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Aumen bags first NSRA win in Doug James Memorial
Andrew Kunas
MONROE, Wash. – Scott Aumen is going home to Duncan, British Columbia with some hardware from the ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association for the first time, winning Saturday's Doug James Memorial at Evergreen Speedway.
For the ASA/NSRA, the club in general was happy just to race at Evergreen. Saturday's event was the first ASA/NSRA race at the Monroe oval not to be rained out since the same race in 2003. Fans who braved the cold under the threat of more rain were rewarded with a first time winner in the 35-lap main event. Aumen, who had won previously on a dirt track with the former Northern Sprint Tour, was a winner in ASA/NSRA competition on pavement for the first time.
Even better for the Wilroc series competitor, it was his first time racing at Evergreen as well.
"It feels really good. Anytime you get a win is fun," Aumen said following his first main event on the Monroe oval. "This is a nice group of people. We had a good time all weekend, and winning the race was just the topper. I've heard rumors this was a big speedway, and now I believe it."
The track is big, at .646-mile in length, the longest on the ASA/NSRA circuit.
Driving the Whitcomb/Stewart/Turner entry with a brand new Neil Montgomery motor, Aumen started eighth but was quickly in second place when lap three was completed. The next lap saw Aumen take the lead from pole sitter Robert Beck.
For 30 very lengthy laps around the large oval Aumen kept himself just a little bit ahead of the extremely quick Craig Deaver, who was considered by many the favorite to win after his impressive practice and qualifying performances earlier in the day.
For a time it seemed Sumner, Washington's Deaver would quickly take the lead aboard his own machine after charging to second place from his tenth starting position by the completion of the fifth lap. Aumen, however, was in control and was almost never seriously challenged by the former series champion until lap 33.
Coming up on a number of slower cars as they approached turn one, Aumen was slightly slowed, which allowed Deaver to creep back up. Aumen, however, went very high into turn one, virtually in a no man's land, to pass Matt Mansell on the outside. Deaver was slowed by Mansell for a moment, giving Aumen extra space which proved to be enough to hold on for the win.
"The lapped cars were fast also. When we got to (Mansell) I got up into the fourth groove, where I was in no way comfortable," Aumen said with relief about the close call late in the race.
After setting fast time in qualifying with a time of 19.500 seconds, easily winning his heat race from near the back of the field and finishing second in the dash, Deaver was forced to settle for a second place finish in the feature.
"I basically had the same setup I had on it all night. The only thing that changed was I picked up just a hair of a push when (the track) cooled off and I added a full fuel load," Deaver said. "We were still just as a fast. I could get in on him but he just had enough. We just didn't have enough to get around him."
Deaver, who hasn't won the Doug James Memorial, was admittedly dissatisfied with his finish.
"It was a successful night, (but) I'm just disappointed as heck," Deaver said. "I used to go watch Doug James when I was a kid, and it would be the world to me to win this event, so I'm ultimately disappointed."
One contender who was also disappointed after dropping out during a lap 13 caution was Roseburg, Oregon standout Andy Alberding, driving the Dar-Dan Racing machine. Following a lap seven restart, Alberding moved by hometown driver Jake Mann for fourth and then Beck for third on lap eight. Suddenly the fastest car on the track, Alberding steadily advanced toward the front runners.
The caution on lap 13 for Beck's spin in turn one quickly put Alberding on Deaver's tail. However, Alberding discovered his car was leaking oil and was forced to return to the pit area. Alberding was credited with a 12th place finish.
"It was a bummer. I thought I was catching them," Alberding said. "When we got the yellow I thought we were in business."
After the day he had, Mann was happy to finish third aboard the Waller & Son Motorsports sprinter. After experiencing a variety of problems earlier, including the transponder system not working as well as the side boards on his top wing flying off the car during qualifying, Mann had a solid run in the main event. Inheriting third when Alberding pulled off the track, Mann held the position the rest of the race.
"The wing, the hood scoop, the timing didn't work, and then in the heat race we were horrible," Mann said, running the list of all that went wrong. "Thank God we were able to get a good starting position. Actually, the car was set up perfect (during the main). It was really good. I knew I didn't have anything (for Aumen and Deaver), and considering all that happened earlier I am absolutely happy finishing third."
