Henry Van Dam moves to 4th in ASCS Northwest standings
Enumclaw, Washington driver Henry Van Dam used a pair of Top 10 finishes in Oregon over the weekend to move himself up a spot in the ASCS Northwest Region standings with just three races to go. Van Dam raced at Cottage Grove Speedway on Friday night and on Saturday he made his first visit to Coos Bay Speedway.
Driving the Van Dam Racing No. 33v Shark-powered Rocket sponsored by Omlid & Swinney Fire Protection & Security, Van Dam Dairy, Shareway Industries and GMS Metalworks, Henry raced in two heat races Friday at Cottage Grove as ASCS officials went with the double heat format due to car count. Pill draw determined the line-ups for the first heat races and those line-ups would be reversed for the second set of heats.
Van Dam started third in the first heat race and based on the invert and number of cars started seventh in his second heat race. Henry finished seventh in the first heat, but a better second heat saw him pass a few cars to finish fourth. Starting in the Top 10, Van Dam raced with Chad Groves and Andy Gregg throughout the first half of the 30-lap feature. Van Dam inherited fifth place on Lap 19 when Jared Ridge and Mitch Olson, two guys ahead of him in the point standings, crashed out together. Henry slid back a few spots over the last ten laps, but still finished a strong eighth place.
Saturday saw Henry get his first look at Coos Bay Speedway, just a short drive from the southern Oregon coast. Coos Bay Speedway was originally a pavement track before converting to dirt in 2007. The pavement is still there as the dirt is merely sitting on top of it. Henry ended up liking the place. Again, the ASCS officials went with the double heat race format due to car count. Henry drew the pole for his first heat race, meaning he’d start in the sixth and final position in his other heat race.
Henry and Steven Tiner, who is third in the points, duked it out for the lead in their first heat race with Tiner coming out on top, but ASCS Northwest Region publicist Shawn Miller said it was the best battle for a heat race victory he had seen the entire season. Van Dam swapped the lead with Tiner on each of the first four laps. Finishing sixth in his second heat race, Van Dam just missed the pill draw for the first eight starting positions.
Starting the 30-lap feature in the ninth position, Van Dam raced to another eighth place finish, good enough to move him up to fourth in the ASCS Northwest Region point standings with just the tour’s three races in Washington remaining.
The next scheduled event for Henry is weekly action at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington. It’s the same track the ASCS Northwest Region will race at on Sunday, September 6th. The ASCS tour ends its season with the traditional two-day fair show on September 25th and 26th at Central Washington State Fair Raceway in Yakima, often one of the most popular races of the year.
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 Van Dam Racing apparel can be found online at http://www.vandamracing.com.
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ASCS Northwest Region
Top 5 points
1. Roger Crockett, 2130
2. Jared Ridge, 2070
3. Steven Tiner, 2017
4. HENRY VAN DAM, 1973
5. Chad Groves, 1919
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Henry Van Dam’s sponsors
Van 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
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Van Dam Racing online
http://www.vandamracing.com
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