Sisk, a student at West Valley High, won the Sportsman main, while Chambers won the Hornet main.

Sisk, who also set a track record in qualifying, passed leader Terry Cook on a restart following the lone caution in the race, and held off Cook over the final four laps to join his father Jeff as a main-event winner at Yakima Speedway.

Chambers grabbed the lead in his main by avoiding a cluster of cars on the first lap and then held off points leader Jeff Ball at the finish.

Other main event winners were Josh Aguirre (Bump-to-Pass), Cody Denton (Mini Stocks) and Chris Marang (Pure Stocks).

The next racing at Yakima Speedway is June 9 with its Speedway Spring Spectacular, featuring a $2 grandstand admission special.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Hornets

Main: 1, Casey Chambers, 2, Jeff Ball, 3, Joshua Reiners, 4, Rodger Eaton, 5, Michael Beck. Fast time: Jeff Ball. A Trophy Dash: Jeff Ball.

Pure Stocks

Main: 1, Chris Marang, 2, Jeff Wilkinson, 3, Tim Hitchcock, 4, Joe Estep, 5, Peppie Rojas, 6, Chris Morrison, 7, Kyle Wade, 8, Daniel Coble, 9, James Harris, 10, Eric Coble, 11, Chuck Strimiska, 12, Rob Allen. Fast time: Tim Hitchcock. A Dash: Rob Allen. B Dash: Peppie Rojas.

Mini-Stock

Main: 1, Cody Denton, 2, Jason Hall, 3, Casey Chambers, 4, Joshua Henne, 5, Tyler Breshears, 6, Ryan Scott, 7, George Jankowics. Fast time: Cody Denton. A Dash: Cody Denton.

Sportsman

Main: 1, Garrett Sisk, 2, Terry Cook, 3, Buck Noel Jr., 4, Jimmy Zorrozua, 5, Lucas Valdez, 6, Morgan Morrison, 7, Kyler Conduff, 8, Allen Reid, 9, Jeff Stevenson, 10, Don Klang, 11, Glenn Campbell. Fast time: Garrett Sisk 22.624 seconds (track record). A Dash: Kyler Conduff. B Dash: Allen Reid.

Bump-to-Pass

Main: 1, Josh Aguirre, 2, Todd Nunn, 3, Kellie Zacharias, 4, Joe Stevens, 5, Ben Briggs, 6, Alex Marquis, 7, Dennis Clouse, 8, Billy Stevens, 9, Wes Heigh, 10, Reese Kastl. Fast time: Josh Aguirre 16.014 seconds (track record). A Dash: Josh Aguirre. B Dash: Wes Heigh.

Frontis and DeGrood finished at 125 for the 43rd annual two-day event, five shots ahead of Dan and Ryan Whitaker in second place.

Chris Indall and Sota Nozaka were third at 134.

Cole Redfield and John Schwab, along with Brent Callahan and Phil Moyer tied for the net title at 118.

Steve Rasmusson and Rob Woodey were next at 119.

Gross

1, Dusty Frontis/Corey DeGrood 125; 2, Dan Whitaker/Ryan Whitaker 130; 3, Chris Indall/Sota Nozaka 134; 4 (tie), Brock Weedman/Carey Weedman 135; 4 (tie), Ken Jenson/Todd Tibke 135; 4 (tie) Russ Beckstead/Brian Beckstead; 4 (tie), Bill Adkison/Ward Jackson 135; 8 (tie), Jeff Heil/Roy Murray 137; 8 (tie), Chris Degrazia/Mike Hickok 137; 8 (tie), Robi Raab/Andrew Raab 137; 11 (tie), Dave Achziger/Matt Stutsman 138; 11 (tie), John Corbett/Tim Eide 138; 13 (tie) Jim Ihnot/Duane Diede 140; 13 (tie), Lyn Dasso/Troy Wilmoth 140; 13 (tie), Ivan Porcayo/Sean Ritter 140.

Net

1 (tie), Cole Redfield/John Schwab 118; 1 (tie), Brent Callahan/Phil Moyer 118; 3, Steve Rasmusson/Rob Woodey 119; 4, Don Fisher/Keith Grace 121; 5 (tie) Chuck Bathurst/Dewey Boynton (122), 5 (tie) Greg Dunn/Doug Pratt 122; 7 (tie), Chuck Kohls/Roy Williams 123; 7 (tie) Jeff Hines/Steve Ridgeway 123; 7 (tie) Paul Wedeberg/Steve Horrall 123; 10 (tie), Rudy Gasparac/Steve Pfau 124; 10 (tie), Don Dixon/Jim Jackson 124; 12 (tie), Bob Frontis/Derek Wood 125; 12 (tie), Ron Capps/Joe Durand 125; 12 (tie), Jim Murdoch/Pat Murdoch 125.

