graysharborraceway Archives

James Banks $7,500 Payday with First Modified Nationals Win at Grays Harbor

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (July 19, 2025) — Bricen James added another major milestone to his growing resume Saturday night at Grays Harbor Raceway, capturing his first Modified Nationals victory in the 40-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The $7,500 triumph marked his seventh win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region and his first at GHR in 2025. Oregon’s Grey Ferrando, a past track champion at both Cottage Grove and Willamette Speedways and last year the Cocopah Speedway champion in Somerton, Arizona, set the early pace in the Geoff Morris-owned no. 52. Ethan Killingsworth, a Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod standout in his first Modified season, ran second early and kept Ferrando honest through the first half. Behind them, two-time defending IMCA Wild West Speedweek champ and 2019 Western Region titlist James worked his way through the top five, eventually clearing Eston Whisler for third. By lap 21, Killingsworth made a serious bid for the lead, but Ferrando held strong on the bottom. The move opened the door for James, who [Read More]

Schnitzer Scores Grays Harbor Win, Takes Over Modified Points Lead

By Shaun Hulburt ELMA, Wash. (Jun. 28, 2025) — Jason Tole showed early speed by leading the opening lap of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Grays Harbor Raceway, but Brenton Schnitzer stole the spotlight with a thrilling move on lap one. Schnitzer executed a daring two-for-one pass to take second, then quickly powered into the lead on lap two. From there, he was never challenged en route to his second win of the 2025 season at GHR and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Zane Miner had a determined drive, rallying from 10th despite front-end damage that left parts dangling from his machine. Miner made it to second but ran out of time to track down Schnitzer. Jake Sorenson rounded out the podium in third. With back-to-back tough nights for Tyson Blood, Schnitzer now holds the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified point lead at Grays Harbor by just two markers. The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Grays Harbor Raceway TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for [Read More]

$7,500-to-Win Modified Nationals Returns to Grays Harbor Raceway July 18–19

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (June 18, 2025) — One of the biggest Friesen Performance Modified races in the Pacific Northwest returns for its 26th running, as the Modified Nationals takes center stage at Grays Harbor Raceway on Friday and Saturday, July 18–19. The event pays an impressive $7,500 to win and $200 to start Saturday’s 40-lap main event, with over $20,000 in total purse money up for grabs. This IMCA-sanctioned special will feature two nights of intense racing. On Friday, all drivers will compete in two heat races — the first lined up straight-up by pill draw, the second fully inverted by original draw order. Points will be awarded based on finishing position and passing points. The top 18 in overall points from Friday advance directly to Saturday’s A Main, while the rest will transfer into Saturday’s B Mains. Also, Friday night, the prestigious Race of Champions returns — a 25-lap showdown featuring up to 20 drivers who are either former Modified Nationals champions, Modified track champions from the past 10 years, or 2024 Grays [Read More]

Moore Picks Up Second Win of the Year at Grays Harbor

By Shaun Hulburt ELMA, Wash. (Jun. 15, 2025) — Brian Izzi got the jump on the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field at Grays Harbor Raceway from his outside front row starting spot and led the early laps of the main event. On lap three, contact occurred in a battle for seventh, eighth, and ninth between Jason Tole, Tyson Blood, and Riley Scherer. Scherer and Blood got together, sending Blood spinning to a stop and ending his night early. Austin Rognlin took over the lead on the restart, with Craig Moore sliding into third and then passing Izzi for second a lap later. Rognlin built a healthy lead through lap 10, but Moore slowly began to reel him in as the leaders encountered lapped traffic. Moore capitalized and made the pass for the lead on lap 21. A late restart gave Rognlin one last chance, but the veteran Moore held on to score his second win of the year at GHR and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Rognlin settled for second, with Jason Tole rounding [Read More]

Hudson Hunts Down Whisler, Claims $2,500 West Coast Clash Finale at GHR

By Shaun Hulburt ELMA, Wash. (May 25, 2025) — Jeffrey Hudson made a late charge pay off in the final night of the 2025 West Coast Clash at Grays Harbor Raceway, collecting a $2,500 victory and his second win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. The Oregon native piloted the Don Roemer-owned no. 83R to the front after chasing down early leader Eston Whisler in the 35-lap main event for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Whisler set the early pace, leading from the drop of the green until lapped traffic forced him out of the groove on lap 11. That misstep opened the door for Jeffrey Hudson, who had been closing steadily and took over the top spot. Hudson began to pull away before a lap 14 caution erased his advantage and restacked the field. On the restart, Nick Trenchard moved into second with Kevin Williamson following into third. The Keno, Oregon pilot faced traffic again in the closing circuits and handled a late restart with eight to go to seal the win. The [Read More]

