On a sunny day, April 23, 2011, Vintage Modified racing returned to the fast 3/8-mile track at Evergreen Speedway. No one could remember the last time the club raced there, even Dave Trapp and Chuck Peterson, founding members of the 25-year-old racing club, were at a loss to recall how many years it had been.

Defending champion Jim Jones had an advantage over the others due to his past experience and his two season championships at this venue in two separate classes of race-cars. Rightly he was introduced to the crowd as the “hometown hero”. Even so, Bobby Wheeler set the fast qualifying time to take the bonus points and add to his early lead in the 2011 championship race.

The trophy dash was won by former champion Mike Clother who held off a charging Jim Jones with Wheeler and Jeff Peterson close behind. Peterson was campaigning a brand new car after an incident two weeks before that totaled his former race-car. Kudos goes to Chuck and Jeff for hustling to finish their new car in time for this event.

The heat race was led off by John Mustered whose car sported a huge band aide over the roof top injury incurred in the opening race of the season two weeks prior when Peterson literally ran over Mustered passing for the lead. To Mustered’s right was Mike Clother who inherited that starting spot when Robert Rux in his newly painted hot rod, complete with checkered flag design, opted to start in the back row due to mechanical uncertainties. Many time champion Dave Trapp and Jim Jones made up the second row followed by Peterson and Wheeler. Mustered got a good start and Clother dropped in behind him as the two lead the first lap easily. Jones worked up a head of steam on the back straightaway but was unable to whoa down without the help of the rear bumper of Clother. That sent Clother’s car sliding up the racetrack where he was able to regain control but not before the entire field had passed him and drove off leaving him far behind. Turn one is very tricky at this 3/8-mile speedway. Many cars took a spin on the flat entry. Peterson was one of those and brought out a caution flag that allowed Clother to catch up. After a couple more spins and caution flags Jones had made his way to the front where he finished and won the race followed by Mustered, Wheeler and Trapp.

Robert Rux sat on the pole for the main event. To his right sat Dave Trapp. Mike Clother and Jeff Peterson filled the second row. Jones, Wheeler and Mustered took the remaining positions. On the green flag lap both Trapp and Peterson slipped a bit in turn one allowing Rux and Clother to establish a gap between themselves and third place. Clother worked the outside of Rux and was able to complete the pass to take the lead from him. Mustered had attached himself to the rear bumper of Jones and those two freight trained past Wheeler, Peterson, Trapp and Rux moving into second and third. It didn’t take long for those two to catch Clother. Try as he might Clother was unable to hold off Jones who made the pass taking over the lead on lap 4. Those two built a considerable lead ahead of Mustered and Wheeler who continued battling for third. Peterson was still having trouble negotiating turn one and spun bringing out the caution again. On the restart Jones and Clother continued pulling away from the rest of the field. Jones was able to keep just ahead of Clother who tried everything to force Jones into making an unlikely mistake. The transmission in Trapp’s car expired without warning in front of the crowded grandstands but Dave was able to coast out of harm’s way and the race continued. Wheeler was dogging Mustered but could not get around him until Mustered was lapping Peterson and incidental contact between those two caused a flat tire that sent Mustered to the pits with only a few laps remaining. Clother was on the hunt for Jones but could only catch up and never make the pass. The “hometown hero” saw the checkers first followed by Clother and Wheeler. Rux, Mustered, Peterson and Trapp filled the remaining finishing positions.

After the first two races of the 2011 season Bobby Wheeler leads the point chase with Jim Jones only 8 points behind.