For the to start with time due to the fact 2019, River Metropolis Speedway in St. Helens will start its motorsports season in May well.
Mainly because of COVID-19 restrictions, the speedway opened later on than usual previous time in June and in 2020 the track did not open until finally July.
Anything is back again to ordinary now while and the 38th season will include things like a full of 16 Columbia County Racing Association (CCRA) gatherings.
The time opener is established for Could 7 at 5 p.m. on the quarter-mile clay oval observe at the Columbia County Fairgrounds facility in St. Helens. The motorsports schedule continues throughout the spring and summer time and concludes with the Sept. 24 season finale.
Bob Berg of St. Helens will compete in the 4 Cylinder Division in his eco-friendly 1997Dodge Neon (#).
The CCRA, underneath the path of fifth-calendar year President Darrin Rye, expects to see practically 100 drivers competing in 5 motorsport classifications in the opener. People divisions consist of Four Cylinders, Sportsman, Tuner, Pure Inventory and Modified.
“We are satisfied to have a new sponsor of the Road Inventory Division this year, Household Fun RV of St. Helens, so it really is great to have them on board with us,” Rye mentioned. “We actually operated with out any sponsors in 2020 and we gave every person a refund due to the fact of the negative problem again then. There is certainly undoubtedly going to be far more drivers competing this calendar year. We have lots of newcomers coming to the observe and some returning motorists as well, so there is a whole lot of fascination, in particular with several people constructing new race cars to drive.”
Upcoming gatherings are also scheduled Might 14, 21 and June 11 and 25. Other courses at the observe contain the Northwest Dwarf Cars, Road Stock Division, Tracer Division (teenagers age 12-18) and Micro Sprint Autos.
“I genuinely appreciate my occupation with the excitement of becoming at the observe on Saturdays, the appreciation from the drivers and just possessing this facility and keeping it to allow everyone to race below,” Rye reported.
Beforehand, an affiliation rule permitted individuals to be club president for two yrs. Rye stated when he grew to become president, he improved the rule.
“As long as associates of the CCRA carry on to assistance me, then I will accept the club president posture, which basically seems like it can be my career year immediately after year,” he mentioned. “The very last two several years, It was incredibly tricky operating my own company (Dr. Vehicle in Warren), owning my family lifestyle at dwelling and functioning the race track and seeking to make all the things lucrative. There ended up loads of policies to adhere to with COVID and we ended up capable to open our observe just before other tracks did and maintain our doorways open up for the racers.”
Motorists regarded as top contenders to gain a division title include things like Dick Gaboury of Rainer, Shawn Dorie of Scappoose, Bob Berg of St. Helens, and the father/son duo of Greg Greer and son Cody of Rainier and Stephen Kaptur of St. Helens.
Gaboury, 72, is the oldest competitor at the speedway and he is also just one of the quickest and most professional inventory motor vehicle racing motorists competing in the CCRA. Gaboury failed to contend at the monitor the past two decades, but he is thrilled to resume his racing career and drive his Economic system Auto Wrecking sponsored 1992 Nissan Altima.
“If I earn the championship, which is my objective, then I consider that I will likely retire from racing,” mentioned Gaboury, who began his motorsports profession in the 1970’s when he competed at Portland Speedway, which closed in 2001. “I’ve gained two championships in my career, so I’ve savored some good results and if I earn yet another just one, that would be great. Trenton Brogan’s father Gary, will be my co-driver who will substitute for me, if I am not able to race. That will be kind of fascinating to see a father and son racing against each other.”
Gaboury finished in next place in the 4 Cylinder Division point standings in 2019 as a co-driver with Trenton Brogan of Kelso. The duo rotated their position just about every 7 days when driving a 1996 Nissan Altima. In 2013, Gaboury and his son Chris, 52, put together as co-drivers of a Nissan and they gained the Four Cylinder championship. The Gaboury loved ones owns Financial system Vehicle Wrecking in Portland.
Berg, 57, received the 2021 Four Cylinder title when driving his Cozy Lawn Upkeep sponsored 1997 Dodge Neon and he’ll be just one of the top contenders once again this season alongside with Gaboury and the 19-yr-previous Brogan. Berg has gained a few CCRA titles for the duration of his 30-year career at the speedway.
The title contenders in the Modified Division include things like St. Helens motorists Stephen Kaptur and Scott Wells, Greer and Devon Reed of Woodland. Kaptur, 46, received the 2019 Modified championship and he finished in fifth position previous time. Greer is a previous collection champion (2010) who returns to the monitor after a 10-calendar year hiatus and he’ll be competing with his new car or truck.
Greer’s son Cody, 13, won the Micro Dash Restricted Division title final year in his Rainier RV Heart sponsored open up-wheel race automobile and he’ll be in search of to gain a 2nd straight championship this yr.
Dennis Liebig, 36, of Scappoose, won the Dwarf Motor vehicle Division championship whilst driving his Dr. Car sponsored racer automobile very last yr, but he is not likely to be searching for to acquire another title this year considering that he’ll be competing at other tracks in Madras and Lebanon and he programs to enter just a few CCRA events.
Dorie, who finished in the leading-five of the Dwarf Auto standings last yr, is 1 of the leading contenders for the 2022 title along with Josh Rodgers of St. Helens and Teagan Fischer of Warren. Fischer, 21, is a previous two-time sequence champion (2017, 2018) who will be driving her TFT Development sponsored open-wheel fashion race auto.
Other drivers who are viewed as frontrunners for a division title incorporate brothers TJ and Myke Landis of West Linn, who are the top rated contenders to win the Tuner Division title in their Tri Pod Improvement sponsored Ford Aim.
Throughout inclement temperature disorders, it truly is finest to get in touch with the speedway office at 503-397-6506 to confirm the routine. The monitor is situated at 58892 Saulser Rd. in St. Helens.
