What a year it was for Portland (OR) Speedway, the 75 year old North
Portland facility that has stood the test of time and celebrated its Diamond
Jubilee with one of the most exciting racing season in recent history.
Speedway officials announced last fall that the racetrack would convert to a
clay racing surface midway through the 2000 season after a 54 year run on
the asphalt, but first, there were races to be run and champions to be
crowned.
The tale of two season began in April with the popular Fast Friday weekly
racing program featuring the Bump-to-Pass Bombers, Figure 8 cars, Accel
Street Stocks, Exide Shortrack Limited Sportsman, and the NASCAR Weekly
Racing Series Late Models taking to the historic track for one last season
of asphalt racing.
Jody Tanner (r)
Brandon Riehl and Tony Schmidt quickly established themselves as the early
favorites for the NWRS Late Model title, the two never were seperated more
than a couple of positions throughout the 18 race campaign. After a
devestating start to the season in which he was involved in "racing deals"
in 4 out of the first 5 races, Jody Tanner rose like the Phoenix out of the
ashes to claim his first track championship after more than 20 years behind
the wheel. Tanner's championship was a fiting tribute to his generosity,
sportsmanship, friendship, and family for his many years of competition.
Like a fine wine, Tanner peaked at just the right time to prevail over Riehl
by a mere 6 points and claim the final asphalt Late Model crown. Schmidt
finished the season in third place, with Eric Sayre climbing to fourth, and
veteran Dan Obrist making a late season charge to round out the top five. By
virtue of his twelfth place points finish, Doug Mitchell driving the #1
Timberwolf sponsored Monte Carlo edged out Tracy Powell for Rookie of the
Year honors.
Kenny Gummus (c)
The chase for the Exide Shortrack Limited Sportsman title looked to be a one
man race as Kenny Gummus proved that "lucky" and "good" make a killer
combination. Over the 16 race campaign, Gummus found himself escaping
disaster week after week finishing at the front of the competitive Limited
Sportsman field every race. Gummus dominated the action finishing with 4
feature wins, 11 top five's, 14 top ten's, and one fast time. His fellow
competitors could only shake their collective heads and say "way to go" as
Gummus ran away with the championship and a seventh place finish in the
Great West Region. Charging to a second place points finish was Rookie of
the Year Brad Stanwood, followed by Dale Holland in third, with Dr. Robert
Eubanks in fourth, and Scott Winebarger rounding out the top five.
Consistency is the key to success at any level of racing and Scott Puncochar
proved the old adage, "In order to finish first you must first finish."
Although Puncochar did not win a feature race all season, his poise and
ability behind the wheel garnered him a championship. Ray Elwess lead the
point standings nearly all season only to have bad luck strike during the
last two weeks of racing, allowing "Mr. Consistency" to drive to the front
of the Street Stock field. Puncochar finished the season with 5 fast times,
7 top five's, and 7 top ten's. He was chased to the end by Brad Tanner (Jody
Tanner's son), who also competed all season in the Limited Sportsman
division. Finishing a disappointing third in the point standings was Ray
Elwess, followed by "Most Improved" driver, Don Jenner in fourth, and Rookie
of the Year winner Curt Nusom in fifth.
Jeff Brookshire dazzled the fans week after week in the best of show
Bump-to-pass Bomber division. Brookshire's on track exploits landed him a
crowd pleasing Bomber championship. While giving his champions speech at the
banquet, you would have thought the he won the Winston Cup by his enthusiasm
and gratitude to all that helped with the winning effort. Danny O'Neil Jr.
finished second, with Ric Fors in third, followed by Danny O'Neil Sr. in
fourth, and Christopher Michael rounding out the top five. The father and
son duo of the O'Neil's was further enhanced when Danny Sr. was named Bomber
Rookie of the Year.
Dan Cherrington (r)
Every racing division has a "Hotshoe" and Dan Cherington showed why he is
always on fire, as he owned the busiest intersection in Portland during
2000. The always-exciting Figure 8 division produced the most entertaining
racing of the year, as two events where added to the schedule, much to the
delight of the Fast Friday crowd. Cherington finished the season with 2
feature wins, 5 top five's, and 6 top ten performances, with 1 fast time.
The championship was Cherington's second in a row and third in a row for his
family. Joe Cherington (Brother) finished second in the final standings,
with Rookie of the Year Brent Beall charging to third. Chuck Jordan drove to
a fourth place finish in the points, with Tim Patrick rounding out the top
five. The Figure 8 cars will be back next year competing on a half clay and
half asphalt configuration. That is a sure recipe for excitement!
Special events showcased the 75th anniversary racing season at the historic
Portland Speedway, starting with John Zeretski's dominating win in the
"Final" Reybestos NW Series event to be held on the aging asphalt. The
Victory was Zeretski's first win on the tour. During the month of June young
Lonnie Adamson took charge and dominated The SRL Supermodified portion of
the "Open Wheel Spectacular", and later that month rising star and Late
Model championship contender Brandon Riehl won the annual BUD 100 for Late
Models claiming the biggest win in his young career. In July, the NASCAR
Winston West series rolled into town for their annual 4th of July clash. The
NWWS event was special in that it was the final pavement race to be held on
the historic half-mile paved oval, featuring driving legend Hershel McGriff.
Jeff Jefferson of Yakima triumphed for his first series victory.
The construction crew showed up at 6 AM on Wednesday July 5 and by that
afternoon had all the pavement removed from the "Monster" half-mile. The
work crews worked virtually non-stop in preparation for the August 4 Grand
Re-Opening featuring the Hy-Per-Lube Northern Sprint Car Series, where Dave
Menne of California mastered the clay for his first ever NST victory. The
month of August showcased the biggest racing event in the 75 year history of
Portland Speedway, the Pennzoil World of Outlaws inaugural two-day festival
of speed. More than 18,000 race fans witnessed "the greatest show on dirt",
and watched Slammin' Sammy Swindell negotiate the new clay surface and sweep
both features events for the two-day show. The month of September featured
the Wrenchhead.com Flat Track Championship Motorcycle Series where more than
5000 fans packed the stands the day of the event. Later in September,
Portland Speedway hosted a giant Stock Car Open, featuring Outlaw Dirt Late
Models. More than 60 Late Models timed in to vie for a starting position in
the 24-car field/50-lap feature event. In one of the most exciting events of
the entire 2000 season, veteran Late Model ace Mark Grill edged out local
track favorite Eric Sayre by inches after a last lap, last corner pass to
take the checkers and close the racing season at Portland Speedway.
The racing action will resume in April of 2001 with a all new Friday night
racing format that will feature the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series
Grand-American Modifieds, Exide Shortrack Limited Sportsman, Accel Street
Stocks, Figure 8, and Bump-to-Pass Bombers competing on the brand new
quarter-mile dirt track. Several special events on the half-mile clay oval
will highlight the 2001 calendar, including the Pennzoil World of Outlaws,
hy-per-lube Northern Sprint Tour, and the Outlaw Late Models just to name a
few. Log on to www.portlandspeedway.com for all the latest news and
information, as well as schedules, tickets, and merchandise
