Solwold Is Central Washington Star

YAKIMA, Wash. — Wet weather plagued Central Washington State Fair Raceway on Friday afternoon, but not enough to keep the Summer Thunder Sprintcar Series and Washington Modified Tour from completing their first program of 2019.

Jason Solwold and Jason Beaulieu stood triumphant in victory lane at the end of the night.

The main event looked to be a heavyweight brawl with California’s Tony Gualda and Washington’s Jason Solwold duking it out in the early stages. Solwold led the first two laps before Gualda motored the Doug Rutz owned No. 8r by on the outside on lap three.

Solwold set to work trying to run Gualda back in and was doing so when Gualda slowed to a halt on lap 10. Solwold would retake the lead on the ensuing restart and was not seriously challenged for the rest of the main, scoring the first Summer Thunder Sprint Car Series feature of the season.

Chris Schmelzle and Logan Forler rounded out the podium.

Jason Beaulieu had a dominant victory in the Washington Modified Tour event. A lap-seven restart gave Beaulieu the opportunity to pass race leader Jeffrey Hudson for the lead and he never looked back, building a near five second advantage in the late stages of the race.

Grey Ferrando would run second with Jeremy Martin a strong third.