Well folks, after a long two weeks of disappointment, the weather finally let up and the sun came out, and the racing returned at Columbia Motor Speedway Park.

As always, there was gripping action from green to checker. However, contrary to what I said in my previous column, the mini stock and the super mini classes have been restored this year, so I apologize to the drivers and all the fans for my misinformation.

Now thats out of the way, so we can get to the racing action. After the little weather delay,  the racing was back, and boy, was it hot! 

Like always, the hornets class had a full car count of 19 in the main event, with Dangerous Dan Nelson of Team D2 Racing out of the Tri-Cities driving to the checkered flag,  as well as his heat race and trophy dash.

Moving onto the hobby stock cars, there was a small field of five with Larry Hodge in the No. 43 taking the main event, as well as the heat. With the new/old mini stock, well true mini stock, class restored, we had a seven-car field. But in reality, it was just a two car race all night between two best friends. Racing teammates out of Helix, Mark Mushroom Matthews and Glenn GT Tipton, ripped up the oval in their Toyota Celicas. Matthews took the trophy dash, but Glenn, after a year of paying his dues in the hornets class with a modified mini, took the heat as well as the main event and fast time.

 It was legendary Alabama football coach Paul Bear Bryant who once said about being a gracious winner where upon achieving victory, act like youve been there before, and act like you are going back again.

But when Tipton was handed that trophy, after a long time running in a mismatched class, I dont blame him for celebrating and neither did anyone else in the pits.

Our final race of the night was a combined main event that was scored separately for two reasons: a low car count for the limited sportsman class, as well as time restrictions, so the super streets and limited sportsman classes were combined for the main.

A familiar face took the main event for the streets, Randy Alexander Jr., out of Walla Walla. He piloted his sons car to victory because his other son Brandon was driving his car, but I guess thats just proof that when it comes down to it, the best car in the world still needs a good driver. 

The Alexanders and their bright orange Camaros have been the consistent face in victory lane at CMSP for over 20 years.

Finally, for the limited sportsman field of three cars, it was Rick Melbourne who took the checkered flag.

Folks, it was a good week of fast action, three-wides and spin outs and this coming week looks to be no different with the weather forecast looking nice for racing. Temps are supposed to be in the 80s, so I hope to see everyone out there at some point this season.

You never know whats going to happen on the CMSP oval.

Ron is a Hermiston resident and avid outdoorsman. He can be contacted by e-mail at superbee_hemisrule@hotmail.com