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CLEAR Temp: 63 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, July 17, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 15, 2003 Roger Crockett takes his turn during a heat race (top) Monday in the Northern Sprint Tour�s event at Southern Oregon Speedway, then works on his car (left) when the opportunity presents itself. Crockett captured his third race in five attempts. Crockett takes control After misfortune last year, he goes wire-to-wire for the triumph By DON HUNT Mail Tribune WHITE CITY — Roger Crockett made amends on Monday night for his previous appearance at the Southern Oregon Speedway. Crockett led wire-to-wire to win a Northern Sprint Tour race, seven weeks after dominating another NST event at the White City track only to be taken out by a lapped car. "When you’re leading a race, the biggest concern is always someone spinning out in front of you," said Crockett, who bagged his third NST victory in five attempts this summer and widened his points lead in the series with Monday’s win. "The last time I was here, I was going underneath a lapped car and had to slow down. Then two other lapped cars in front of me spun out, and I had nowhere to go." Crockett faced no such problems this time. For the most part, the 22-year-old from Eugene had clear sailing. Advertisement Steven Allard of Chico, Calif., finished second, followed by Jason Solwold of Sedro Woolley, Wash., Jeff Hodgson of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, and Brent Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. Central Point’s Bill Nutter finished a respectable eighth in the feature event and dominated his heat race earlier in the evening. Monday’s event was the first race of NST’s so-called Speedweek in which the sprint-car drivers race five times in six days. The drivers head to Cottage Grove today and compete in Lebanon on Wednesday. Crockett has been the dominant driver on the NST circuit the past two years and is showing no signs of slowing down. He finished second in his heat race Monday and earned the pole by taking the trophy dash. "It was definitely an advantage to start in front on a track like this," said Crockett. "It was dry and slick, but we had the car set up for those conditions." Solwold and Kaeding both showcased their abilities. Each had trouble in qualifying and had to start in the B main. Kaeding won that event and Solwold was second, earning them berths in the feature. Dennis Silva, meanwhile, won his first modified main event at the Southern Oregon Speedway this season. Silva started on the pole and led wire-to-wire but had to hold off hard-charging Brian Poppa for the entire 25 laps. "It feels great to finally win at this track," said Silva, who has triumphed twice at Yreka, Calif., but hadn’t won in White City since last year. "The longer you go without a win, the more frustrating it gets." The dry, slick track made it tough to pass and worked to Silva’s advantage. "Brian (Poppa) had a tough time getting past me, but I could hear him every time I let off the throttle in the corners, and so I knew he was right there," said Silva, the 1997 modified points champion at the Southern Oregon Speedway. "One mistake and he beats me." Dan Estremado wound up in third place, followed by Mike Johnson in fourth and Jeremy Richey in fifth. Jay Hinton was black-flagged for giving an obscene gesture to flagman Alan Weston and faces a pending suspension. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times