AUTO RACING

Marang wins in Pure Stocks

Chris Marang earned his first Pure Stock main event, backing up the fastest qualifying time on Saturday night at Yakima Speedway.

Marang, who moved up from the Hornets division this year, held off Rob Allen and Jeff Wilkinson for the victory.

Adam Bryan swept through the Mini-Stocks event, setting fast time, winning the A trophy dash and the main event.

Cody Walker won the Northwest Pro 4 Late Model main event and Kevin Bell took the Northwest Pro 4 Trucks victory.

Other winners Saturday night included: James Norman (Hornets), Buck Noel Jr. (Sportsman) and Josh Aguirre (Bump to Pass).

The next scheduled racing at Yakima Speedway is set for May 19 and will include the Super Late Models, Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Hornets and Bump to Pass.

Hornets

Fast time: Casey Chambers. A dash: James Norman. B dash: Michael Beck. Main: Norman, Jeff Ball, Beck, Roger Eaton, Merle Stiltner, Chambers.

Pure Stocks

Fast time: Chris Marang. A dash: Rob Allen. B dash: Tim Hitchcock. Main: Marang, Allen, Jeff Wilkinson, Joe Estep, Tim Hitchcock, Peppie Rojas, Chris Morrison, Kyle Wade, Emmons.

Sportsman

Fast time: Jeff Stevenson. A dash: Kyler Conduff. B dash: Don Klang. Main: Buck Noel Jr., Terry Cook, Morgan Morrison, Allen Reid, Conduff, Klang, Derrick Denton, Ben St. Mary, Stevenson, Chris VanAmburg, Lucas Valdez, Jerry Walker Jr. (DQ), Ron Morton (DQ).

Northwest Pro 4 Late Model

Fast time: Cody Walker. Dash: Walker. Main: Walker, CJ Hawley, Jeff Raver, Scott Raver.

Bump To Pass

Fast time: Josh Aguirre. A dash: Aguirre. B dash: Alex Marquis. Main: Aguirre, Joe Stevens, Dennis Clouse, Marquis, Robert Albert, Shannon Davis, Wes Heigh, Todd Nunn, Ben Briggs (DNS), Eddie Abrams (DNS).

Northwest Pro 4 Trucks

Fast time: Jason Majors. A dash: Kevin Bell. B dash: Doug Wilkinson. Main: Bell, Wilkinson, Aaron Greene, Mike Tipps, Mike Wiley, Majors, Mike Nelson, JR Kelley, Josh Charles, Terry Warren.

Mini Stocks

Fast time: Adam Bryan (24.884 seconds, track record). A dash: Bryan. B dash: George Jankowics. Main: Bryan, Cody Denton, Mike Denton, Ken Ashley, Joshua Henne, Jankowics, Jason Hall, Nathan Voyles, Casey Chambers (DNS).

PREP TENNIS

Late Saturday

East Valley boys 5, Prosser 0

Singles: Amrit Khinda (EV) d. Kevin Munck 6-0, 6-3; Cameron Snyder (EV) d. Timothy Bowen 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles: Drew Scherschligt/Spencer Klein (EV) d. Omar Orellana/Chase Baker, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Stephen Aiken/Nathan Campos (EV) d. Austin Dennis/Nikhil Bellamkonda 6-0, 6-0; Garret Khynes/Luca Weyrauen (EV) won by forfeit.

The game was originally scheduled as the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday.

With the victory, Yakima Valley (13-7) moves into a second-place tie with Columbia Basin, one game behind first place Treasure Valley.

Cameron Padron was 2 for 3 with a double and a triple and two RBI for the Yaks, while Reid Martinez was 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI.

Yakima Valley faces last-place Blue Mountain in a doubleheader Wednesday, before welcoming Treasure Valley for a Saturday twin bill at Parker Field.

Columbia Basin 301 011 000 — 6 11 3
Yakima Valley 300 003 001 — 7 10 4

Fuller, Rapose (6), Dunlap (7) and McAlpin; Fife, Vetsch (7), Schmit (9), Druffel (9) and Chavarria.

Highlights: Cameron Padron (YV) 2-3, 2b, 3b, 2 RBI; Reid Martinez (YV) 2-3, 3b, RBI, SB; J.R. Weigel (YV) 1-5, 2b, run, RBI; Kyle Thompson (YV) 1-4, run, RBI; Ryan King (YV) 1-4, RBI, SB.

