The Northwest Region begins the season with a two-day show at Southern Oregon Speedway near Medford, Ore.

The May 8-9 races are the first-ever two-day sprint car event at the track, which will host the first Speedweek race – July 13 – as well.

“To have the opening event of ASCS, we feel is an honor,” said Richard Barney, a managing partner of the track. “It’s extremely exciting for us.”

The 3/8^th mile, semi-banked clay oval opened in 1996 and featured one ASCS events last season – won by Jonathan Allard.

Barney calls the track “in-your-face racing” highlighted by a grassy hill for spectators. The knoll, located off turn one, holds approximately 2,000 general admission observers.

“A lot of people like the grassy knoll,” Barney said. “It’s a great place to watch racing. It’s all about fun and entertainment for us.”

For more information, visit www.sospeedway.com or call 541-245-2755.

Track address: 6900 Kershaw Rd., White City, OR 97502

Just like last year mother nature has proven to be frustrating as Saturday nights races at Cottage Grove where washed out due to excessive flooding in the pit area.

What was even more frustrating was the fact that this weekend has probably been the best three day stretch of weather we have had in months.

Seth and the team will be packing up and heading back on the road as they head to Little Rock Arkansas for Round Three of the ASCS National Tour on Saturday April 18th at the I-30 Speedway.

Dont forget you can listen to all of Seths National Tour events live on RacinBoys.com

Stay tuned for more news shortly.

If you haven’t picked up some Seth Bergman Sprint Car Apparel head over to the store as we have a special 10% discount for our website visitors. Use coupon code: bergman23 during checkout to save on any size order. Visit the Seth Bergman Sprint Car Apparel by Clicking on this Link.

The American Sprint Car Series Northwest Region is excited to announce a partnership with Wesmar Racing Engines, one of the premier engine builders in the United States.

During the pill draw at each Northwest Region race this season, Wesmar will be giving out one $50 gift certificate to a driver who is a member of the Northwest Region. Bob and Kelly Westphal, co-owners of the company, will also be pledging support to the Northwest Region racers at the end-of-the-season banquet.

“We believe we have some of the best racers in the country running our region and we are committed to building the Northwest Region into the best paying in purse, point fund and contingency,” Northwest Region Director Greg Burgess said. “It may be one brick at a time, but we will continue building a solid, stable series that the racers, fans, promoters and sponsors can look forward to being part of for many years to come.”

Jayme Barnes won last season’s inaugural ASCS Northwest Region championship using a Wesmar Racing engine.

Since its foundation in 1986, Wesmar Racing Engines has developed into one of the top sprint car engine manufacturers in the United States. Located in Bixby, Okla., Wesmar has been involved in various motor sports including: ARCA, ASA, NCRA late models, NHRA and ASCS. For more information, contact Wesmar Racing Engines, 14502 South Lewis, Bixby, OK 74008, or visit www.wesmarracing.com.

Established in 2008, the American Sprint Car Series Northwest Region has quickly developed into a favorite among fans, racers and promoters in the Northwest. In 2009, the tour will visit Oregon, Washington and Montana for 18 nights of action, including four events with the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters.

The American Sprint Car Series, in its 18th year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing events, brings the best of Sprint Car racing to nearly 100 different tracks throughout 25 states and Canada in 2009. Anchored by the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Dirt Series presented by K&N Filters, ASCS also consists of a dozen different Regions throughout the nation.

Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com.

2009 ASCS Northwest Schedule

The 2009 ASCS schedule has been released with scheule expanding to 19 events including three straight nights of racing in Montana plus two weekends with the ASCS National Tour.

May 8 & 9 Southern Oregon Speedway, Medford OR

May 23 & 24 Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma WA

June 25 Gallatin Speedway, Belgrade MT

June 26 & 27 Electric City Speedway, Great Falls MT

July 12 Speedweek Kick Off Party at Lava Lanes, Medford OR

July 13 Southern Oregon Speedway, Medford OR

July 14 Cottage Grove Speedway, Cottage Grove OR

July 15 Willamette Speedway, Lebanon OR

July 16 Fanfest Party Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma WA

July 17 Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma WA – FBM (Regional & National)

July 18 Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma WA – FBM (Regional & National)

July 24 & 25 Cottage Grove Speedway, Cottage Grove OR- (Regional & National)

August 14 Sunset Speedway, Banks OR

August 15 Coos Bay Speedway, Coos Bay OR

September 6 Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma WA

September 25 & 26  Yakima Speedway, Yamkim WA

The American Sprint Car Series Northwest Region is pleased to announce the continuation of a season-ending tradition.

The final two races of the 2009 season — Sept. 25-26 — will be held at the Central Washington State Fair Raceway in Yakima, Wash., a track which has had ties to the top 360 sprint tour in the Northwest for approximately a decade.

“It has really turned into an annual event,” Northwest Region director Greg Burgess said. “It’s just a great family outing.”

The races coincide with the Central Washington State Fair, which runs from Sept. 25 through Oct. 4. Entry into the fair, which costs $12 each day, also allows access to the races.

“We get a lot of people from outside our area come and attend the races and also attend the fair,” said Greg Lybeck, assistant general manager of the state park. “It’s a nice matchup for us, especially that first weekend.”

Although the two ASCS races will likely be the only of the season, approximately $25,000 worth of clay will be added to the track, Lybeck said.

“That’s the value that we see that tour having for our fair in Yakima,” he said. “It’s probably not going to add a ton of banking. I think it’s going to deepen it up.”

Driver Jared Ridge, whose first career race was at the track, said he wishes there were more races there.

“I like Yakima because it’s big and it’s speedy, and it’s pretty racey when it’s good,” Ridge said.

Following the final race of the Sept. 26 event, the Northwest Region will host its season-ending banquet at the fair.

Jayme Barnes emerged atop a torrid battle for the inaugural ASCS Northwest crown, edging out Jared Ridge by 30 markers for the top position. Barnes and Ridge ranked as the only two drivers to earn starting berths in all 13 events over the course of a rugged campaign, with a pair of podium finishes by Barnes during a championship weekend double in Yakima enough to seal the deal.

In a hole from the outset, Roger Crockett battled back into title contention on the strength of five wins and the ASCS Northwest Speedweek title along the way before settling for third in points after a Yakima skirmish.

ASCS Northwest Region Feature Winners (8 winners in 13 features): Roger Crockett 5, Shane Stewart 2, Jonathan Allard 1, Jayme Barnes 1, Seth Bergman 1, Danny Lasoski 1, Brock Lemley 1, Jason Solwold 1.

ASCS Northwest Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Jayme Barnes (Marysville, WA) 1,754, 2. Jared Ridge (Snohomish, WA) 1,724, 3. Roger Crockett (Medford, OR) 1,710, 4. Jay Cole (Shelton, WA) 1,620, 5. Seth Bergman (Snohomish, WA) 1,612, 6. Brock Lemley (Bellingham, WA) 1,608, 7. Jared Peterson (Stanwood, WA) 1,499, 8. Henry VanDam (Enumclaw, WA) 1,476, 9. Chad Groves (Bend, OR) 1,422, 10. Rob Held (Sutherlin, OR) 1,249.