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QUINN COPS FIRST WIN

Portland, Ore.(Aug. 10, 2001) Chris Quinn of Longview, Wash. finally reached victory lane Friday night with an impressive performance to win the 35-lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Grand American Modified feature. The win was a long time coming for Quinn as mechanical failures have snatched wins from the veteran all season long. Quinn was followed to the line by Don Jenner, 4-time winner Eric Sayre, Gary Morris, and Richard Whiteman rounding out the top five. By virtue of his top five finish, Eric Sayre takes over the point lead in the front open-wheel stock car division ahead of three-time track champion Tom Pinkowsky.

Richard Whiteman of Tigard, Ore. set the pace in qualifying for the NWRS Grand American Modifieds with a quick lap of 16.572 but would start tenth due to the invert. Four-time feature winner this season Eric Sayre of Vancouver, Wash. would start the 35-lap main event in the 11th position as the previous weeks  feature winner must start behind the invert.

Dan Obrist and Sonny Sayre started the feature on the front row, but were sent to the back after a Officials penalized them for a poor lineup and start. the restart was saw Gary Lee Morris of Molalla, Ore. take the point along side Don Jenner of Vancouver, Wash. Jenner would quickly establish the lead over Morris on the start and pull away to as many as 20 car lengths during the first several laps. On lap 7 the car of Gary Lee Morris lost traction and spun in turn 2 allowing the faster cars to move up on leader Jenner.

Lap 11 brought out the first of three cautions as the car of Dan Fox spun and stalled in turn two. The yellow bunched up the field behind Jenner who's half a lap lead evaporated in an instant. Jenner lead the field on the restart followed by Quinn, Gary Morris, and Eric Sayre who had quickly moved into the top five by using the outside groove to dispatch of his fellow competitors. The field began to string out as the race reached lap 20. Quinn made his move on Jenner coming out of turn two and the duo battled side-by-side into turn three. Quinn took the advantage as the pair crossed the start/finish line on lap 23. Quinn would go on to lead the rest of the way, followed at the finish by Jenner in second, with Sayre holding on for third. Gary Morris and Richard Whiteman were fourth and fifth respectively.

"I am happy to finally stand in victory lane," Quinn Said. "We have been close but something has broken and took away a sure victory. I thought I could challenge for a championship this season, but the competition is tough here at Portland. I jut want to do well the rest of the year and hopefully pick up some new sponsorship."

Sayre's third place finish vaults him into the point lead over Tom Pinkowsky who finished a disappointing seventh. Jenner remains in third place, with Morris and Fox rounding out the top five after 13 events. Dan Fox collected a victory in the Irontech 4-lap Trophy Dash, with heat races being won by Ray Elwess, E. Sayre, and Quinn.

Brad Tanner has been one the most determined drivers in 2001 as he is attempting to win championships in both the Street Stock and Sportsman classes. Tanner inched closer to that goal on Friday night as he took the victory in the ultra-competitive Street Stock division. Tanner took the win after unofficial winner Chris Schlat was disqualified for a technical violation. Schlat lead the race from his pole starting position and would never relinquish the lead throughout the entire 30-lap event.

Tanner started fourth and dogged Schlat the entire race, but each time Tanner made a move Schlat slammed the door keeping the three-time winner at bay. Willy Thom of Dundee, Ore. had his hopes of a top five finished erased when he had to pit for a flat right front tire. Thom would return to finish fifteenth. Dustin Wilkenson continues to improve each week and Friday he had a stellar performance by winning the "B" main event and transferring to the "A" and finishing sixth. Dan Harris continued to show his strength in the division by finishing a solid third followed by Dave Cannon and Curt Nusom.

Tanner was excited  to win for the tenth time this season in Street Stock and Sportsman competition. "I enjoy being at Portland Speedway every Friday night," Tanner said. "I work hard all week and to come out and race is what we do for fun. I would like to win a championship, but I need to stay consistent and just try to win as many races as I can."

Scott Puncochar of Hillsboro, Ore. continues to lead the standings over Tanner who closed the gap some with his victory. Puncochar leads tanner by 87 markers after 14 events with Wilkenson moving up to third. Curt Nusom and Rookie of the Year candidate Brian Puncochar round out the top five. Dave Cannon leads the second five followed by Tracy Jones, Willy Thom, Dennis Krohling, and Pete Kelly. S. Puncochar won the Irontech Trophy Dash, with Thom, Nusom, R. Jenner, and S. Puncochar winning heat races.

Dan Cherington continued his mastery of the criss-crossing Figure 8 track as he picked up his fourth win  of the season ahead of fellow title contender and brother Joe Cherington. D. Cherington started at the back in this the total invert division but quickly moved through the field out breaking his competition in the corners. Cherington's fearless pace allows him to make the bonsai move through the intersection without hesitation. By lap 10 of the 20-lap feature Cherington was in control and pulling away. Cherington took the win ahead of Joe Cherington in second, with Kelly Nace in third, Ron Henderson in fourth, and last week's winner Ray Perry rounding out the top five.

D. Cherington continues to lead the point standings over his brother and closest rival Joe Cherington by 16 points. Kelly Nace stays third, with John Mayfield and Ron Henderson in fourth and fifth respectively. D. Cherington picked up the win in the 4-lap Trophy Dash with brother Joe winning the heat race.

The Oregon Outlaw Dwarf Cars made their only appearance of the season last Friday at Portland Speedway-the Dirt Track. 20 cars showed up to battle for 25-laps on the third-mile "Bud Bowl" and were lead by Trophy Dash winner "Smilin" Jack Burns and Heat Race winners Joe Eaton and Chris Petersen.

Local Portland NASCAR Winston West regular lead the field to the green in his 34' Ford Sedan and quickly established a big lead on the pack. Culver's lead began to evaporate as his coupe started to push in the turns. Doug Jorgensen of Oregon City, Ore. took over the lead on lap three but lost it just a s quickly to Jeff Quinn who started at the rear of the field but moved up at a lightning pace to take the lead on lap four. Quinn's advance was halted as he and Ed Asman got together in turn four to bring out the first caution. Quinn fell to the rear of the filed for the restart. Chris Petersen led Jorgensen, Burns, Culver, and Todd Hardesty to the line and would remain out front the rest of the way.

Petersen won by 2.5 seconds over a determined Jorgenson who battled back to finish second. Culver crossed the line in third, with Henry Corbin II in fourth, and Hardesty round out the top five. Suprisingly, this was Petersen's first time out this season in the Dwarf car and was extremely pleased with his performance. "I just like to thank my dad for all his hard work and dedication to my racing program," Petersen said. "This is my first race of the year in the Dwarf Car, I am excited to race it a few more times. I have been running with the NSRA pavement sprinters, but I always enjoy running these cars."

Racing resumes Friday, August 17 as Portland Speedway celebrates it's Junior Fans with Junior Fan Club Night at the Races presented by Family Fun Centers and Bullwinkles restaurant in Wilsonville. On tap will be the NWRS Grand American Modifieds, ShorTrack Sportsman, Street Stocks, WAR! Women's Auto Racing, and Bumpin' Bombers. Spectator gates open at 5:00 PM with Heat Races beginning at 6:45 PM and Trophy Dashes and Main Events to follow. Adult admission is just $10, Seniors and Military $8, Juniors (11-17) are $5, children 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Advance tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations or online at www.portlandspeedway.com.