championship with two races remaining with yet another win. No doubt she will be looking forward to the Summit E.T. Finals and her shot at the division title which this year will be hosted by Pacific Raceways. Enroute to the title she has been in the final round in the last four events winning three of them! In other Jr. Dragster action Chase Gardner from Snohomish won Jr. Thunder.

Event Photos are available by clicking here…

OTHER CLASS WINNERS

Class/Category Driver Hometown Car/Vehicle
Motorcycle Jim Werre Renton ’07 Suzuki
High School Jared Biscay McCleary ’67 Ranchero

Turn2 Lapping Takes On The Road Course

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Turn2 Lapping Inc spent Friday tackling the road course at Pacific Raceways. Turn2 Lapping serves the experienced driver at track events located in the Pacific Northwest.  The group includes professional race car drivers looking for some time to polish their skills, and drivers that need to learn some car control at speed, or just need to get away from the office

Seeitimagery was at the track to photograph all the action, over 250 images are available now – To go to go the album – click here.

The group will return to Pacific Raceways on September 7th.  There is more information about the group at their website – www.turn2lapping.com

Double… Double

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Due to the newly installed starting line concrete earlier this season, several events in the Auto Max Bracket Series had to be delayed to permit construction to be completed. This past weekend was chosen to host two complete Auto Max Bracket Series events in one day! A daunting task to be sure….But with everyone from the Pacific Raceway crew, to the racers themselves working together a hectic schedule proved to be a very enjoyable one when all was said and done…

The story of the weekend proved to be the dominating performance by Dustin Martin in Pro Bracket. Dustin drove the G&M Honest Performance Chevelle to the Pro Bracket Winners Circle in both events! His wins did not come without some adversity to overcome as the tailshaft housing of the transmission was cracked at some point in the late rounds of the first event! After narrowly winning race one, Dustin and his dad “Cruzin” Chris Martin made the needed repairs in the 45 minutes between events enroot to another win in race number two!

Some exciting action was also provided as the West Coast Street Car Association (WCSA) had one of their series events in conjunction with the Auto Max Bracket Series competition. Popular WCSA Driver Yvonne Lucus added color commentary on the PA during eliminations for the WCSA competitors.

In addition Drag Strip Manager Ed Garfield celebrated his 50th Birthday! Happy Birthday Old Man!

For photos from both races – click here.

RACE ONE WINNERS – AUTO MAX BRACKET SERIES

Class/Category Driver Hometown Car/Vehicle
Motorcycle Jim Funderburg Burien ’00 Kawasaki
Sportsman Paul Young Kent ’01 Dodge
Pro Dustin Martin Federal Way ’67 Chevelle
Super Pro Tim Schmitt Everett ’85 S-10

RACE TWO WINNERS – AUTO MAX BRACKET SERIES

Class/Category Driver Hometown Car/Vehicle
Motorcycle Scott McLeod Seattle ’01 Suzuki
Sportsman Jason Biscay Rochester
Pro Dustin Martin Federal Way ’67 Chevelle
Super Pro Don Sefton Bremerton ’10 Monden

WEST COAST STREET CAR ASSOCIATION WINNERS

Class/Category Driver Hometown Car/Vehicle
Drag Radial Craig Castagno Ethel ’68 Chevy
Double Index Rick Krier Maple Valley ’54 Austin
Pro Street Joe Loch Renton ’04 Cavalier
Outlaw 10.5″ Tire Ron Pease Port Orchard ’70 Nova
Open Comp Mark Campbell Olympia ’69 Camaro
Hot Street John Carper Orting

Another Fast Friday Night

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The typical Friday at Pacific Raceway features the Friday Night Test and Tune along with Junior Dragsters and an occasional Car Club Challenge. This past Friday featured more than 20 Junior Dragsters in Jr. Thunder and Jr. Lighting competing in the 7th points race for the Junior Series this year.

Because of the upcoming “double header points race” in the Auto Max Bracket Series on Saturday night; this Friday night had a bit higher car count and also featured test runs from some of the members of the West Coast Street Car Association (WCSA) as drivers prepared for their event that would be held on Saturday as well. Popular WCSA Driver Yvonne Lucus added color commentary on the PA during the time trials for the WCSA competitors.

You can view more than 300 photos by clicking here.

Winners from the Junior Series included Katie Kapler in Junior Thunder and Amber Arthur in Junior Lightning.

Old School Is Cool…

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Hundreds of Vintage Sports Cars invaded Pacific Raceways this past weekend for four great days of racing action on the 2.25 mile 10 turn road coarse. The event was sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Seattle for the annual Pacific Northwest Historics Series.

Included in the racing schedule were Trans Am muscle cars from the late ‘60s, a 1980 McLaren M29, a 1971 Tyrrell Formula 1 car along with hundreds of classic and vintage race cars. The paddock area was jammed as well with vintage show cars and a manufacturer’s midway. Guest of Honor racing legend Johnny Rutherford signed autographs.

Compete photo coverage can be seen by clicking here.