THREE-IN-A-ROW FOR SAYRE

Portland, Ore. (July 27, 2001) Eric Sayre of Vancouver, Wash. made it a three in a row
as he came from behind to capture the 35-lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Grand American
Modified feature at Portland Speedway Friday night. The win vaulted Sayre into second
place in the 2001 point standings behind Tom Pinkowsky also of Vancouver. Following Sayre
to the line was Richard Whiteman in second, Sonny Modaff in third, Pinkowsky in fourth,
and Sonny Sayre with his best finish of the season in fifth.

Chris Quinn and Gary Morris started the 35-lap affair on the front row, leaving two-time feature winner Sayre behind the invert of 8 to start the race. As the field rounded turn two for the first time, Don Jenner and Dan Fox got together, sending several cars on in-field excursions. Morris quickly established himself at the point with the purple modified of Kenny Miller quickly moving up to the top five.

Sayre started to make his move on the field by lap 15 as he battled Don Jenner for fifth. Sayre's advanced was slowed several times for lapped traffic and a couple of yellow flags. Sayre's march to the front would be side tracked only momentarily as he found the outside groove to his liking and quickly started to dispatch of the top five cars. At the lap 24 mark, Sayre was working on sonny Modaff and Jesse Williamson for second. Sayre's relentless pressure finally paid off as he was able to clear Morris's car on lap 29 and go on to win his third consecutive race of the season. Following Sayre to the line was Richard Whiteman in second, with Sonny Modaff claiming his best finish of the season in third. Point leader Tom Pinkowsky and Sonny Sayre were fourth and fifth respectively.

Pinkowsky maintains the point lead but Sayre jumps into second only 33 markers behind. Jenner, Whiteman, and Morris round out the top five. Morris and Fox picked up heat race wins, and Sayre won the dash.

Scott Winebarger knows how much a little vacation means. Winebarger took nearly a month off during June and has since come back with a vengeance claiming two-straight NASCAR ShorTrack Sportsman main event wins. Early season misfortune sidelined Winebarger's championship hopes as several wrecks used up his budget and he and his team needed some time to regroup.

Winebarger started the 30-lap sprint in the eighth position and was quickly moving his Camero to the front. 2000 Asphalt Late Model champion Jody Tanner spun out of turn two to bring out the first of three yellow flags. Andy Church paced the field over the first 15 laps but quickly found his lead evaporating as Trevor Brotherton and Winebarger made it a three-wide battle for the lead on lap 16.

The trio continued to rub fenders until Winebarger was able to take the advantage on lap 19 and begin to extend his lead. The bad luck continued for six-time 2001 sportsman winner Brad Tanner as he lost the handle coming out of turn 4 on lap 23. Tanner fell to the rear and could only manage a twelfth place finish.

As the final laps began, John Nusom and Jay Estes got together on the front stretch and spun in front of the leaders. The two managed to clear themselves of the track and no caution was brought out. Winebarger maintained his advantage and won for the third time this season. Church held on for his best finish of the season in second, with Chris Quinn finishing third. Brad Stanwood and Dale Holland rounded out the top five. With the win Winebarger jumps to eighth in the point standings behind point leader Martin Stanwood. Stanwood leads Holland, B. Tanner, Brad Stanwood (son), and Jay Estes.

The fireworks always fly in the NASCAR Street Stock division at Portland Speedway as the competitive field continues to produce great side by side racing every week. Dustin Wilkenson of Portland has found racing on dirt to his liking as he has shown tremendous skill and ability on the third-mile Bud Bowl this season. Wilkenson continues to be a threat each week and he was finally able to capitalize on  little racing luck   and win his first main event of the season. Wilkenson bested 2000 bomber champion Jeff Brookshire and defending Street Stock Champion and current point leader Scott Puncochar in the 30-lap "A" main event.

Robert Jenner picked up the win in "C" main to transfer to the "B" main event, and it was Curt Nusom winning the "B" and making his way to the "A" where he would finish ninth. Puncochar continued his stranglehold on the division with his consistent top five finishes and a win in the Trophy Dash. Puncochar leads the standings by 104 points over Brad Tanner. Wilkenson jumps to third, with Tracy Jones in fourth, and Rookie Brian Puncochar rounding out the top five.

Pam Graham picked up her second win of the season in the WAR! division over Corrine Flath, Paula Smith, Audra Jean, and Kari Puncochar. perennial front runners Lisa Tanner and Wendy Schwartzkopf had trouble in separate incidents that dropped the pair in the point standings. Puncochar continues to stand atop the standings followed by Flath, Graham, Smith, and Schwartzkopf.

Jeremy Brookshire won anther Bumpin' Bomber Trophy Dash in the spin to win class.

Racing resumes Friday, August 3 as the Budweiser I-5 Outlaw Late Models return to the "Monster" half-mile clay oval for the BI-Mart Summer Shootout. Joining the Outlaw Late Models will be the NASCAR Grand American Mud-Slinging Modifieds, and the Figure 8 cars are back in action. Plus, Fireworks  to close the show.

Spectator gates open at 5:00 PM with racing beginning at 6:45 PM. Adult admission is $19, with seniors 62 and over and military (w/ID) $15, juniors (11-17) $9, and children 10 and under with a paid adult are free. $3 discount coupons are available at BI-Mart locations. Log onto www.portlandspeedway.com for all the latest news and information about Portland Speedway-The Dirt Track.