Central loses twice to WOU

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Brady Kincannon had a two-run home run for Central Washington, but it wasn’t enough as No. 13 Western Oregon swept a doubleheader from the Wildcats with 10-2 and 5-1 victories on Sunday.

Western Oregon clinched its 11th consecutive GNAC regular-season championship with the wins.

Kincannon’s homer accounted for all of the Wildcats’ scoring in the first game, while Kyle Sani scored CWU’s lone run in the finale.

CWU (8-16 GNAC, 16-26 overall) host Montana State Billings on Friday and Saturday.

Game 1

Central Wash. 000 200 000 — 2 7 1
Western Ore. 215 101 00x — 10 13 0

Long, Jones (5) and Sani; Lind, MacDougall (7), Hollinger (9) and Blackwell.

Highlights: Brady Kincannon (CWU) 3-4, HR, 2 RBI; Brett Gray (CWU) 1-4, 2b.

Game 2

Central Wash. 000 000 1 — 1 5 1
Western Ore. 030 200 x — 5 5 0

Lotzer and Sani; Wilson and David.

Highlights: Kyle Sani (CWU) 2-3, 3b; David Leid (CWU) 1-3, RBI.

COLLEGE FASTPITCH

Yaks lose two at Treasure Valley

ONTARIO, Ore. — Krysta Beach had two hits and a walk, but Yakima Valley was swept 8-1, 10-0 by Treasure Valley in a Sunday doubleheader.

Beach scored the Yaks’ lone run in the first game.

Yakima Valley (4-19 East Region, 13-21-1 overall) travels to Big Bend for a doubleheader on Friday.

Game 1

Yakima Valley 010 000 0 — 1 4 2
Treasure Valley 402011 x — 8 10 4

Slobig, McKinley (3) and Reeves; Hutchinson and Martarano.

Highlights: Courtney Cable 1-3, Krysta Beach 1-3, run; Kiley Dunn 1-3, Jessie Ihly 1-3.

Game 2

Yakima Valley 000 00 — 0 6 3
Treasure Valley 415 0x — 10 8 1

Marbet, McKinley (4) and Reeves; Garn and Martarano.

Highlights: Arlene Futch 2-3, Ashley Reeves 1-3, Tori Slobig 1-2, Krysta Beach 1-1, bb; Whitney Biehl 1-2.

AUTO RACING

Denton earns Mini-Stocks win

Cody Denton earned the first main-event victory in the new Mini-Stocks division at Yakima Speedway on Saturday night.

The new division features cars similar to those from the Hornet division, but is contested on the half-mile track, rather than the Hornets’ usual infield track.

Rob Allen won the Pure Stock division main event, backing up his victory in the same event in the Apple Cup.

Jeff Stevenson outdueled 2011 season champion Buck Noel Jr. in the Sportsman main event

Jeff Ball won the Hornets main event and Josh Aguirre won the Bump to Pass feature.

On May 5, the Northwest Pro4 Truck Series and Northwes Pro4 Late Models will take to the track at the Speedway. Also racing will be the Pure Stocks, Hornets, Mini-Stocks, Bump to Pass and Sportsman divisions.

Hornets

Fast time: Jeff Ball. Trophy dash: Casey Chambers. Heat: Casey Chambers. Main: Ball, Micheal Beck, Chambers.

Pure Stocks

Fast time: Chris Marang, 23.751 (track record). A dash: Jeff Wilkinson. B dash: Harold Emmons. A heat: Kyle Wade. B dash: Emmons. Main: Rob Allen, Marang, Wade, Estep, Wilkinson, Hitchcock, Emmonds, Mike Denton, Chuck Strimiska, James Harris, Pepe Rojas, Greg Stevenson.

Sportsman

Fast time: Jeff Stevenson. A dash: Lucas Valdez. B dash: Ron Morton. A heat: Lucas Valdez. B heat:: Allen Reid. Main: Stevenson, Buck Noel Jr., Kyler Conduff, Ron Morton, Don Klang, Morgan Morrison, Reid, Ed St. Mary, Glenn Campbell, Jeff Mullins, Terry Cook, Valdez, Jack Anderson, Chris VanAmburg.

Mini Stocks

Fast time: Barry Mueller, 26.408 (track record). Trophy dash: Casey Chambers. Heat: Cody Denton. Main: Denton, Chambers, Joshua Henne, Barry Mueller.

