March 22, 2024

JOAN EVANS PASSES

Garrett Evans has noted the passing of his mother Joan with a recent post on Facebook.

The Wenatchee Super Oval owner and noted racer wrote: “We’re mourning a huge loss in our Super Oval family with the passing of the matriarch of the Evans Family, Joan Evans.”

“It’s safe to say the Super Oval may not be what it is today without the support from Joan and her late husband Leonard when they helped bring new life into in 1999,” Evans added.

Joan loved coming to the track to watch her son Garrett race and later watch her grandkids on track.

“She had a big smile that could fill a room and heart with lots of love. She will be missed and we will carry her memory at the track.”

“We know that Joan will join Leonard with great seats from above to watch over the track.”

Services were held March 19 and Evans will be laid to rest with her husband, Leonard, at the Wenatchee Cemetery.

DANICA DART ENTERED IN APPLE CUP

WEST RICHLAND, Wash. — Ephrata teen Danica Dart is taking a scouting trip to Tri City Raceway in hopes of learning as much as she can as she participates in the 55th running of the Apple Cup on April 7.

While her goal is to finish as high as possible in the season opening race for the Northwest Super Late Model Series and its $10,000 to win purse, Dart, just 16, has other motivation.

Come August, Dart will be chasing more fame when the ARCA Menards Racing Series visits the half-mile tri-oval for the first time in 20 years on Aug. 10. She recently made her debut in the series at Phoenix a couple of weeks ago.

“I am super excited to be running in the 55th annual Apple Cup,” Dart said. “My strategy is to stay out of trouble and make it to the break.”

Dart has never raced at Tri City Raceway but she’s heard it is similar to Mission Valley in Montana. “And I love that track,” she said.

“I am happy to be a part of this prestigious race and I understand the history of it as well as the significance of running good at the Apple Cup,” she added.

Dart will be part of the usual cast of stars in the Northwest’s oldest late model race which dates back to 1967 when Gordy Haines won the inaugural event at Yakima Speedway.

Since then, many stars and their cars have hoisted the trophy, including NASCAR Hall-of-Fame member, Hershel McGriff, Daytona 500 winner Derrick Cope and West Coast Motorsports Hall of Fame Member Garrett Evans, himself a 5-time winner.

The race was staged at Yakima through 2019, cancelled for two years because of COVID and moved to Tri City Raceway when Yakima closed.

Kyle Tellstrom is the defending champion and will join other previous winners — Evans, Jason Jefferson and BJ Tidrick — in the race that has so far attracted 32 entries as of March 18.

The Bonneys TYM Tractors APPLE CUP presented by Legends Casino will honor the former owner of Yakima Speedway, the late Ted Pollock, with the running of the “Pollock 125” feature race