Roseburg 04-28-07

QUICK RICK BROWN WINS HEIN-DIEMERT MEMORIAL CLASSIC
By: BZ ZELLER

Douglas County Speedway

Roseburg, Oregon- April 29, 2007- During a race delay on Lap 23, Rick Brown sat behind the wheel in the black No. 99D, confident he could win the Don Hein-Casey Diemert Memorial Classic Saturday night at the Douglas County Speedway.

'Quick Rick’ was right.

When the ASA Northwest Sprintcar Series feature returned to green, the veteran sprint car driver vaulted from third to second position and six laps later, surged past Portland’s Pat Bliss for the lead and ensuing trophy.

“I think I’ve got something for those boys,” Brown said inside the cockpit during the red flag. “I’ll have to take whatever line they give me, but I’ll probably have to make a move on the outside.”

Bliss, who started the 35-lap main outside the front row and led the first 29 laps, held true to his strategy of maintaining the inside groove.

“The red flag just killed us,” Bliss said. “I knew after we went back to green, I needed to hold the inside. But, (Brown) had a great run and made a great move outside of me.”

The race stoppage on Lap 23 did more than damage only Bliss’ victory hopes. The red flag was thrown after Craig Deaver, Sumner Wash., raced hard into the back of Brett Smith in Turn 4, sending both cars into the corner of the frontstretch wall. Both drivers emerged unhurt from their cars to exchange heated words and were separated by track officials. Smith, who was running third prior to the contact, suffered a bent front end, was able to resume racing, but from the rear of the field. Deaver’s car, heavily damaged, was unable to continue.

Bliss finished second in the feature, followed respectively by Monte Zema Jr. (Colville, Wash.), Andy Alberding (Roseburg) and Justin Mack (Benton City, Wash.).

Brown drives for car owner Jim Diemert, father of the late Casey Diemert who died in 1999 at Irwindale Speedway. Smith and Matt Hein are both grandsons of the late Don Hein, a local racing legend.

Nine of the 18 feature racers had Douglas County connections. After Brown and his son-in-law Alberding made their top-five finishes, Matt Hein finished ****, Ray Douglas, ****, Kyler Barraza, Tim Alberding, Smith, Donnie Fain and Scott Adams.

Bliss, Hein and Alberding all won their respective NSRA heat races. Brown won the A trophy dash and RJ Fronsman took the B dash. Albderding, who owns the track record (12.494 seconds) won the qualifying session with a 12.710 lap. Adams was the second fastest in the time trial (12.947).