ELMA, Wash. -- It isn’t over until it is over and that’s precisely what Aberdeen driver Joe German proved last Saturday night at the Grays Harbor Raceway. Starting originally on the outside pole German overtook the leader on an exciting green-white-checkered scenario on lap twenty-eight and went on to win the first USRA Modified feature at the Elma speed factory. Before that however there was plenty more action occurring throughout the thirty lap event.

Craig Moore of Seabeck led the first lap from his inside front row starting position but Jeff Foster of McCleary made an inside pass on the second circuit to overtake Moore for the lead. Shortly after that a car spun in front of the leaders on lap four to bring out the first caution of the race. Foster maintained his lead on the restart but former Hobby Stock champion Tom Sweatman of Cosmopolis, who was making his USRA Modified debut, reeled in Foster and beat him out at the line to lead lap nine.

Four laps later the second caution of the evening occurred when the battle for second saw Scott Miller of Shelton spin out, but continued, while third place driver Jeff Foster hit the brakes. With Miller’s correction and continuation he was able to get his position back according to where he was scored on the last completed lap. Three laps late five-time Hobby Stock champion Zack Simpson of Hoquiam brought out the third yellow flag when his car couldn’t quite make it off the track and into the backstretch pit entrance.

Regrouping the field due to the caution Tom Sweatman seemed untouchable as his maintained his lead quite nicely and groomed it with his smooth driving abilities. Another yellow would come out when Danny Fowler of Orcas Island spun in the fourth turn. The field would go green once more with Sweatman out in front and it looked like the final six laps would all be green until Steve Signal of Olympia spun out in turn four to bring out the fifth and final caution.

This set up the green-white-checkered situation with Tom Sweatman the leader and behind him the field restarting side by side. Scott Miller was scored second and in the last run had put a little bit of pressure on Sweatman while to Miller’s outside was defending Modified Track Champion Joe German. When the green came out Sweatman worked the bottom to hold off Miller but with that maneuver he exposed the outside lane to allow German to make a bonsai move on the outside.

The move proved to be exactly what Joe German needed as Tom Sweatman tried to hold off Scott Miller for second it allowed German to develop a cushion of a lead. German checked out while Miller was able to get second from Sweatman at the stripe. Don Jenner of Vancouver finished in fourth and Craig Moore made up the rest of the top five finishers.

Earlier in the night Tom Sweatman was phenomenal in his first USRA Modified start by setting a quick time of 16.550 seconds amongst the twenty car field. He also became eligible for a clean sweep after winning his heat race while other heat winners were Jeff Foster and Scott Miller.

Scheduled for next week’s action will be 360 Sprints, USRA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, and Hornets. Gates open at 2:30 for the pits and 4:30 for the grandstands with racing starting at 6:30. Prices for the event are the following: Adults $13, Senior (62+)/Juniors (15-18)/Military $10, Youths (6-14) $5, Youths (5 and Under) FREE, Family Pass (Two Adults and Up To Four Youths) $30, and Premium Seating $20. For more information on the Grays Harbor Raceway log onto www.graysharborraceway.com.

The USRA currently sanctions divisions of Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks at forty-four other tracks amongst thirteen different states reaching from Oregon to Arizona to Louisiana to Wisconsin. For a complete list of rules be sure and visit the United States Racing Association on the worldwide web at www.usraracing.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, Wash.
Saturday, April 21, 2012

USRA MODIFIEDS

20 Entries

Fast Time: Tom Sweatman, 16.550 seconds.

Heat Race Winners: (1) Jeff Foster, (2) Scott Miller, (3) Tom Sweatman.

Main Event: 1. Joe German, 2. Scott Miller, 3. Tom Sweatman, 4. Don Jenner, 5. Craig Moore, 6. Doug Davenport, 7. Greg Dineen, 8. Robert Jenner, 9. Del Schnitzer, 10. Scott Wesley, 11. 1D Dave Burns, 12. Steve Signal, 13. Kyler Moore, 14. Carl Larson, 15. Matt Jenner, 16. Zack Simpson, 17. Danny Fowler, 18. Jeff Foster, DNS - Dan Fox, Danny Daniels.

Lap Leaders: Moore 1, Foster 2-8, Sweatman 9-28, German 29-30.