Bergman Takes 4th in 410 Main Event at Skagit Speedway

It has been a frustrating week for every sprint car driver in the Pacific North West over the past seven days as mother nature reared it’s ugly head all week with constant rain. As result the ASCS double header in Oregon was canceled on Friday so the Bergman team decided to head to Skagit to compete in the 410 series in preparation for the Dirt Cup in two weeks.

As a result of the rain several drivers that normally wouldn’t run at Skagit made their way up the I-5 to compete in Saturday nights races. The 360 class included Henry Van Dam, currently second in the ASCS points standings, Jason Solwold, Brock Lemely, Jared Petterson and a host of other great drivers. The 410 class was a loaded field with Solwold, Jamie Barnes, Travis Rutz, Aaron Fell Jared Ridge as well as local drivers Colton Heath and Barry Martinez all running.

The track crew at Skagit did a tremendous job getting the track ready for Saturday night considering the amount of rain that had fallen all week. Racing started for Seth with the time trials and Seth looked extremely quick through out his qualifying run. As it panned out only Jason Solwold timmed in faster which resulted in the team starting third for heat race number three.

Seth’s heat saw him pitted against 2006 Skagit 410 champion Steve Kilcup. Seth started his heat behind Eric Fisher and Jesse Whitney. As the drivers rounded for the green flag Whitney jumped early and so the drivers circled for another restart. Whitney jumped early for a second time and as such Seth moved forward and had the first position for the restart. As the drivers rounded for a third time it was Seth who jumped early, but fourth time was a charm as the drivers got away cleanly on the restart.

Just like previous weeks when Seth has gotten out into clean air he was never headed as he raced away to a commanding lead. A caution came out late in the heat after a spin by JJ Hickle, but on the restart Seth cleared out yet again and took home a comfortable heat victory

The stage was set for the main event and surprisingly the clouds had remained clear the entire night. Unfortunately the main event had been slightly tarnished as Jamie Barnes was a scratch as a result of engine problems earlier in the night and Jason Solwold wrecked his car during the first 410 heat race of the night after hitting the wall coming out of turn four

None the less an exciting field was set as Aaron Fell had the pole as a result of an inverted grid with Seth starting back in fifth behind, Travis Rutz, Steve Kilcup and Eric Fisher. As the green flag dropped Rutz had a horrible start and fell back sixth. Seth got by Fisher quickly and chased Kilcup down the back straight away for the first time. The racing was fast furious and the track had become much wider as a result of additional track maintenance after the heat races.

It was clear from the stands that Rutz had an extremely fast car as he rode the top of the track to perfection as he got back around Barry Martinez. Unfortunately for Seth there was no stopping his good friend from British Columbia as he raced around Seth on the high side of turn four and proceeded to pass him on the straight away going into turn one.

It appeared Seth was having some difficulties with the car has he had to fight to keep it on the line he wanted. On lap ten the yellow flag came out for a caution and unfortunately for Seth Barry Martinez had squeaked by him before the yellow came out

As racing resumed Seth proceeded to drive more on the top of the track and was able to get by Martinez with a great slide around the top of turns three and four on lap twelve. Seth set his sights on running down Steve Kilcup for third as laps ticked by as the race stayed under green. As the drivers caught up to lapped traffic the gap between Kiclup and Seth had shrunk and with three laps remaining Seth was write on the bumper of Kilcup. With laps running out a back marker halted Seth’s progress and Kilcup was able to hold onto third with Seth taking fourth.

The race for first and second proved to be just as exciting as Rutz sliced his way through the back markers to catch Fell on lap eighteen. From their he was never headed as he took home his second 410 Skagit victory for the season with Fell taking second, Kilcup third and Seth fourth

Next week Seth and the team will head back to Skagit for the Dirt Cup tune up on Saturday night as they continue preparations for the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup Weekend.