Submitted by Gordon Zaitsoff
Local drivers from Castlegar have proven themselves at the Northport International Raceway by dominating the standings.
LeeAnn Zaitsoff, age 14, is the youngest female in history to race on the one-half-mile dirt track and ranks first place in the hornet class. Her instant success has secured a sponsorship with Dirt Dog, an international program dedicated to racing recognition.
Darren Dudley, a local professional truck driver, holds first place—and bragging rights—in the fast-action modified class. This is Dudley’s first year of racing.
Gordon Zaitsoff, a longtime participant at Northport, currently shadows Dudley in second place.
Other locals also hold standings in the modified class:
5th place: Stacey Mackinnon
7th place: Nicki Hyson
10th place: Randy Steep
15th place: Dave Popoff
A new go-kart series has been started with local talent Zak MacKinnon nipping at first place in the Jr2 class. Nick Fitchett, who started racing mid-season, follows closely in fourth place.
These locals hit the track again in Northport, Wash. on Saturday, August 22. The gates open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 6 p.m.
Saturday will also feature racing under the lights—the first time in the 55-year history of the track—and Flatlander motorcycles drifting around the track.
Come out and cheer for your local drivers.