Fall Classic: Hardings race to a checkered record

Canadian father, son hold both of Speedway’s coveted titles ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — It may take Canadian Pete Harding five hours of steady freeway driving to roll his hauler into town for races at Yakima Speedway, but he is in every other sense at home here.

“We call dad Mr. Yakima,” says Pete’s son, Shane. “He has always said Yakima is his home track. It may not look that way on a map, but that’s definitely how he feels.”

For good reason.

Shane Harding drives in the 23rd Annual Yakima Speedway Fall Classic in Yakima, Wash., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Harding won the inaugural Fall Classic in 1988 — the first of a dozen major-event titles earned on the half-mile oval — and returns this weekend for the 24th edition as the reigning champion of Yakima Speedway’s other marquee event, the Apple Cup.

But the Harding show is now a double feature.

The Fall Classic’s defending champion and the driver Pete says is clearly the one to beat in Sunday’s 200-lap Super Late Model finale is his son.

“Oh definitely. Shane is the guy to beat,” Pete says with no hesitation. “He knows the track, he won last year and he’s got a great car.”

Make no mistake, despite residing 10 miles north of Blaine, Wash., in British Columbia, these Harding boys know the track like they grew up here. As far as racing goes, Shane did.

Pete Harding drives in the Apple Cup at the Yakima Speedway Sunday, April 9, 2011. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

“My earliest memory of Yakima was actually the first Fall Classic,” Shane says of the 1988 event. “I was 10 years old and they set me up as a lap counter. It was 125 laps and there were some scoring issues that took hours to sort out. I was sure dad had won it and he did.”

What followed has been a career of dominance at Pete’s home away from home.

Already with nearly 20 years experience racing mostly six-cylinder machines on quarter-mile tracks, Pete immediately thrived in more powerful cars on Yakima’s larger, flatter oval. He has won a record four Fall Classic titles, captured three Apple Cups and five NASCAR Northwest Tour races here.

Pete’s blockbuster year was 1999 when he bookended his Northwest Tour championship with victories in the Apple Cup and Fall Classic.

“This style of track has really suited me,” says Pete, who owns Harding Forklift in Surrey, British Columbia. “Yakima has definitely been my best track over the years and it has always felt like my home track. I have so many fond memories there.”

Even with a heavy resume stuffed full of victories and thrilling duels, Pete’s fondest memory may be a race he didn’t even finish. Just 25 laps into last year’s Fall Classic, Pete’s yellow No. 39 racer ended its day on the hook of a tow truck following a breathtaking backstretch wreck.

From the infield, Pete then watched Shane dominate the 200-lap race and claim the biggest victory of his career.

P. Harding

“I was out of the race, and that turned out to be a fortunate thing, really,” he says. “It was a tough race with tremendous competition, and to sit back and watch Shane win it was such a wonderful thing. As a father, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Shane had the same fatherly glow, making good on a promise to take his daughter to Disneyland if he won the Fall Classic.

“My wife said you can’t promise things like that,” Shane says. “I was confident it was going to be a good race for us, but of course we already had the tickets booked. What she didn’t know is we planned the trip for the next week. After I won, she said, ‘Daddy, when are we going to Disneyland?’ I said, ‘Now!’ That whole week turned into a big family adventure and that’s what I’ll always remember.”

S. Harding

When the Hardings returned to Yakima for this year’s season-opening Apple Cup, the day was like a wild ride on Space Mountain.

It had been 10 years since Pete’s last major win in Yakima and the dry spell appeared to be over as he took a strong lead into the final circuit of the 125-lap race. But suddenly, in turn 1, he was forced to check up with his line blocked.

It was Shane’s No. 29 car.

Down a lap and battling a broken throttle pedal, Shane had briefly spun off the racing surface and was re-entering the track. He dipped directly into Pete’s line, allowing Korbin Thomas to run clear on the high side and dash to the apparent victory.

Pete settled for second and quickly consoled his son, who was nearly speechless.

“I assumed the yellow was out. There were just no words to describe how I felt,” Shane recalls. “For a while it looked liked we had the car to beat, and in an instant we were barely able to run. Then that last lap … I would’ve felt bad if I cost anybody the win, but for it to be my dad …

“Thankfully it all worked out.”

It worked out because Thomas failed a post-race engine inspection, elevating Pete to first place. It was a gratifying return to the winner’s circle for the 60-year-old veteran.

“It sure was nice, coming near the end of a long career,” Pete says. “The young guys are extremely hard to beat, and these long races are demanding at my age. It’s one thing to have a fast car, it’s another to handle the endurance.”

While neither Harding raced much this summer, they have the machines, crews and experience to be major players this weekend. Add the fact that they currently hold the Speedway’s two major titles, and the No. 39 and 29 are at the top of the favorites list.

“We both realize there are targets on our backs,” Shane says. “The Fall Classic is always a big challenge, and it’s one of my favorite weekends of the season. Having won it last year, that adds a little to the challenge.”

And if the challenge comes from your own family?

“I’ve got to be careful, if you know what I mean,” Pete says. “I’ve got to ride home with his mother.”

If you go …

What: 24th annual Fall Classic.

Where: Yakima Speedway, 1600 Pacific Ave.

Who: Super Late Models, Hobby Stocks, Street Stocks, Northwest Pro-4 Alliance.

Schedule — Saturday: Noon start for trophy dashes, heat races, and qualifying. B mains (if needed) followed by Northwest Pro-4 Alliance 100-lap main event. Sunday: 1 p.m. opening ceremonies followed by main events for Hobby Stocks (50 laps), Street Stocks (75 laps) and Super Late Models (200 laps).

2010 winners: Shane Harding (Super Late Model), Mike Van Amburg (Street Stocks), John Rose (Hobby Stocks), Craig Forney (Northwest Pro-4 Alliance).

Ticket and track information: 248-0647 or www.yakimaspeedway.us