Fox Feels at Home on Portland Dirt
By Bob Kehoe

PORTLAND, OR (April 13, 2001) – Dirt track veteran Dan Fox wasted no time
establishing himself as a strong contender for the 2001 NASCAR Weekly Racing
Series Grand American Modified Division championship at the Portland
Speedway’s season-opener  Friday. Fox came away the winner of the night’s
main event on the historic Speedway’s new 1/3rd mile clay oval. Finishing
behind Fox and rounding out the top five, respectively, were Donnie Martin,
former Speedway Late Model Champion Tom Pinkowsky, Curt Zelmer, and Chris
Quinn.

Fox started the race on the inside of the third row due to the invert. At
the drop of the green flag front-row starters Ray Elwess and Donnie Martin
set the quick pace, closely followed by the cars of Don Jenner and Eric
Sayre. Following the first caution on lap 6, Elwess maintained his lead but
was now being hounded by a fast-charging Richard Whiteman and Fox, now in
third place. The front three remained together until lap 12, when Elwess and
Whiteman, running side by side fighting for the lead, made contact with each
other in Turn 4, with both ending their night up against the outside wall,
bringing out the second caution and moving the patient Fox to the point.

Fox also became the season’s first recipient of the Valvoline Challenge
Award – a weekly cash bonus given to the Grand American Modified Division
driver who is able to combine a main event win after setting the fast time
during the one-lap qualifying session. Earlier in the evening Fox put down a
quick lap of 16.149 seconds, ahead of second fastest Don Jenner (16.447) and
Ray Elwess (16.623).

With time running short for the race, originally scheduled for 35 laps,
officials elected to restart the field for a green-white-checkered final
dash. Fox got a strong jump on Martin, Pinkowsky and Zelmer, with the order
remaining the same when starter Russ Voight threw the checkered flag.
Following his win, Fox said, "The night couldn't have been better and that
the only adjustment the crew had to make during the evening was to adjust
tire air pressure." "The car has been great since we rolled it out for the
first practice session here at the track a few weeks ago. I also have to
give a lot of credit not only to my crew, but also my sponsors Malar
Performance Engines, Portsmouth Club, www.competitionmotorsports.com and
Raceline Agency."

Delayed one week due to weather, the KUPL Opening Night Presented by Quality
RV offered plenty of early-season action by the Speedway’s other regular
weekly racing divisions: Sportsman, Street Stocks, Bumpin’ Bombers and
Figure 8 cars.

Logging a nearly perfect night in his Sportsman Division Camero was Portland
’s Scott Winebarger, who started out by setting a record-setting qualifying
time of 18.420 seconds, just ahead of second and third place qualifiers Brad
Stanwood (18.742) and Dale Holland (18.831). Winebarger went on to dominate
his heat race and then record the win for the Sportsman Main Event over
Holland, Stanwood and Andy Church. "Each of those wins came with a few bumps
and bangs," said Winebarger, "It was a great night for our Rapid Fire Engine
Supply/Mad Mike Racing, Marty’s Transmission Camero."

Dustin Wilkenson made a gritty last-lap move on Brad Tanner to record the
win in the Street Stock Main. Nudging himself first inside through Turn 4,
Wilkenson then drag raced Tanner to the finish, crossing the line by less
than a fender’s length and giving the opening night crowd a great show.
"Brad gave me a lot of room in Turn 4 and I took advantage," Wilkinson said.

Ron Henderson was the season’s first Main Event winner in the crowd-pleasing
Figure 8 race and the night ended with Stan Asanovic’s victory in the Bomber
Class.

The next scheduled event for the Portland Speedway’s weekly NASCAR Friday
"Bud Bowl" is Friday, April 20th. Featured Divisions will be the Grand
American Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Figure 8 and the track’s brand
new all-women’s division called WAR! – for Women’s Auto Racing. Ticket
prices are $10 for adults, $5 for juniors (11-17), and kids 10 and under are
free with a paid adult. For all NASCAR Friday "Bud Bowl" events, front gates
will open at 5:00 p.m., with racing beginning at 6:45 p.m. For a complete
schedule of events log on to www.portlandspeedway.com.