Image credits: Nick Coward / RACECAR Illustrated
Colby Thornhill has put paid to the demons of disappointment from the 410 sprint car opener on week 1, by rebounding to a put a stamp of authority on the first 360 sprint car race of the season at Skagit Speedway. Another bumper ‘Star Wars Night’ crowd was bathed in bursts of sunshine to witness twenty-five 360 sprint cars checking in for their first laps in anger of 2025.
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360 Sprint Cars
Thornhill (pictured above) was a man on a mission, leading from the drop of the feature green after starting on the outside front row. The Enumclaw pilot staved off threats from Trey Starks on at least two late restarts. With Thornhill out front Starks had his own issues to deal with, namely in the form of Jesse Schlotfeldt who looked ready to pounce on any mistake by the front two. Thornhill was on rails and it seemed lapped traffic was going to the best chance for the chasers to gain an advantage, however the #19 was picking lines through the back-markers and maintaining a buffer with veteran poise under pressure. An open-red stop for fuel, then a subsequent red flag for an incident involving Ashleigh Johnson and Mike Brown reset the field with less than a handful of laps remaining. But it would not be enough for Starks or Schlotfeldt who ultimately settled for 2nd and 3rd respectively. Jason Solwold and Colton Heath completed the top-5. Tim Martin went +10 to finish 13th and take home hard-charger.
Starks set qualifying quicktime at 11.360 seconds to open the program. Colton Heath, Levi Hillier and Thornhill were the heat race winners. The 360’s return to Skagit next Saturday May 10th in support of the 410's and IMCA Modifieds.
Below: Colby Thornhill celebrates win number 1 of 2025.
Below: 360 Sprint Car podium, May 3, 2025 L>R - 2nd Trey Starks, 1st Colby Thornhill, 3rd Jesse Schlotfeldt
IMCA Modifieds
In the IMCA Modifieds Geoff Morris (pictured above) also bounced back from week 1 disaster, holding on for a trip to victory lane after a late charge from Jeff Westergard. Morris went for a wild ride in the week 1 opener on April 26th, flipping the #52 mod on it’s lid in a turn 4 feature pileup. Just one week later it was Morris’ fortunes that were flipped, the Victoria, BC driver avoiding any significant carnage to claim an exciting victory over Sedro Woolley’s Westergard. James Bundy continued a great start to the season with another podium finish. Rory Smith barely missed the podium, a +10 hard-charger effort falling just short of the spoils. Ben Gunderson and Morris won the early heat races. IMCA Modifieds return to Skagit for the third week in a row next Saturday May 10.
Below: IMCA Modified podium, May 3, 2025 L>R - 2nd Jeff Westergard, 1st Geoff Morris, 3rd James Bundy
Hornets
For the first time in his career, Scott Henry (pictured above) took the familiar bright blue Subaru to winners circle in the Hornet division season opener. Henry was ecstatic, soaking up every ounce of the moment on the podium. Henry led the entire journey from the pole, fellow front row starter Howard Vos maintained his spot to finish 2nd. Raven Skaugrud managed a +5 run to fill out the final podium spot. Ronald Peters was hard charger at +11 to finish 8th. Cody Powers and Mike Guffey won the heat races. The Hornets return to Alger on May 17th.
Below: Scott Henry soaks up that first win feeling.
Below: Hornet podium, May 3, 2025 L>R: 2nd Howard Vos, 1st Scott Henry, 3rd Raven Skaugrud
