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Salem Indoor continues Saturday
Andrew Kunas
SALEM, Ore. - The indoor season at the Oregon State Fairgrounds continues Saturday night, as the NOMA midgets, dwarf cars, micro-sprints, and pro-4 modifieds go at it again on the 1/5-mile dirt oval under the cover of the Livestock Pavilion.
A month ago it was Arlington, Washington's Doug Kammerzell who completed a clean sweep in midget action, winning both of his heat races, the dash, and the 25-lap feature. Kammerzell was the third different winner in three events at the fairgrounds this fall/winter season, joining Dave Pugsley and Tony Seidelman.
As a matter of fact, since the midgets began racing at the fairgrounds a year ago this month there have been no repeat winners in five races. The other fun and interesting fact is that two of the five feature events in 2006 were won by pavement racers.
Winning the last time out in the dwarf cars was Kelly Gutchess of Gold Hill, Ore. Gutchess also took the Salem Indoor season opener in November. Already having a win in February of last year, Portland's Scott Carneau picked up his second Salem Indoor win total on December 1 and finished third the next night.
During 2006, the racing by the dwarf cars were tight and competitive on a consistent basis, with virtually every heat race, dash, and main event being decided in the last few laps. The dwarfs almost always have been the top drawing class since racing began in Salem a year ago.
Expected to make their second appearance in Salem are the pro-4 modifieds, which are a regular class at Sunset Speedway Park near Portland. Tim Ferrando bested Stanley Steves to win their main event on December 2.
Logan Forler will be going for his third win of the 2006-2007 Salem Indoor season in the 600cc stock micro-sprints. Forler, out of the small Seattle suburb of Orting, won the opener on November 4 as well as the last event on December 2. Forler also won in a micro-sprint in the very first Salem Indoor night event on January 28, 2006. Sammy Wright won the main event in the 600cc restricted micro-sprint class on December 2.
Practice is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with racing to begin around 6:30. Fans expecting to attend are strongly encouraged to dress very warmly and bring a blanket or two. Even though the track and seats are under cover the area is still open and exposed to the flow of cold air from outside the Livestock Pavilion. Some fans and race teams have brought hot air blowers or heaters with them in the past, but they are not guaranteed to be on hand at this next event.
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