Bump to Pass

Fast time: Josh Aguirre. A dash: Aguirre. B dash: Robert Allen. A heat: Aguirre. B heat: Robert Allen. Main: Aguirre, Kellie Zacharias, Todd Nunn, Shannon Davis, Joe Stevens, Robert Allen, Dennis Clouse, Billie Stevens, Ben Briggs, Alex Marquis, Jacob Valdez, Wes Heigh.

YVCC, which lost the first game 8-0, remained third in the tightly bunched East going into today’s home game against second-place Columbia Basin.

Selah right-hander Jake Fife will pitch for the Yaks (12-7) in the 1 p.m. start at Parker Field. The game was originally scheduled as the second of a doubleheader last Wednesday, but was rained out.

Yakima Valley took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth in the nightcap, but a leadoff double and RBI single got the Knights within one and a bases-loaded walk tied it. Carson Miller got the final out with the sacks still full and pitched through the 11th before Fife closed.

YVCC scored the game-winner when Kyle Mall led off with a single, took second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch. Chavarria scored him with one out.

Sam Trout, who had three of Yakima Valley’s five hits in the opener, went a combined 5 for 8 including an RBI double in the second game. Kyle Thompson had three hits in the nightcap while Ryan King doubled twice.

Counting today’s game, the Yaks will play seven of their nine remaining games at home.

Game 1

Yakima Valley 000 000 000 — 0 5 3
Wenatchee Valley 001 003 04x — 8 12 2

Garvin, Eck (7) and Chavarria; Kerns, Swanson (9) and Valdez.

YVCC highlights: Sam Trout 3-3.

Game 2

Yakima Valley 021 110 011 001 — 8 14 0
Wenatchee Val. 000 002 302 000 — 7 12 3

Askvig, Darling (4), Valley (6), Schmidt (7), Druffel (9), Miller (9), Fife (12) and Smith, Chavarria (8); Valdez, San Miguel (3), Dawkins (7), Willis (9) and Valdez.

YVCC highlights: Kyle Thompson 3-5, 2b, 8th; Reid Martinez 2-6, RBI; Ryan King 2-5, 2 2b, RBI; Trout 2-5, 2b, RBI.

CWU overrun by W. Oregon

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Brandon Wang had two hits in the first game and Brett Gray produced two in the second, but Central Washington was beaten 8-0 and 9-4 in its GNAC doubleheader Saturday with Western Oregon.

The Wolves (18-2 GNAC, 29-8 overall), ranked 13th nationally and No. 1 in last week’s NCAA Division II West Region poll, allowed only four hits in the opener and kept the Wildcats (8-14, 16-24 blanked until the final inning of the second game when two errors led to two of Central’s four runs.

Central, outhit 24-11 on the day, will meet Western Oregon again today in a doubleheader scheduled to start at noon.

Game 1

Central Wash. 000 000 000 — 0 4 2
Western Oregon 000 002 06x — 8 9 0

Bushman, Davidson (4), Knutson (6), Button (8) and Sani; Wood and Blackwell.

CWU highlights: Brandon Wang 2-4.

Game 2

Central Wash. 000 000 4 — 4 7 0
Western Oregon 310 032 x — 9 15 2

Rohde, Davidson (5), Hastings (6) and Leid; Bradshaw and Blackwell.

CWU highlights: Brett Gray 2-3; Jimmy Ryerson 1-3, 2b, RBI; Kyle Sani 1-3, RBI; Ethan Sterkel 1-3, RBI.

COLLEGE FASTPITCH

Yaks drop 2 at Blue Mountain

PENDLETON, Ore. — Courtney Cable hammered out two doubles, a homer and scored two runs, but Yakima Valley fell to Blue Mountain 5-3 in the second game of a Saturday East Region doubleheader.

The Timberwolves won the first game 8-0.

Cable, a freshman from Selah, also was 1 for 3 the opener. Arlene Futch and Tori Slobig had two hits apiece in the second game for YVCC (4-17 region, 13-19-1 overall).

The Yaks continue region play today with a noon doubleheader at Treasure Valley.

Game 1

Yakima Valley 000 000 — 0 4 4
Blue Mountain 211 013 — 8 12 0

McKinley and Reeves; Alexander and Weber.

Highlights: Arlene Futch 1-3; Courtney Cable 1-3; Krysta Beach 1-2; Jenna Bice 1-2.

Game 2

Yakima Valley 000 101 1 — 3 10 1
Blue Mountain 120 200 x — 5 6 1

Marbet and Reeves; Bennett, Alexander (6) and Weber.

