Ben Deatherage
Willamette Speedway writer
The final points race of 2012 closed out in exciting fashion on a cool evening on Saturday, Sept. 22.
All five regular divisions were on the night’s card which included the DirtCar Super Late Models, USRA Modifieds, Sportsman, Classic Sportsman, and Mini Trucks.
Pete Haag of Alvadore managed to earn his second Mini Truck main event win of the season. It marked his second consecutive visit to victory lane as he dominated the race, once he obtained the lead.
Mark Vonsild of Scio crossed the line in second, followed by Jefferson drivers Jennifer Robbins in third and Shane Stull in fourth. Pete Haag was quickest in qualifying at a time of 19.936 seconds and also earning the trophy dash victory while the winner of the heat race was Vonsild.
Vonsild, at the end of the night earned the season championship as Danny Altom donated his truck for the final race of the year so it all would be made possible.
In the Classic Sportsman’s division, David Cronk of Portland and Lebanon’s Justin Evans put on a terrific race in their main event. The battle was settled as the two raced to the yellow flag on lap 20, in which Cronk gained the lead. Cronk went on to win the race and earn his second consecutive win in the classification.
Justin Evans earned a respectable second place finish while Kyle Yeack of Crawfordsville was third. The fourth-place finisher was Randy Jackson from Salem and Sean Cronk of Portland crossed the line fifth. David Cronk earned the clean sweep as was fast time, at 17.580 seconds, won the Crocker Cars Classic Trophy Dash as well as the heat race. Casey Vantruss of Sisters was the other heat race winner and when it was all said and done, Yeack earned his second straight Classic Sportsman track championship.
Albany’s Brian Smith was dominant for the most part in the Sportsman feature that is once he obtained the lead. Smith gained the lead on lap seven and led the field for the rest of the way to earn the win for car owner Glen Hackney. The victory marked Smith’s fifth victory of the year, tying Danny Altom of Lebanon for most wins of the year.
James Slover from Sweet Home was the runner-up and Brian Winkler of Newberg was third. Casey Rhoades from Lebanon was the fourth place finisher and wrapping up the top five placers was Springfield’s Tim Archer in fifth.
Quickest in qualifying was Brian Smith, who was also the trophy dash winner, while the victors in the heats were Loren Kruesi of Jefferson, Albany’s Austin Gorham, and Winkler. Kruesi was the winner of the consolation event and Danny Altom was crowned the champion for his first-ever Sportsman title.
It was an emotional scene in victory lane after the USRA Modified main was completed. Young Brody Pompe, who was involved in a horrific automobile accident a month before, which required him to be hospitalized, earned his first career win in the class in only his second race back. The Philomath driver managed to keep all challengers in check and hold on for the win.
Yeack was able to hold on to second place in the end, while Craig Cassell managed to place third. Jeremy Shank of Salem crossed the line in the fourth position and the balance of the top five was completed with Albany’s Craig Hanson fifth.
Shank earned fast time honors with clocking in at 16.065, Hanson was the dash winners, and earning wins in the heat races were Robert Jeffers of Halsey and Justin Evans.
Bend’s Rob Mayea looked to be the car to beat in the early goings of the DirtCar Super Late Model action. With a 30-lap-plus green flag run, Cody Sell of Shedd hunted Mayea down and passed him on lap 17. Sell would master traffic and earn the victory for his first win of 2012.
Jeremy Shank finished second and Trevor Glaser of Tangent was third at the line. John Campos of Keizer came home fourth while Rob Mayea ended the night in fifth. Glaser was fast time in qualifying at 14.341 seconds, Shank earned the trophy dash win, and the heat race winners were Bruce Hipple of Salem, Lebanon’s Tony Brakeall, John Campos, and Rick Wyatt from Aumsville.
Winners of the two fifteen-lap consolation mains were Brady Sell of Salem and Tony Brakeall. When all the points were tallied Trevor Glaser earned his sixth career Late Model championship at Willamette Speedway.
Action at Willamette Speedway will take place for two more weeks before the offseason begins. Tuff Trucks and Trash Cars will compete next Saturday and Oct. 6 will be the last race of the year for the annual Fall Classic. For the latest information, visit http://www.trophymotorsports.com.