graysharborraceway Archives

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]

Moore dominates Grays Harbor finale

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (Sept. 21, 2024) – Craig Moore started from fourth place in Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Grays Harbor Raceway and the only time he didn’t lead was the first lap. Once he took the lead, the Seabeck veteran built a commanding advantage, winning a main event for the second time this year at the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds 3/8-mile oval. Ryen Haney and Josh Muller engaged in a thrilling battle on the contest’s opening circuit, with Haney leading lap one. Determined to break away from the pack, Haney found himself in Moore’s sights. Moore, relentless in his pursuit, overtook Haney at the flag stand on the second lap. From there, Moore gave it full steam and sail and took off from his nearest opponent. Despite some heavy lapped traffic, he cruised to victory with a margin of 4.595 seconds. Zach Simpson moved into third on lap 13 before making a late charge for second, obtaining the position on the 18th circuit and finishing there. Grey Ferrando was [Read More]

Jenner dominates fair feature at Grays Harbor

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Grays Harbor Raceway hosted its annual fair race Saturday on the big 3/8-mile in Western Washington. A strong contingent of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds was in attendance in front of the packed grandstands. Once the main event got underway, Don Martin sprinted into turn one in front of the rest of the field. Still, Robert Jenner caught him, overtook him on the back straightaway, and led the opening circuit. He tried to take off as best he could, but he dealt with seven cautions in the feature’s first half. Austin Rognlin powered his way to second on lap two. Behind him, Martin and Brenton Schnitzer went after it for third. Schnitzer managed to obtain fourth with an impressive pass on the inside of the final set of corners on the fourth trip past the flag stand. The battle for second was a thrilling one, with Schnitzer overtaking Rognlin shortly after a restart on lap 11. As the race reached halfway, Rognlin found himself under intense pressure [Read More]

Winebarger sails to Modified Nationals checkers at Grays Harbor

By Ben Deatherage ELMA, Wash. (July 13, 2024) – Four wins in four races led to the biggest payday of Collen Winebarger’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career. Winebarger topped both his heat races and the $500-to-win race of champions on Friday, then followed with the $7,500 checkers in Saturday’s 25th annual Modified Nationals main event at Grays Harbor Raceway. “The weekend was really good, Winebarger said after leading the caution-free, 40-lap finale start to finish, racing the last 19 times around the track with a broken right front upper control arm. “It was rough. I couldn’t feel my arms afterwards. The last few laps, holding onto the steering wheel, was tough,” he added. “We were still OK, we just slowed down a fair amount. Fortunately it didn’t break all the way off and end our race.” Grey Ferrando ended in second with Nick Trenchard, Brenton Schnitzler and Craig Moore completing the top five. Lapped traffic came into play starting on lap eight but didn’t slow Winebarger’s methodical run on the inside line. Ferrando made his move [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds headline Clash on holiday weekend at Grays Harbor

ELMA, Wash. (May 20, 2024) – IMCA drivers will race for a couple nice paydays, then they’ll sit back and enjoy one of the best fireworks displays in the Pacific Northwest at Grays Harbor Raceway’s May 25 and 26 Modified Clash. The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature on Saturday pays $2,000 to win, the Sunday main event $2,500 to win before the fireworks show brings an end to the Memorial Weekend event. Both are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility races and pay a minimum of $100 to start the feature. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region, state and track points will be awarded each night. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods race for $600 to win and a minimum of $75 to start each night. Entry fee for the weekend is $80 for Modifieds and $40 for Northern SportMods. Pit passes are $40 if purchased on line or $45 each night at the gate. Spectator admission for adults is $19 online or $21 at the gate, for seniors 62 and [Read More]

Grays Harbor checkers are IMCA Modified first for Scherer

ELMA, Wash. (April 20, 2024) – While he’d race to track rookie of the year honors, the 2023 season was admittedly a learning one for Grays Harbor Raceway regular Riley Scherer. The Tenino hotshoe put those lessons to use on Saturday, racing to his Friesen Performance IMCA Modified career-first feature win in the 2024 opener at Elma. “It still hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t exactly know how to describe it,” Scherer said of the main event shortened by cautions and impending weather. “It’s kind of like racing from Motel 6 to the Hilton.” Wheeling a new-to-him 2018 GRT car themed Hammerin’ Down in Pound Town and Doin’ It for Bobby,’ in memory of childhood friend Bobby Orr who passed away last November, Scherer started fifth and ran third most of the way. He’d worked his way to the front just before the race ended. Two-time defending track champion Tyson Blood started 13th and finished second.

Williamson is captain of IMCA Shipwreck Beads Nationals

By Aaron Reed ELMA, Wash. (July 15, 2023) – Jesse Williamson made another trip to victory lane at Grays Harbor Raceway Saturday night, this one worth $7,500. One night after topping the race of champions at Elma, Williamson outran and outlasted the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field at Grays Harbor Raceway, topping the 24th annual Shipwreck Beads Nationals main event ahead of 2022 race winner Collen Winebarger. The Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational eligibility qualifying victory was Williamson’s fifth. Grey Ferrando, Geoff Morris and Robert Jenner rounded out the top five. A who’s who of Modified drivers from the Pacific Northwest and Canada vied for starting spots on the 24-car grid and Bricen James took the early lead with Jon DeBenedetti in second and Williamson third. Lap two saw a multi-car incident on the front stretch and Williamson moved to second following the restart ahead of DeBenedetti, Winebarger and Ferrando. James put some distance on his challengers, making the most of the bottom of the raceway, but slowed and exited on lap nine with a flat tire. [Read More]

Williamson wins IMCA Modified RoC at Friday Shipwreck Beads Nationals show

By Aaron Reed ELMA, Wash. (July 14, 2023) – Night number one of Grays Harbor Raceway’s 24th annual Shipwreck Beads Nationals saw Jesse Williamson win the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified Race of Champions while Trevor Points prevailed in the $1,000 to win Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main. Twenty-one cars set the field for 25 laps during the Race of Champions, made up of 2023 feature winners and track champions across the Northwest and Canada. Williamson and Jason Tole set the front row. Williamson struck first going into turn one, taking the lead while Jason Beaulieu moved into second and Collen Winebarger made it a battle for the runner-up position. Williamson quickly put some distance on Winebarger, Beaulieu and Matthew Drager as Austin Kerrigan ran fifth. Following an early restart, it was Williamson with Winebarger right at his back bumper. Winebarger tried for the lead in turn two but couldn’t make the pass. The battle for fifth was the race to watch between Kerrigan, Bricen James and Lane Zerbin. Williamson slowly put some distance on Winebarger [Read More]

Best in the West IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods to battle at Grays Harbor Shipwreck Beads Nationals

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (July 12, 2023) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and SportMods are coming to Grays Harbor Raceway this weekend, July 14 and 15, for the Shipwreck Beads Modified Nationals. One of the longest running IMCA Modified specials in the Northwest at 24 years brings an additional $6,500 to the main event on Saturday, July 15 including a $7,500 top prize and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility for the winner. If that’s not enough this year’s Saturday night main event for the Modifieds will feature a three-wide initial start. Main grandstand tickets are $5 for a Friday night program that sees two sets of heat races, where drivers earn finishing and passing points that will lock the top 18 into Saturday’s big show and the rest into subsequent heats and ‘B’ races for Saturday. There will be a full SportMod and hornet program that include heats and main events, and then end the night with the Modified Race of Champions. To purchase tickets to Friday’s event please go to https://www.graysharborraceway.com/schedules/event/435996. Saturday is [Read More]