Highlights: Futch 2-4, run; Courtney Cable 3-4, 2 runs, HR, 2 2b, RBI; Tori Slobig 2-4, RBI; Beach 1-4 RBI; Jessie Ihly 1-3; Jenna Bice 1-3.

AUTO RACING

Wauge wins Modifieds opener

Mark Wauge of Medford, Ore. won the Modifieds five-car main event during the season-opening event Friday night at State Fair Raceway.

A total of five classes competed on Friday. The next event is scheduled for May 12.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Hornets — Heat: Greg Swartz, Marcie Shull-Desserault, Brandon Corrigan, Merle Stiltner. Main: Shull-Desserault, Swartz, Stiltner, Corrigan

Pure Stocks — Heat: Lance Stafford, Marcie Shull-Desserault, Monica Howard, Blair Shoemaker, Wayne Griffith, Dave Carter. Main: Shoemaker, Larry Tracy, Shull-Desserault, Howard, Griffith, Carter.

Super Stocks — Heat: Brent Townley, Dan Howard, Vaile Thompson, Bryan Corrigan, Steve Latt, Dylan Dow. Main: Corrigan, Thompson, Latt, Howard, Townley.

Sportsman — Heat: Rick Milbourne, Coy Rogers. Main: Milbourne, Rogers.

Modifieds — Heat: Mark Wauge, Don Jenner, Zach Simpson, Kyler Moore, Rick Sjogren. Main: Wauge, Jenner, Craig Moore, Matt Jenner, Simpson.

Capital City 400

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Today, practice (Speed, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), qualifying (Speed, 2:30-4 p.m.); Saturday, race, 4:30 p.m. (FOX, 4-8 p.m.).

Track: Richmond International Raceway (oval, 0.75 miles).

Race distance: 300 miles, 400 laps.

2011 winner: Kyle Busch.

Next race: Aaron’s 499, May 6, Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.

Website: www.nascar.com

NASCAR NATIONWIDE

College Savings 250

Site: Richmond, Va.

Schedule: Today, practice, qualifying (ESPN2, 1-2:30 p.m.); race, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2, 4-7 p.m.).

Track: Richmond International Raceway (oval, 0.75 miles).

Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 laps.

2011 winner: Denny Hamlin.

Next race: Aaron’s 312, May 5, Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.

Website: www.nascar.com

NASCAR TRUCKS

Next race: N.C. Education Lottery 200, May 18, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.

INDYCAR

Sao Paulo Indy 300

Site: Sao Paulo.

Schedule: Saturday, practice, qualifying (NBC Sports Network, 3-4 p.m.); Sunday, race, 8:30 a.m. (NBC Sports Channel, 8-11 a.m.).

Track: Streets of Sao Paulo (street course, 2.536 miles).

Race distance: 195.2 miles, 75 laps.

2011 winner: Will Power.

Next race: Indianapolis 500, May 27, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis.

Website: www.indycar.com

FORMULA ONE

Next race: Spanish Grand Prix, May 13, Catalunya Circuit, Barcelona, Spain.

NHRA

Spring Nationals

Site: Baytown, Texas.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 3-5 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 4-7 p.m.).

Track: Royal Purple Raceway.

2011 winners: Del Worsham (Top Fuel), Jeff Arend (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock).

Next race: NHRA Southern Nationals. May, 4-6, Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga.

Website: www.nhra.com

YAKIMA SPEEDWAY

Saturday racing: Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, Hornets, Bump to Pass. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 6.

Address: 1600 Pacific Ave., Yakima.

Track information: 509-248-0647 or www.yakimaspeedway.us

RENEGADE RACEWAY

Weekend racing: Saturday: Land of the Leaders 1, Street Legal 1. Sunday: Summit Series 2. Gates open at 9 a.m. both days, racing at 1 p.m.

Address: 1395 No. Track Road, Wapato.

Track information: 509-877-4621 or www.renegaderaceway.com

STATE FAIR PARK

Dirt track

Today’s racing: Season opener for Hornets, Pure Stocks, Super Stocks, Sportsman, Modifieds. Gates open at 6 p.m., racing at 7.

Address: Central Washington State Fairgrounds.

Track information: www.yakimadirttrack.com

Quarter midgets

Weekend racing: Saturday and Sunday, Region 9 event.

Track information: www.yakimaracingrascals.com

— Staff and wire reports

Fricke topped Kerry Kost of Richland with an ET of 8.02 for a top speed of 170 mph. David Hill of Sunnyside was low ET at 7.32 (181.07).

