Salem Indoor season opens

SALEM, Ore. - Saturday night, the 2006-2007 winter indoor season for dwarf cars, wingless 600cc micro-sprints, and the NOMA midgets will begin at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.  This year’s program, co-promoted by Willamette Speedway co-owner Bill Arnold and Cottage Grove Speedway co-owner Bob Leach, comes after last winter’s successful two-show stint that saw spectators take up most of the seats under the cover of the Livestock Pavilion at the Fairgrounds on both January 28 and February 4.

Additional race nights this winter season are currently scheduled for December 1 and 2, January 6, and February 3. February 23 and 24 are currently listed as “to be announced.” 

The track, which was a tight, narrow dirt oval of about 1/5-mile in length, has reportedly been widened in an effort to produce better racing for the drivers and the fans. 

The dwarf cars may be the most well represented group on Saturday as they were last winter, when cars from at least three different clubs around the western United States came to Salem. Last year, Jeff Harsha won the January 28 feature and Scott Cameau was the big winner on February 4. 

The one class that had a rather small car count last winter was the Northern Outlaw Midget Association, which in non-point events drew eight cars on January 28 and then only five on February 4. Many of NOMA’s teams were in the middle of rebuilding cars or preparing new ones.

News of the indoor events in Salem was announced on too short notice for most of the teams and most did not make it. However, with the schedule being put out further in advance this year, more teams are likely to show up. 

The January 28 main event for NOMA ended in some controversy as Spokane’s Tony Berry, a newcomer to dirt, bumped and banged wheels with both Peter Bittrolf and Dave Pugsley on the final lap and ended up winning. The wild finish drew a very strong reaction from the crowd, as fans both cheered and booed. Berry did not return the next week. 

A.J. Tipton showed up the next week for his first race of 2006, and he made it look easy in the feature race, easily picking up the win and setting a very strong tone for year. He went on to win the NOMA championship. If Tipton comes to race Saturday, he likely would be the favorite to win. 

Two classes of wingless 600cc micro-sprints are also running on Saturday. Among the winners of the various main events last winter were Jared Peterson, Logan Foller, and Brett Scott Jr. The 250cc micro-sprints will also race.  The pit meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. with hot laps scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and racing beginning around630p.m.

from Andrew Kunas