A massive crowd has welcomed in the 71st season at Skagit Speedway on Saturday April 26. Beautiful Washington spring weather greeted fans and drivers alike, the local racing community clearly chomping at the bit to get outside and smell the race fuel. Three classes filled the program as 410 Sprint Cars were joined by the Sportsman Sprints and IMCA Modifieds.
410 Sprint Cars
Trey Starks (pictured above) was untouchable come feature time in 410 Sprint Cars but the Puyallup, WA native didn't have it all his own way early on. Robbie Price set first quicktime of 2025 with a lap of 11.365 seconds. Starks was 5th behind Jason Solwold, Joel Myers Jr and Justin Youngquist. The positioning was to Starks' benefit in heat races, the #55 run and won from the pole, as did Youngquist and Eric Fisher in the other two heat races. The top-6 redraw went in Starks' favor and from there it was always going to be difficult for the competition to capitalize in the 30-lap feature. Jason Solwold gave it a red-hot crack, charging from 6th starter to 2nd place, the wily veteran raising a few bristles along the way. Joel Myers Jr continues to find rhythm at Skagit, wheeling the Willie Kahne owned #4 to a podium. Greg Otis was +7 on his way to hard-charger, finishing 14th.
Above: 410 Sprint Car podium; L>R, 2nd Jason Solwold, 1st Trey Starks, 3rd Joel Myers Jr
IMCA Modifieds
Jeff Westergard (pictured above) put out first notice to IMCA Modified competition on night one with a barnstorming +9 run from 10th to win the entertaining 25-lap feature. Westergard was the first to admit that eventual runner-up Adam Holtrop made just one mistake while leading, but it was enough to open the door for the #66 from Sedro-Woolley to nab first blood on the season. James Bundy completed the podium. Westergard won his heat race, as did Kevin Smith and Geoff Morris.
Above: IMCA Modified podium; L>R, 2nd Adam Holtrop, 1st Jeff Westergard, 3rd James Bundy
Sportsman Sprint Cars
In the most entertaining feature of the night the Sportsman Sprint Cars almost delivered an upset for the ages. Jesson Jacobson (pictured above) got the win, but Deming Speedway micro sprint graduate Macie Logsdon made sure the Stanwood wheeler had to fight for every point. Jacobson led early but lapped traffic quickly became a factor. Still technically a rookie, (Macie made one SS start in 2024, officials cleared her to remove the pink-ribbon) Logsdon was positioning her car like a veteran far beyond her experience, eventually finding a way past Jacobson in turns 1 and 2 with a handful of laps to go. Just a short while after it was Jacobson seizing the chance to move back into the lead as Logsdon caught the right-rear of a lapper and briefly bottled her momentum. A late restart gave Jacobson a chance to build a gap as Logsdon was bulldozed into turn one, miraculously saving herself from disaster but losing one more spot. Jayden Whitney was the main benefactor, salvaging a runner-up finish after spinning early and clawing his way back from the tail of the field. Logsdon held on for third, far exceeding her own expectations. The Mount Vernon hot-shoe was barely able to contain her happiness on the podium.
Early in the night, rookie contender Jailynn Serrano showed her potential by setting quicktime at 12.609 seconds. However, Serrano's rookie status meant the Clear Lake, WA racer had to start practically from the rear in her 10-car heat race, effectively ending her chance at a win before it even began. With the rookie ribbon now removed it will be exciting to see what the 44J can do with clean air in upcoming races. Keira Zylstra and Jacobson were heat race winners, Zylstra started the feature from the pole but suffered an unfortunate mechanical issue before the race really even got going.
Above: Sportsman Sprint Car podium; L>R, 2nd Jayden Whitney, 1st Jesson Jacobson, 3rd Macie Logsdon
Skagit Speedway will be back in action this Saturday May 3rd when 360 Sprint Cars and Hornets hit the track for the first time, along with the returning IMCA Modifieds.
Image credits: Nick Coward / RACECAR Illustrated
Above: Trey Starks on his way to 410 Sprint Car feature win number one for 2025.
Below: The Starks family team in Victory Lane
Above: The IMCA Modified action was thick and fast, Zane Miner, #31 goes for the move under Adam Holtrop in heat race competition.
Below: The pass that almost brought home an upset win for Macie Logsdon in just her second Sportsman Sprint Car race.
