5/5/2024
Skagit Speedway
Starks Starts 2024 with Win at Skagit Speedway
5/4/24
Alger, WA - The season opener for the 70th Season at Skagit Speedway found a familiar face in victory lane, as defending Karmart 410 Sprint Car Champion Trey Starks led all 30 laps of the main event for a $5,000 payday.
The initial start of the Karmart 410 Sprint Car feature saw a quick caution, as Lane Taylor and Evan Margeson made contact coming out of turn two, bringing the race to an early yellow. Taylor had to give up his outside row one starting spot, which then went to Starks. Trey did not let his opportunity pass, as he jetted out to the early advantage with fast qualifier Robbie Price quickly following him into second. The pair raced into lapped traffic, with Starks slicing past slower cars and Price matching him move for move. Despite multiple cautions and stoppages, the pair always found the back of the 23 car main event quickly, with Starks holding Price at bay the whole way for the win. Jason Solwold came from sixth to take third. Heat race wins went to Justin Youngquist, Greg Hamilton and Taylor. Youngquist won the dash.
Alden Ostrom made the big race winning move of the night in the Sportsman Sprint division. Keira Zylstra raced out to the advantage and maintained it for the first 23 laps of the main event. As she crossed the line to complete lap 23, slower traffic loomed ahead of Keira and as she cautiously approached it, Ostrom turned on the jets to close the eight car length gap that separated him from the leader. Unable to find a clean line around the slower car, Zylstra saw her lead evaporate into the heavy night air as Alden kept all of his speed and found a clean lane around Keira to sneak into the lead. Zylstra made a strong last lap effort to get the lead back, but it was Ostrom’s night to celebrate as he took the win ahead of Keira and rookie driver Chris Foster. Brody Ferguson was the quick qualifier with heat wins going to Zysltra and Mike Brown.
Tyson Blood had the main event go completely his way in the Skagit Aggregates IMCA Modifieds. Blood found a safe path passed the carnage in front of him to take the lead on lap two and enjoyed open race track the rest of the way to enjoy a mostly unchallenged run up front for the win. Lee Swift brought a brand new ride to the track and picked up a career best second place finish, while Jeff Westergard rolled strong toward the front of the field and a third place finish. Westergard also won his heat race, as did Blood and Kevin Smith.
Karmart 410 Sprints - 25 Entries
Fast Time - Robbie Price 11.138
Heat 1 - Justin Youngquist
Heat 2 - Greg Hamilton
Heat 3 - Lane Taylor
Dash - Justin Yongquist
Main - Trey Starks, Robbie Price, Jason Solwold, Justin Youngquist, Jesse Schlotfeldt, Colby Thornhill, Brock Lemley, Joel Myers Jr, Greg Hamilton, Willie Croft, Eric Fisher, Cam Smith, Brett McGhie, Greg Otis, Mike Brown, Chase Goetz, Bill Rude, Dan Reynold, Luke Didiuk, Levi Klatt, Shawn Wallenfelsz Jr, Evan MArgeson, Lane Taylor
Lap Leaders - Starks 1-30
Sportsman Sprints - 14 Entires
Fast Time - Brody Ferguson 12.174
Heat 1 - Keira Zylstra
Heat 2 - Mike Brown
Main - Alden Ostrom, Keira Zylstra, Chris Foster, Kai Dixon, Ronnie Cox, Brody Ferguson, Tanner Merritt, Kenny Rutz, Zoey Tupper, Mike Brown, Tom Weiss, Jayden Whitney, Allison Johnson, Steve Parker
Lap Leaders - Zylstra 1-23 Ostrom 24-25
Skagit Aggregates IMCA Modifieds - 23 Entries
Heat 1 - Jeff Westergard
Heat 2 - Tyson Blood
Heat 3 - Kevin Smith
B Main - Zane Miner, Branden Nutter, James Bundy, Austin Smith, Alan Grimbly, Billy Coles, Ben Malmstadt, Brent Morris
A Main - Tyson Blood, Lee Swift, Jeff Westergard, Zane Miner, Geoff Morris, Rick Smith, Kevin Smith, Adam Holtrop, Graham Cook, Ben Gunderson, Branden Nutter, Jake Sorenson, Steve Peters, Brenden White, Greg Hibma, Don Martin, Cory Gordon, James Bundy
Lap Leaders - Martin 1 Blood 2-12
Article Credit: Kaleb Hart