Super Pro: 1, Todd Fricke (ET 8.02, mph 170.00); 2, Kerry Kost (9.25, 145.67).

Pro: 1, Pat Neveu (9.75, 134.44); 2, James Packer (13.57, 97.63).

Sportsman: 1, Rob Storm (14,15, 84.57); 2, Bruce Olson (13.57, 98.44).

Junior Dragster: 1, Ryan Widlhalm (7.96, 80.52); 2, Courtney Widlhalm (7.94, 81.47).

YAKIMA, Wash. — As he sped into the second half of Sunday’s 46th annual Apple Cup race at Yakima Speedway, Owen Riddle had a determined grip on the lead and everything was humming along perfectly.

So, given his just-short-of-victory history in such events, he naturally expected the worst.

Like the smoke billowing off the back of his machine with 30 laps to go.

Owen Riddle waves to the crowd after winning the 46th Annual Apple Cup at the Yakima Speedway in Yakima, Wash. Sunday, April 15, 2012. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

“My first thought was, ‘Sure, I guess it was too good to be true,’” said the Naches driver, who also knew the looming presence of three-time Apple Cup champ Garrett Evans was just beyond his smoke. “Something just had to go wrong.”

But then the unexpected happened.

He caught a break.

Despite smoking so bad officials inspected his car for an oil leak during a late caution flag, Riddle never lost power and actually pulled away from Evans to capture the 125-lap Super Late Model main event.

After proving his local superiority with four of the Speedway’s Late Model season titles, Riddle finally got the signature victory he long sought in Yakima’s bookend premier events, the Apple Cup and Fall Classic.

“It’s been a long time coming. You never know how these things will come out, even when you have a great car,” said Riddle, who was second here last year and third in 2010. “I guess we were due.”

Riddle thought the mystery smoke that appeared on lap 94 was a tire rubbing on a fender, a problem he had in practice. As his crew took a peek under the front end in the winner’s circle, there was oil “all over” under the engine though none was dripping.

“I was just trying to baby it to the finish,” Riddle said. “That’s a tough way to lead a race, thinking at any moment you’re going to lose the engine and be done.”

Given the tenuous situation quickly developing under his hood, Riddle caught another break in the speed of the race, which took only 57 minutes to run. Evans, the Wenatchee veteran, held off Lynnwood’s Naima Lang, last year’s Fall Classic winner, for second and third. That trio was far and away the best in the dwindling field, which was down to nine cars at the finish from a starting grid of 18.

“I could see Owen was having a problem but he held it together,” Evans said. “I didn’t want to get too close if he was leaking, but then backing a little didn’t do me any good either. I was glad he didn’t get back-flagged (for a leak). He deserved to win.”

Surviving a smoking engine with a quick race weren’t even Riddle’s biggest breaks.

Two major contenders — pole-sitter Mike Longton of Moxee and Canadian Pete Harding — were dueling for the lead on lap 27 when a lapped car created an incident that sent both former Apple Cup winners off the track. That ended Harding’s day while Longton continued on to finish eighth, although his machine was clearly not up to its fast-time standards from Saturday.

“Early on I thought maybe it would come down to us and the 37 (of Longton),” Riddle said. “It was horrible for him because they had a real good car.”

Wapato’s J.C. Wofford was the only other driver on the lead lap at the finish, his fourth-place effort duplicating last year’s Fall Classic run. Owen’s younger brother, Tayler, finished sixth.

In Sunday’s other main events, victories went to Rich Peters (Street Stocks), Buck Noel Jr. (Sportsman), Rob Allen (Pure Stocks) and Rick McNeil (Legends).

Peters, who won the Apple Cup’s Super Stocks race in 2007, led the final 13 laps of the 60-lap main, which is the first event of the West Coast Promoters Street Stocks Series.

Noel Jr.’s Apple Cup victory was his fourth in the last nine years. He won last year’s Sportsman division and Hobby Stocks titles in 2005 and ’03.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Wapato’s J.C. Wofford made a statement in the Apple Cup Super Late Model main event Sunday at Yakima Speedway.

He showed that his fourth-place finish in last year’s Fall Classic was no fluke.

Wofford backed up that performance with another fourth-place finish on Sunday, the final car on the lead lap.

JC Wofford races beside Naima Lang during the 46th Annual Apple Cup at the Yakima Speedway in Yakima, Wash. Sunday, April 15, 2012. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

“It’s all about consistency,” Wofford said after the race.

Consistent would be an apt description of Wofford’s day.

