September 1-2, 2007
by Mike Weber

Columbia County Racing Association division leaders Jeremy Martin, Celeste Hardesty, Curt Nusom and John Nusom all solidified their positions atop the point standings after notching wins in the Reser's Fine Foods Labor Day weekend stock car races Sept. 1-2 at River City Speedway.

A late season surge by Tricia "Great" Brittain of St. Helens, who won Saturday's A main and was third Sunday, has helped propell her into the top-five of the sportsman series. Scappoose drivers Bobby Morley and Amber Smith had a night to remember as they each captured their first ever main event wins Sunday. Morley won the street stock A main and Smith won the women's race.

Martin of St. Helens, took the lead in Sunday's modified main after passing Vernonia's Doug Davenport on lap 21 and he led the remainder of the 40-lap race to post his fourth win in the STC Racing Parts sponsored open-wheel style racer owned by Sam Jeffers of Scappoose. Earlier this season, Martin won the Baxter Auto Parts Challenge - an eight-race series with four events in St. Helens and four at Banks and he won twice at both tracks to win with 798 points, just ahead of Portland's Marc Sayre at 777.

"I've waited 12 years to win a championship and now I might win two," said Martin, who leads the CCRA modified division with just one race left. "I couldn't have won tonight without the help of my pit crew - Morley, Dennis Blasier, Robert Smith and Mike Harrison, because those guys worked very hard to get the car ready for the main after the transmission blew up in the heat race, so they sure deserve some credit for the win too."

Martin took fourth Saturday, just behind STC Racing teammate Dan Smith of Scappoose, who also had two top-five main event finishes (3rd, 5th) in the weekend event at the Columbia County Fairgrounds facility in St. Helens. Gannin Thomas of St. Helens, also had an impressive performance as he won Saturday in his Generation Transmission racer and was runnerup Sunday.

Brittain led from start-to-finish in recording her first sportsman win in four years and second overall in the series with her Quimby Welding/Fast Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Jon "Razor" Gillett of St. Helens, had a season best second in his Camaro. Brittain also notched a third Sunday, behind Castle Rock's Doug Hurley and winner Curt Nusom of Gresham.

"It was so exciting to get my first win since 2003 and Jon and I sure had a good race up front," said Brittain. "Unfortunately, we didn't have much time on Saturday because of the 11 p.m. track curfew, so I was unable to say thanks to all my sponsors, which is the normal procedure after winning. It was a great win though and I have to give lots of credit to my dad (Bud Fast) and my husband Sam, who both work hard on the car all season so that I can come out and compete here and have fun."

Hurley and Milwaukie's Eric Lindquist captured B main wins. Davenport and Clint Petty of St. Helens won modified B mains. Street Stock B Main winners included Neil Hardesty and Steven Harris. Morley passed frontrunners Doug McVae of Scappoose and Vernonia's Robert Williams, who collided on lap 39 of the street stock A main and led the last two laps to notch the win with his McFly Racing/STC Racing Chevy Camaro.

"It's great getting my first win, the car was running well and I'm having a pretty good season for a rookie, especially since I've moved up to fourth in the standings," said Morley. "I didn't expect to win, but I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when the two leaders crashed."

Gresham's John Nusom started on the front row of the street stock A main Saturday and led all the way in his Bud's Auto Wrecking/T&T Draggin' Wagons Camaro. Eddie Farness of Sandy, Nusom's co-driver, was second to Morley and the duo has nearly clinched the title.

John's brother Curt, was a double duty driver as he competed in street stock and sportsman events both days. Curt, 44, drove the same car that he won the 2006 CCRA street stock title with and he recorded two fourth place main event finishes with the Tom's Auto & Performance Machine Camaro.

"It appears almost certain that John and I will each win a division title in the last race on Sept. 15 and I'm sure that it's the first time in the speedway's 20-year history that two brothers captured titles in the same year," said Nusom. "We'll always cherish this season and have some fond memories too, but we've sure had to work hard while keeping the cars running well all year. I really didn't expect to win a championship at the beginning of the year, but I've had lots of fun and I've won five A mains, which is the most wins I've ever had in one season."

Hardesty of St. Helens, won the women's main Saturday in the Fast Lube & Oil Monte Carlo for her seventh victory, which ties the all-time mark for wins in a season and she's aiming to break the record in the season finale. Smith led all the way Sunday in the Alliance Automotive Camaro, followed by Hardesty and Kathy Griffin of Scappoose.

Mini Stock A main winners included James Lutz of Milwaukie winning on Saturday and Vancouver's John Fordyce captured Sunday's A main. Brandon Sayre of Portland won the Student Division race and Sammy Wright of Vancouver, captured the Micro Sprint main. Corey Esteban won the PHRA Dwarf Car main on Sunday.