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SAYRE GRABS WIN, PINKOWSKY TAKES CHAMIONSHIP Portland, Ore. - (September
14, 2001, revised 9/17) Eric Sayre of Vancouver, Wash. showcased a determined
performance this past Friday by winning the final NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Grand
American Modified event at Portland Speedway in his pursuit of a dirt championship at the
historic North Portland facility . Sayre's valiant effort
was for not as Tom Pinkowsky, by virtue of his fifth place finish, was able to edge Sayre
for the Championship by a mere two points. The championship was Pinkowsky's fourth
championship at Portland Speedway, but his first title on dirt . Brad Tanner
of Clackamas, Ore. won for the seventh time in NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman competition, but
the title went to the wiley veteran Martin Stanwood of Portland who used consistency and
patience to win the title. Willy Thom won for the second time this season in the Street
Stock class as Scott Puncochar won the divisional championship for the second consecutive
year. Dan Cherington of Vancouver, Wash. added to his war chest of hardware another Figure
8 crown by winning the final race of the season in dominating fashion. Richard Whiteman, a two-time winner on
the season, established a new track record in qualifying with a time of 15.689 seconds to
pace the field. The four-lap Trophy Dash saw Don Jenner of Vancouver, Wash. take home the
hardware. Gary Morris of Boring, Ore., Ray Elwess of Portland, and Dan Fox all show their
strength by taking the checkers in the 8-lap Heat Races prior to the 35-lap main event. The 35-lap feature was slow to get
going as seven cars tangled on the first lap bringing out the red flag. Donnie Martin
careened hard off the turn four wall collecting the cars of Sonny Modaff, Chris Quinn, Dan
Fox and others. On the restart, original front row starters Mike Obrist and Eric Sayre led
the field to the green flag. Obrist lost the lead on lap three when he spun coming out of
two handing the lead over to Sayre who would control the pace the rest of the event. Sayre
lost the lead only once as the car of Jesse Williamson used the inside line to grab the
top spot coming out of turn. Sayre grabbed the point right back using the outside groove. Six caution periods slowed the going
as Sayre did everything he could to put the icing on a championship, but title rival Tom
Pinkowsky has been in championship races before and even though he started towards the
rear of the field he managed to work himself into the top five by races end, a move
that made the difference in the
championship. Sayre won for the sixth time this
season and was followed to the line by Gary Morris, Jesse Williamson, Ray
Elwess, and Pinkowsky rounding out the top five. Pinkowsky
has not been known as a dirt racer, but with this championship under his belt there is no
challenging his expertise on both racing surfaces. Twenty-seven cars made it out for the
final NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman race and it was Scott Winebarger of Portland, Ore.
breaking his own track record set one week earlier in qualifying. Winebarger paced the
field as he toured the third-mile Bud Bowl in 17.040 seconds, a record that will stand all
winter for competitors to eye as they wait until next season. Trevor Brother picked up the
win in the 4-lap Trophy Dash, with Ross Greiff, Andy Church, and dale Holland picking wins
in Heat Race action. Bob Hays and Larry Brookshire transferred to the "A" main
after finishing in the top two spots in the "B" main event. Jeremy Brookshire and Jay Estes
started on the front row and led the field of 18 cars to green. Brookshire led the first 4
laps before the Chevy of Dale Holland took the point and led the next 8 laps when
Tanner asserted himself and took the point on lap 14. Tanner controlled the pace holding
off challenges from fast time setter Winebarger over the closing laps. Jay Estes rebounded
from last weeks mishap to work his way into the top five. At the finish it was Tanner
winning over Winebarger, Estes, Brad Stanwood, and Darrell Smith rounding out the top
five. Martin Stanwood finished sixth, one position ahead of title rival Holland, the
finish was enough for the veteran to secure the championship. Hal Farness grabbed the
Rookie-of-the-Year crown in the Sportsman stock car class. Forty-four Street Stocks checked in
for the finale and did not disappoint the enthusiastic crowd of more than 2,500 spectators
who came out to celebrate America in the wake of the tragedy in New York and Washington
D.C. this past week. the Oregon Army National Guard presented a patriotic Open Ceremony
complete with a cannon salute to our military heritage. American flags and a sea of Red,
White, and Blue adorned the grandstands as a testament to our unity and resolve to let
Freedom reign and support of our government and military. Dave Cannon and Pat Schwartzkopf led
the field to green in the 30-lap feature event. Cannon quickly established himself at the
point as the car to beat and led the first 26 laps until a determined Willy Thom of
Dundee, Ore. put on a classic slid job to take the point on lap 27. Thom led the final
three laps in route to his second victory of the season. Thom was followed to the line by
Cannon, Tracy Jones, Curt Nusom, and Brad Tanner rounding out the top five. The next five
were led by Rookie-of the-Year winner Brian Puncochar, Mike Aubrey, Dennis Krohling, Wes
Maxwell, and Grand Baker. Scott Puncochar finished a disappointing 15th, but just by
starting the main event he secured his second divisional crown in as many years. Dan Cherington showed his mastery of
the busiest intersection in Portland by winning another Figure 8 main event and in the
process sealing his fourth divisional championship. The Figure 8 class starts with a
complete field invert by points which means that Cherington has to work his way to the
front from the back each and every week. This past week was no different as the Figure 8
veteran shows no fear as he negotiates traffic and the intersection of "doom"
Cherington collected his forth title in five years at Portland Speedway. finishing behind
Cherington in the 15-lap feature was john Mayfield, Joe Cherington, Rookie-of-the-Year
John Schave, and Ron Henderson. Cherington beat his brother Joe for the championship. The
Cherington's have one the Figure 8 title each year the division has competed at Portland. |
