CHAMPION PROFILE - TJ SNEVA

TJ SNEVA, Spokane, WA • Inland Winged Sprints

TJ Sneva is of course from Spokane’s “First family of Speed,” the son of the late Jerry Sneva and nephew of Tom, Jan and Blaine Sneva.

In 2023 Sneva won five of six races in the Inland NW Sprint class at Stateline Speedway, topping Colville driver Chris Ochs by 30 points in the final standings. This was his second consecutive IWS title.

He also claimed a race win at Polson Montana at the Mission Valley Super Oval.

Sneva wrote in an email he’s “Been racing 30 plus years; don’t know exactly,” having driven go-karts, legend cars, thunder roadsters, midgets and late models. The last eight have come in the winged sprints.

TJ has two kids Mari and Winter and is married to Lauren. Sneva is well known for his business building custom alpine skis.

While local racing is finished, the season is not yet complete for Sneva. “We are entered In probably the biggest wing pavement race ever in Las Vegas, December 1 and 2.” The open wheel showdown at the “Bullring” pays $50,000 to win.

Sponsors: Park Inn bar and Grill, Zola bar and music, Country Doctors, State Farm Insurance TJ Hake, Alpine Haus Marina, ElJay oil, Sneva MFG, Pat Jesmore, Jan Sneva and Thom Head. Crew: Tony Townsand, Ben Brown, Lauren Sneva, Mari Sneva and Winter Sneer.

IWS SPRINT SERIES
Pos Car# Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1...... 64....... T.J. Sneva.............Spokane, WA............. 447 -
2...... 54....... Chris Ochs............Colville, WA.......... 417 -30
3...... 7......... Adam Smith..........Moses Lake, WA.. 302 -145
4...... 5......... Tom Beierman......Ephrata, WA......... 233 -214
5...... 27....... Chris Schmelzle....Colville, WA.......... 215 -23

Sneva celebrating with family and friends after win at Stateline.

- Photo courtesy of TJ Sneva

TJ Sneva in action at Stateline.

- Photo courtesy of TJ Sneva

 CHAMPION PROFILE - JEFF BIRD

JEFF BIRD, Hayden, ID • Freedom Modifieds

Veteran racer Jeff Bird from Hayden, Idaho used consistency throughout the 2023 season to claim the title in the Freedom Modifieds at Stateline Speedway.

Bird finished on the top-5 in all five races topping cousin Lucas Bird from Electric City, Wash.

Bird got his start in oval track racing in 1986 at Spokane Raceway Park where he raced until 1988 in their Street Stock class. He then jumped into open-wheel racing with the Northwest Modifieds from 1989-1994 where he won back-to-back championships in 1991 and 1992.

He went back to fender cars running late models from 1994 to 2000 before returning the modifies from 2004-2007. Along the way Bird raced and won a Winston Racing Series title at Yakima Speedway.

FREEDOM MODS
Pos Car# Competitor Hometown Points Gap
1...... 5......... Jeff Bird................Hayden, ID................ 361 -
2...... 24....... Lucas Bird............Electric City, WA..... 352 -9
3...... 86....... Eric Hector...........Moses Lake, WA.... 330 -31
4...... 99....... Lonnie Stocker.....Spokane, WA....... 235 -126
5...... 42....... Bart Hector Sr.......Ephrata, WA......... 204 -157

Jeff Bird’s familiar #5 modified -Photo courtesy of Jeff Bird