Luke Powers autism race is Sept. 20

The 2025 Luke Powers Autism Race is Sept. 20 at Northport International Raceway where Richard Davies and his superstock return to defend the title. Richard Davies photo

NORTHPORT — A wildfire postponed racing at Northport International Raceway on Sept. 6, including the Luke Powers autism race.

That event will now take place this coming Saturday, Sept. 20 with the goal to reach or surpass the $1,000 funds raised in the inaugural event.

This special race came about though the efforts of Northport Superstock driver, Richard Davies, who shared some of the background of how it all came together.

One of Davies sponsors, Gary Ruby, has a sister in California, Marlene Stallsmith.
“Luke is her grandson and my #1 fan,” Davies wrote in a Facebook Messenger post. “He is a brilliant 13-year-old with Autism,” Davies added.
“We are friends, and we exchange phone calls here and there, just an all around great kid,” Davies explained. “(He’s) a huge car enthusiast, race cars, classic cars, sports cars, he can name cars, makes, and models spot on from memory.”

Stallsmith suggested sponsoring an Autism racing event in the name of Luke, and she put up $3,000 to help me and provide for advertising, trophies and prize money,” Davies said. “That’s how it all started.”

Davies said, “I was lucky enough to barely win the event last year, and I am poised to defend my title this weekend.”
The day also features the kid’s day activities with gates opening at 10 a.m. with time trials at noon. Visit Northport International Raceway on Facebook for further information.

St. Moses Lake Vintage Test & Tune is Sept. 20-21

Reid Spencer /NASCAR Wire Service

The replica Miss Thriftway which Bill Muncey drove to fame will be part of the Moses Lake Vintage Test & Tune. Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum

On Sept. 20-21, the Northwest Powerboat Association (NWPBA) will have vintage hydroplanes on the water from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Connelly Park, formerly Airman’s Beach. The hydroplanes are from the golden age of hydroplane racing in the Pacific Northwest.  They are fast, loud and showy.  This is not a formal race event. It is a “test and tune” which allows much more variety in staging the boats on the water.

Two vintage unlimiteds — Miss Thiftway and Bluechip — along with roughly 30 more vintage inboard hydroplanes ranging from 4-cylinder to blown injected methanol burning boats are scheduled to appear.

Beacon Electric wins race, Tate national title
H1 and NW Motorsports News

J. Michael Kelly pilots the U-8 Beacon Electric to victory at the 2025 Bill Muncey Cup in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO — For the third H1 Unlimited race in a row, the first boat to cross the finish line did not earn victory.
When leader Dave Villwock crossed the starting line early and was assessed a one-minute penalty, the 2025 Bayfair San Diego and Bill Muncey Cup victory was awarded to J. Michael Kelly and the U-8 Beacon Electric prevailed edging out Andrew Tate in the U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate.

While race runner-up, Tate earned the biggest prize as the 2025 H-1 national champion. He won the title by 764 points (5,975 to 5,211).

It marked Kelly’s first victory of the season, a well-earned triumph to close the year.
“This team never stopped working, even when the results didn’t go our way earlier this season,” said Kelly. “Winning here in San Diego, in front of these fans, and bringing home the Bill Muncey Cup is an incredible reward for everyone involved.”

For what it was worth, the fastest lap of the heat belonged to Villwock, who posted 156.737 mph.
The day began with the rerun of Heat 1 following Saturday morning’s incident involving Corey Peabody. J. Michael Kelly in the U-8 Beacon Electric surged to victory, followed by Dave Villwock in the U-27 Miss Apollo and Jamie Nilsen in the U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC.

In Heat 4, only two boats answered the start gun after the U-8 registered a DNS. The U-91 Miss Goodman Real Estate claimed the win ahead of Nilsen’s U-11 Miss FLAV-R-PAC.

National high point - 2025 leaders
Boat; Driver; Points
1. U-91; Andrew Tate; 5,975
2. U-8 J; Michael Kelly; 5,211
3. U-27; Dave Villwock; 4,597
4. U-11; Jamie Nilsen; 4,527
5. U-9; Corey Peabody; 3,709

Racing of all kinds are at Rockford

Lawnmower racing action returns to Rockford, Wash. as part of the Southeast Spokane County Fair.

Lawnmower racing comes for Rockford, Wash. Sept. 21. EWLMRA photo

As part of the Southeast Spokane County Fair, both lawn mower drag racing and go-kart racing will roar along State Route 278.

The third annual “Mowing Down Mainstreet” is the signature racing event and what promoter Bert Durgh of the Eastern Washington Lawn Mower Racing Association said has doubled every year.

Mower drags begin at noon and karts at 2:30 p.m. A soap box derby race is scheduled for 10 a.m. All of these racing activities are woven into more traditional fair activities that run Sept. 16 through 21.

Lawnmower racing can be found by visiting the Eastern Washington Lawn Mower Racing Association Facebook page. In addition, there is a truck pull on Sept. 19 starting at 5:30 p.m. with more info available by calling or texting Jason Burton at (509) 995-8919.

Details on the kart racing is available by calling or texting Joe at (509) 994-3613.
Further fair event information can be found by visiting www.sespokanecountyfair.com.

Bell completes JGR playoff round sweep with Bristol win

By Reid Spencer/NASCAR Wire Service

BRISTOL, Tenn. (September 13, 2025) — With a charge to the lead from fifth place with four laps left in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell kept Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota perfect in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Bell survived a hard, square shot to his rear bumper from Brad Keselowski in the final corner and steered straight to the finish line, 0.343 seconds ahead of the Roush Fenway Keselowski co-owner and driver.

Joining JGR teammates Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin as winners in the Playoff’s Round of 16, Bell advanced to the Round of 12, which begins Sept. 21 at one of his best tracks, New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The race marked the end of the Playoffs for the four drivers who came to Thunder Valley below the elimination line—Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry.

Of the four, only Bowman made a significant charge, finishing 10 points below Austin Cindric, the final Round of 12 qualifier.

Six days after complaining bitterly about strategy in a seventh-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Bell was back on top, scoring his fourth victory of the season, his first at Bristol and the 13th of his career.

On fresh right-side tires after a pit stop on Lap 491, the driver of No. 20 Camry took the lead from fifth on Lap 497 of 500 and kept Keselowski, on four new tires, at bay for the duration, even though Keselowski got to Bell’s rear bumper on the final circuit.

Chase Elliott crashed on Lap 311 after contact with John Hunter Nemechek’s Toyota and finished 38th, but the Hendrick driver had enough of a cushion to move on to the Round of 12.

Next up is a stop at New Hampshire, Sept. 21 for the Mobil 1 301.