Thursday, May 11, 2006

Behar heads to Stateline with more time to prepare

Paul Delaney
Correspondent
May 11, 2006

The last time Mike Behar hit the track for an Inland Northwest Superstock Association race he had just hours to take his car from a motor-less rolling chassis to victory in the 100-lap feature.

When Behar and the rest of the INSSA cars return to Stateline Speedway Saturday night for their second race of the season, the Otis Orchards driver will be one of the favorites among an expected field of 18 superstocks.

Given more time to prepare, Behar hopes to accomplish a personal goal.

"We want to do back-to-back wins in late models," Behar said. "That would be a first for me (in late models)."

Two weeks ago, in the hours leading up to the opener, Behar didn't have a motor in his car. By the end of the night he was in the winner's circle for a second time in as many INSSA opening night races.

Unlike in the opener, Behar has had a little more time on his hands before this race. He was able to help a fellow racer ready his car for this weekend.

"We had to put the motor back together," said Behar, noting the big work this time was fine-tuning the set-up.

Any downtime was spent assisting Scott Wilhelm to get his car ready to race.

Despite running on just seven cylinders, Behar lead flag-to-flag to win his second INSSA season opening race in as many years. He finished ahead of Christian Roeder and Dan Garber.

"The plug wire fell off just before the start of the race," Behar said, which cut off power to one of the cylinders.

The Northwest Pro Four Trucks also make their local debut Saturday. Stateline's Hobby Cars fill out the program that begins with time trials at 6 p.m.

Sneva hangs tough

This time, scoring a second straight Northwest Modified Series victory was a little more challenging for Blaine Sneva.

As he had done before in the season-opening race, Sneva drove his "Pink Lady" to fast time, a 13.53 lap last Saturday at Stateline Speedway. From that point on, the going got a little tough.

Involved in a crash in the B-Heat race, it appeared at first that the night was over the Coeur d'Alene driver.

"We hit the wall hard," Sneva said. "Dad (Edsol Sneva) said put it on the trailer. Everybody was scrambling. We had the parts, but whether we had the time was the question."

Everything came together for Sneva, who started midpack. He took over the lead early in the 50-lap main, finishing ahead of Dan Noble and defending series champ Frankie Volz Jr.

The next race for Sneva and the modifieds is a Memorial Day weekend event May 27 at Spokane Raceway Park.

Gasaway finds his way

Burt Gasaway, driving for Spokane Racing Karts, swept his way to victory by winning three straight heats in McMinnville, Ore., last Saturday.

Gasaway came from the back of the field of 14 karts in one heat and then posted a pair of victories racing from the pole to claim a second straight International Karting Federation (IKF) World Formula class win.

Saturday's race was the kickoff of IKF's Region 6 Gold Cup/ChampCar Rotax Kart Challenge kart racing series. Spokane will host the third race of the Gold Cup Series at the track in Airway Heights June 9-11.

Pit stops

Eagle Track in Republic, Wash., will open its dirt track season Saturday with the running of the Everett Merritt Memorial. Racing begins at 1 p.m. Info: 509-775-3508. … Bracket drags and a local stock car program are on the schedule Saturday at Spokane Raceway Park. Gates open at 3 p.m. with racing at 7. … AMA Pro Racing announced that the Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship round scheduled for Aug. 10 at the Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, S.D., has been canceled. Northwest race fans will be able to see the top flat track riders in the nation Aug. 12-13 at Castle Rock, Wash.

Streaks and stats

Tony Berry will have a busy weekend. Saturday night he'll be in the driver's seat of his Idaho National Guard Chevy during the INSSA late-model race at Stateline. Sunday morning the senior will join the rest of his Gonzaga University class in graduation ceremonies. … Spokane's Shelby Thompson finished fifth in last Saturday's season-opening race for the Late Model Challenge at Wenatchee. … Dave Garber collected the first-place prize in the opening race of the I-Car Limited Late Model Series last Saturday at Stateline Speedway. … Pat Bradeen (Street Stocks) was the only repeat winner last Sunday at Northport, Wash. Steve Zuber won the Fever Four main, while the Modified Main went to Dallas Wise.