Starting in 10th position, he dodged trouble early and moved into the top five on lap 27, when Pete Harding and Mike Longton wrecked in turns one and two.

He would move into fourth on lap 35 when leader Shane Mitchell turned down pit lane with a smoking engine.

Wofford just kept plugging away.

“We went out trying to be conservative,” Wofford said.

That proved to be an excellent plan, as half of the 18 cars that started the race failed to finish.

Wofford’s biggest worry early was the slick conditions on the half-mile oval.

Apple Cup rules specify that drivers must start the race on the same tires they qualified on. That means that at the drop of the green flag, the entire field was on nearly 30-lap-old tires.

The only time tires can be changed is if one goes flat, so there’s no way to change onto new tires without a driver seriously disrupting his race.

“It was like ice out there,” Wofford said. “I guarantee the leaders were feeling it too.”

Wofford also dodged a bullet with a mechanical issue.

“We had a bad oil leak,” Wofford said.

The leak was causing enough smoke that track officials checked the back of Wofford’s car during a caution period on lap 102. Officials also checked the cars of Owen Riddle and David Smick for leaks on the same lap.

Officials were satisfied that the oil wasn’t reaching the track and let the cars continue.

That was the end of the drama for Wofford, who congratulated Riddle on his first major victory at Yakima Speedway.

“He deserved it,” he said. “He’s been out here a long time.”

Wofford is planning to be busy this summer, with races scheduled in Yakima, Spokane and Montana.

He also said he’s not done making statements, and is not content to rest on his consecutive fourth-place finishes.

“We want to be a force to be a force to be reckoned with,” Wofford said.

Click here for information on purchasing any of these photos.

1, Rick McNeil; 2, Garrett Sisk ;3, Jim Langdon; 4, Duane Swanson; 5, Randy Schaff; 6, Chance Overholt; 7, Jeff Sisk; 8, Andon Allen; 9, Randy Beddow; 10, Jesse Branham; 11, Jon Vangessen; 12, Bill Kik; 13, Chanse Page; 14, Jose Zamudio; 15, Lloyd Bigler; 16, Josh Aguirre; 17, Simon Buchan; 18, Eric Shover.

Pure Stocks

1, Rob Allen; 2, Jeff Wilkinson; 3, Chris Marang; 4, Chris Richter; 5, Kyle Wade; 6, Harold Emmons; 7, Chris Morrison; 8, Cody Denton; 9, Pepe Rojas; 10, James Harris; 11, Joe Estep; 12, Mike Denton; 13, Daniel Coble.

Sportsman

1, Buck Noel Jr.; 2, Lucas Valdez; 3, Jack Anderson; 4, Jerry Walker Jr.; 5, Chris VanAmburg; 6, Jeff Mullins; 7, Kyler Conduff; 8, Ed St. Mary; 9, Don Klang; 10, Allen Reid; 11, Tom Wentz; 12, Ron Morton; 13, Terry Cook; 14, Morgan Morrison; 15, Garrett Sisk; 16, Jimmy Zorrozua; 17, Kevin Bull.

West Coast Street Stocks

1, Rich Peters; 2, Kim Wennerberg; 3, Ron Stewart; 4, Zach Beaman; 5, Bryon Goetz; 6, Josh Childress; 7, Andy Stibal; 8, Todd Connell; 9, Andy Beaman; 10, Steve Woods; 11, Kelly Hellewell; 12, Darren Goetz; 13, Bart Hector Jr.; 14, Gary Flammang; 15, Terry Cook; 16, Randy Pugh; 17, Barry Mueller; 18, Brad Morrison; 19, Bill Rutherford; 20, Mel Patnode; 21, Chris Hart; 22, Josh Ingram; 23, Rick Villyard; 24, John Fortenberry.

Super Late Model

1, Owen Riddle; 2, Garrett Evans; 3, Naima Lang; 4, J.C. Wofford; 5, Jon Hubbert; 6, Tayler Riddle; 7, Rick Suran; 8, Mike Longton; 9, Dave Smick; 10, Christopher Kalsch; 11, Erick Hargraves; 12, Bart Hector Sr.; 13, Dan Obrist; 14, Brian Levant; 15, Alex Kerslake; 16, Brent Harris; 17, Shane Mitchell; 18, Pete Harding; Did not start: Jesse Brown, Giles Thornton, Mitch Kleyn.

At least at the start, that is, of the 125-lap Super Late Model main event that will open the season for auto racing in the Pacific Northwest.

