A new track is a beautiful thing.

WCPMA at Spokane

Words by Clifford Tunnell
Photos by Rich Carlson

Spring is a time of new beginnings, and the WCPMA season opener at Spokane County Raceway was no exception. New track management, not to mention a new track itself should have meant a rocky start to the season, but by all accounts, the show went off without a hitch. The event, only the second one held on the new track, saw a healthy seventeen car Pro Mod turnout for an eight car field, plus six nostalgia funny cars for a fantastic show.

Number one Pro Mod qualifier Joe Delehay

The track may have been green but the Pro Mod action certainly wasn’t, as qualifying went off without a single interruption: no oildowns, blown engines, or crashes. The number eight qualifier, Lee Frank, of Missoula, Montana, set the bump to a 6.479 @ 217.35 mph to divide the A and B fields. The A event started off with a  bang, as the top qualifier Joe Delehay ran a sizzling 6.387 @ 231.44 over Lee Frank’s own 6.892 @ 202.36. Unfortunately, that time came at a price, as a red light on Delehay’s part gave the victory to the slower Frank. Frank wouldn’t stay on top for long however, as Delahay’s fellow townsman Vern Mills was determined to keep Missoula in the running, shutting Frank down with a 6.541 @ 202.36 to Frank’s frankly anemic 12.839 @ 84.53.