Seth Charges To Sixth At Speedweek Opener in Medford

Night 1 of Speedweek got underway at Southern Oregon Speedway with Seth charging from 14th to 6th in the A Main.

36 cars checked into the pits to begin speedweek with national drivers Travis Rilat and Kyle Hirst joining us for the week.

With 9 cars in each heat race Seth found himself starting in the six spot for heat race number four. He was going to have his work cut out with Henry VanDam, Mitch Olson and Kyle Miller all in front of him. The track had been hooked up for the previous heat races but with good drivers in the front passing was going to be difficult.

Seth got away to good start as the light went green and was able to get by the 4c of Charlie Cash on the opening lap. On lap three Seth got by the 88 car and from there it was a case of chasing down Olson, Miller and VanDam. On lap eight Seth got onto the tail tank of VanDam but was unable to get close enought to attempt a pass and we had to settle for fourth. With the passing points we acrued that left us in 14th after the heats and we squeaked into the A Main. Passing points are so critical with this ASCS format, 1 extra car can be the difference between getting into the show.

The team made the necessary modifications to the car after the heats and as we rolled onto the track we were confident that Seth was again going to make a run to the top five. There were no cautions at all in last weekends races but with the track being hooked up I had my suspicions that we would have cautions.

As we went green Seth got a great start and was able to make up two spots on the opening lap before the yellow came out for Steve Vauge in the 08. It was tough break for them as the had got into the top eight but unforuntately they would have to go to the back with a damaged shock. As a result we found ourself in 10th with only 1 lap in the books as we went green again.

Seth quickly found himself in a battle with Danielle Huson who was going well, but the 23 got around and started to work on Linder in the 22 as a yellow came out for the 39c of Solwold who also broke a shock. That gave us another position and we found ourself in seventh position in the early stages of the race. As the flag went green Seth got onto the tank of Linder and was able to work a pass coming off turn four and Seth was knocking on the door of the top five as they made their way into lapped traffic.

We found ourself on a long green flag and Seth was working hard against the 11 of Crockett and the 21v of Wheeler while holding off the 13 of Chad Noland who was right on our bumper. Seth was all over the back of Crockett as the 11 raced all over the track to prevent Seth from passing. On lap 26 the Red came out for Huson as she lost control of her car into turn four. We would have four laps to make a move for a top five finish.

The green waived for the last time and on lap 27 Seth got around Crockett only to have him run Seth up the track on lap 28 and take the spot back. On the last lap Seth grabbed the bull by the horns and looked to thread the needle up the middle of the 11 and 21v going into turn three, but both were able to hold him off as all three cars raced to the checkered with Chad Noland and Jayme Barnes right behind.

It was a great run to start speedweek and if things had gone our way at the end we would have been knocking on the door for a top three finish. All in all a lot of positives to start speedweek and we do it all again on Tuesday night at Lebanon.

Travis Rilat was too good on the night taking the win, from Mitch Olson and Kyle Hirst Third. Vern Wheeler held onto fourth, with Crockett fifth and “Big Sexy” in Sixth.