With the second and final caution of the race coming after only 12 laps were complete, the final 23 were green. Thanks to the long green run on the long track, Aumen and Deaver lapped the field through fifth place finisher and former NSRA champion Allen Goetz. The last finishing car on the lead was Matt Hein, piloting the Hein Racing entry out of Roseburg. After running limited sprints for a number of years, Hein competed in just five 360 sprint car events last year. Saturday was his first time racing at Evergreen as well.
"At the beginning, (Evergreen) was scary, but after you get going it isn't as scary as you'd think it would be," Hein said about running on the big track. "The car was pretty good in the beginning, but the right rear started going away and we got pretty loose."
Greg Middendorf, Mansell, Beck, former series champion Pat Bliss and Monte Zema Jr. rounded out the top ten. Bliss, re-united with Helm Motorsports, whom he won the 2003 ASA/NSRA championship with, dealt with motor problems all weekend, but was able to eventually fire his car for qualifying.
The first caution from lap seven was for two separate incidents on the track, including Graham, Wash. driver Brian Smith and Todd Coleman of nearby Lynnwood crashing in turn three. The other incident happening was Justin Mack, who was racing for a top five position at the time, crashing into the outside wall on the front stretch exiting turn four.
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ASA Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association
Doug James Memorial
Evergreen Speedway – Monroe, WA (.646-mile, semi-banked, asphalt oval)
March 31, 2007
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
16 cars
Qualifying (best of two laps):
1. 15 Craig Deaver (Sumner, WA), Deaver Racing, 19.500 seconds
2. 76 Andy Alberding (Roseburg, OR), Dar-Dan Racing, 19.643
3. 44s Scott Aumen (Duncan, BC), Whitcomb/Stewart/Turner, 19.880
4. 25 Monte Zema Jr. (Colville, WA), Team Zema Racing, 20.030
5. 17 Justin Mack (Tri-Cities, WA), Mel's Motorsports, 20.388
6. 44 Todd Coleman (Lynnwood, WA), TODDCO Motorsports, 20.555
7. 98 Matt Hein (Roseburg, OR), Hein Racing, 20.752
8. 5 Allen Goetz (Snohomish, WA), Goetz Racing, 20.784
9. 47 Brian Smith (Graham, WA), K & S Motorsports, 20.787
10. 51 Jake Mann (Monroe, WA), Waller & Son Motorsports, 21.025
11. 49 Pat Bliss (West Linn, OR), Helm Motorsports, 21.528
12. 3 Robert Beck (Redmond, WA), Millennium Motorsports, 21.547
13. 14 Matt Mansell (Victoria, BC), Rendle Mansell Motorsports, 21.613
14. 4 Greg Middendorf (Snohomish, WA), Middendorf Racing, 23.318
15. 46 Larry Davies (Seattle, WA), Davies Racing, 23.697
79 Randy DuBois (Poulsbo, WA), DuBois Racing, no time
Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. 3 Robert Beck, 2. 76 Andy Alberding, 3. 4 Greg Middendorf, 4. 5 Allen Goetz, 5. 25 Monte Zema Jr., 6. 51 Jake Mann, 7. 44 Todd Coleman.
Heat 2 (8 laps): 1. 15 Craig Deaver, 2. 44s Scott Aumen, 3. 17 Justin Mack, 4. 49 Pat Bliss, 5. 14 Matt Mansell, 6. 47 Brian Smith, 7. 46 Larry Davies, DNS - 98 Matt Hein. Note: 98 Matt Hein pulled off track after initial start was called off due to false start.
Dash (4 laps): 1. 44s Scott Aumen, 2. 15 Craig Deaver, 3. 25 Monte Zema Jr., 4. 76 Andy Alberding.
Doug James Memorial (35 laps): 1. 44s Scott Aumen, 2. 15 Craig Deaver, 3. 51 Jake Mann, 4. 98 Matt Hein, 5. 5 Allen Goetz, 6. 4 Greg Middendorf, 7. 14 Matt Mansell, 8. 3 Robert Beck, 9. 49 Pat Bliss, 10. 25 Monte Zema Jr., 11. 46 Larry Davies, 12. 76 Andy Alberding, 13. 17 Justin Mack, 14. 47 Brian Smith, 15. 44 Todd Coleman.
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NSRA: Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association
www.nsraracing.com
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