Schnitzer Outlasts Moore for Thrilling Elma Modified Win

By Shaun Hulburt ELMA, Wash. (May 17, 2025) — Brenton Schnitzer powered through a wild finish to capture the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Grays Harbor Raceway. Kyler Moore jumped to the early lead from the front row and held command for the first five circuits until 2021 track champion Scott Miller edged past him on lap six. Moore battled back to reclaim the top spot a lap later and maintained control until lap 23. That’s when Schnitzer, the fastest car on the track after starting tenth, made his move. The Shelton driver worked the middle groove to take the lead from Moore, but his charge nearly unraveled in the final two corners when he ran out of tear-offs and struggled to see through lapped traffic. Despite nearly losing control, Schnitzer managed to hold off a late charge from Miller to score his first Shaw Race Cars Western Region win of the season. Miller claimed second while Moore rounded out the top three after leading the majority of the race. Brenton Schnitzer powers around Grays [Read More]

West Coast Modified Clash Brings Two Nights of Racing and Fireworks to Grays Harbor Raceway

By Shaun Hulburt ELMA, Wash. (May 14, 2025) — The 6th Annual West Coast Modified Clash will roar into Grays Harbor Raceway over Memorial Day weekend with two complete shows for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, along with a post-race fireworks spectacular on Sunday night. The Modified Clash kicks off on Saturday, May 24, with a $2,000-to-win feature for the IMCA Modifieds, locking in the top four finishers for Sunday’s $2,500-to-win finale. The SportMods will run two separate, point-paying shows each night, with $600 on the line for each feature. “This is the start of our summer schedule, and we’re excited to showcase the Modified Clash with two nights of intense IMCA Modified and SportMod action,” said Bert Johnson, manager of Grays Harbor Raceway. Entry fees are $80 for Modifieds and $40 for SportMods. All entry forms and rules are available on the Grays Harbor Raceway website under the Modified Clash section on the rules page. Complete event details can be found at www.graysharborraceway.com/rules/. Cars will hot lap with their heat [Read More]

Miner Controls Every Lap for First Modified Win of 2025 at Elma

By Shaun Hurlburt ELMA, Wash. (May 3, 2025) — Zane Miner from Graham led every lap of Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Grays Harbor Raceway to earn his first win of the 2025 season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Miner took a massive lead early on before a lap 7 caution briefly erased his advantage. Another stoppage on lap 9 reset the field again, but he executed strong restarts each time to maintain control. Behind him, Brenton Schnitzer and Tyson Blood battled fiercely for the runner-up spot in the final ten laps, with Schnitzer ultimately holding off Blood, who charged from deep in the field. Miner’s pace was tested again in lapped traffic with five laps to go, but a final caution with two laps remaining gave him a clean restart. He pulled away once more and sealed a popular victory in front of the Grays Harbor crowd. Schnitzer and Blood completed the podium. The event was broadcast live on IMCA.TV affiliate Grays Harbor Raceway TV. Catch every lap again with the [Read More]

Moore Outduels Blood in Wild Grays Harbor Modified Thriller

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (Apr. 26, 2025) — Craig Moore of Seabeck led all 25 laps of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Grays Harbor Raceway, but to earn his first win of the 2025 season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region was anything but easy. Moore took command at the drop of the green, quickly distancing himself from Scott Miller while the action behind was absolute chaos. The race from third through eighth went two- and even three-wide early on, as Tyson Blood carved his way forward from the 10th starting position. After a pair of early cautions, Austin Rognlin powered into second and Blood cracked the top three. The trio went to war on the ensuing restart, with four-wide battles breaking out behind them in a showcase of edge-of-your-seat racing. A third yellow with 14 laps to go set the stage for the moment of the night: Blood used the restart to sling past Moore in turn one, but Moore kept his foot planted, ripped the cushion, and crossed over [Read More]

Blood Clinches First Grays Harbor Checkers of 2025

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Tyson Blood proved unstoppable Saturday night at Grays Harbor Raceway, charging from sixth to score a dominant win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The Tumwater driver, a three-time defending track champion and four-time reigning Washington State titleholder, took the lead on a lap two restart and never looked back, surviving a green-white-checkered finish to secure his first Shaw Race Cars Western Region win of the season. Kevin Smith led the opening circuit of the 25-lap main event before Blood powered around him on a restart after an early caution. Smith then engaged in a fierce battle for second with Craig Moore and Brenton Schnitzer, but slipped out of shape on lap 10, triggering a caution and moving Moore into the runner-up spot. Blood showed no signs of slowing down, handling multiple restarts with precision and maintaining his advantage throughout. The final restart set up a green-white-checkered shootout, but Blood was flawless to the finish. Jeff Hunt made some key late moves and took second, while [Read More]