Henry Van Dam takes runner-up at Grays Harbor openerEnumclaw, Washington driver Henry Van Dam is fond of Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma. If not for a few bits of bad luck Henry may have had a trophy on his mantle for winning a 360 sprint car track championship last year at the track where he won two main events during the season.On Saturday, Van Dam returned to Grays Harbor Raceway for the track’s 2009 season opener, driving the Van Dam Racing No. 33v Shark-powered Maxim sponsored by Van Dam Dairy, Omlid & Swinney Fire Protection & Security, Shareway Industries and GMS Metal Works. At the end of the night, Henry was enjoying his first Top 5 finish of the season as he finished in second place behind Jared Peterson.It was a nice turnaround for Henry, who a week earlier at Skagit Speedway’s season opener had a possible win taking away by bad luck. He was running second and then momentarily had the lead after prior leader Brock Lemley collided with a lapped car. Henry got by, but not unscathed as his nose wing was knocked badly loose. Under the caution, Van Dam stayed out and was unofficially the new leader with just a few laps remaining, but track officials feared the wing would fall off and Van Dam was shown the mechanical black flag, taking away a possible victory.Henry didn’t have to worry about loose nose wings in the main event of Saturday’s season opener at Grays Harbor. After finishing sixth in his heat race, Van Dam started outside the fourth row in the main event and he wasted no time working his way forward.Van Dam eventually ended up in the second position behind Peterson, ironically the same driver who won the race at Skagit after Van Dam was forced off the track the week before. The leaders had to contend with traffic throughout the race, which allowed Van Dam to close up on Peterson as they raced around the big 3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval. Peterson caught a break late when a red flag came out for a crashed car. This opened up the track in front of him as the field was bunched back together for the restart. With that, Van Dam wasn’t able to catch Peterson but settled for a solid second place effort.Unofficially, Van Dam sits second in the Grays Harbor Raceway point standings, six tallies behind Peterson.Henry will return to Grays Harbor Raceway this Saturday for more 360 sprint car action. The following weekend will see him make the journey down to the Medford, Oregon area for the two-night season opener for the ASCS Northwest Region at Southern Oregon Speedway on Friday and Saturday, May 8th and 9th.Henry Van Dam, 27, is one of the top sprint car racers in the Pacific Northwest as well as one of the most popular with fans. He has main event victories at Skagit Speedway and Grays Harbor Raceway to his credit. More information on Henry and the Van Dam Racing team including schedules, sponsors, photos and apparel can be found online at http://www.vandamracing.com.- - -Henry Van Dam’s sponsorsVan Dam Dairy
Omlid & Swinney Fire Protection & Security
Shark Racing Engines
Shareway Industries
GMS Metal Works
Speedmart Inc.
Jack Dilley Logging
D & L Equipment Repair
Enumclaw Suzuki
Char’s Barber Shop
Enumclaw Express Lube
Foothills Auto supply
Pete Vos
Bob & Joan Shumway
Enumclaw Auto Rebuild
Fire Down Graphics- - -Van Dam Racing online
http://www.vandamracing.com
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