Longton

Mike Longton of Moxee will start on the inside pole and Owen Riddle of Naches will be on his outside — one row ahead of Wenatchee’s Garrett Evans and Canadian Pete Harding.

Local drivers will be in each of the next three rows in the 20-car field — Tayler Riddle (sixth position), Erick Hargraves (eighth) and J.C. Wofford (10th).

Longton, the 2010 Apple Cup champion, turned in the day’s fast time at 18.61 seconds for the half-mile oval and he won the first of two 25-lap qualifying races that determined today’s starting lineup.

Riddle, the Speedway’s four-time Late Model track champion, won the second qualifying race.

Evans and Harding have won three Apple Cup titles each, Harding having won last year’s event.

Qualifying was also held Saturday for the Apple Cup’s four other racing classes — Pure Stocks, Sportsman, Street Stocks and the INEX Legends.

Today’s opening ceremonies start at 1 p.m. with five main events to follow. Tickets will be available at the main gate beginning at 11 a.m.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Pure Stocks — Fast Time: Rob Allen. A Dash: Chris Marang. B Dash: Cody Denton. A Heat: Tim Hitchcock. B Heat: Mike Denton.

Sportsman — Fast Time: Buck Noel Jr. A Dash: Lucas Valdez. B Dash: Kyler Conduff. A Heat: Chris Van Amburg. B Heat: Ed St. Mary.

Street Stocks — Fast Time: Kim Wennerberg. A Dash: Chris Hart. B Dash: Randy Pugh. A Heat: Kelly Hellewell. B Heat: Rick Villyard.

INEX Legends — Fast Time: Rick McNeil. A Dash: Duane Swanson. B Dash: Jesse Branham. A Heat: Duane Swanson. B Heat: Jesse Branham.

Super Late Models — Fast Time: Mike Longton. A Dash: J.C. Wofford. B Dash: Giles Thornton. Qualifying Heat 1: Mike Longton. Qualifying Heat 2: Owen Riddle.

Today’s Super Late Model starting grid: 1. Mike Longton; 2, Owen Riddle; 3, Garrett Evans; 4, Pete Harding; 5, Shane Mitchell; 6, Tayler Riddle; 7, Naima Lang; 8, Erick Hargraves; 9, Brent Harris; 10, J.C. Wofford; 11, Christopher Kalsch; 12, Dan Obrist; 13, Alex Kerslake; 14, Rick Suran; 15, Brian Levant; 16, Jon Hubbert; 17, Bart Hector Sr.; 18, Giles Thornton; 19, Jesse Brown; 20, Dave Smick.

But now it’s different.

One race changed everything.

Last year’s season-ending Fall Classic was like a Major League call-up for Wofford and he made a big crowd-pleasing impression with his fourth-place finish in the 200-lap Super Late Model finale.

J.C. Wofford will be racing in this year's Apple Cup at the Yakima Speedway. He's raced for years at the Speedway and had a breakthrough finish there in last year's Fall Classic,, finishing fourth. He usually drives a maroon car with no. 100 but is driving an all-white car in the Apple Cup. (Gordon King/Yakima Herald-Republic)

This weekend the 30-year-old Wapato driver returns to the track, along with the rest of the Northwest’s elite drivers after a long winter’s off-season, for the 46th annual Apple Cup and the featured 125-lap main event.

It’s the big show now, and Wofford’s a player.

“I’ll be a little nervous about it when we unload, but it’s nice knowing people will have a stopwatch on us this time,” he said. “That’s what we race for. We race for the spotlight.”

In a very personal and eternal way, Wofford has always been under a spotlight on a race track. When J.C. was just 4 years old his father, Joe, was killed in a racing accident at Tri-City Raceway in West Richland.

Joe was just 24 and it would be understandable if such a tragedy kept J.C. from ever getting interested in racing. But with an immediate and extended family that has been involved in the sport for over 50 years, the lure was unavoidable.

And, ultimately, undeniable.

“As a little kid I never thought I’d do it,” Wofford insisted. “But then I got into go-carts, even though my mom hated it, and when I was 17 I got my first Hobby Sportsman. It’s like they say — the need for speed is an addiction.”

As is the desire to continue the legacy of the No. 100 car. Wofford’s grandfather, Kenny, used the number in the 1950s and his father’s final season was in a 1986 Ford Thunderbird that bore the triple digits. Wofford estimates that the family has won over 200 main events in various No. 100 cars.

J.C. accounts for plenty of those wins, including a regular-season Late Model victory last July that offered a strong hint about his form heading into the Fall Classic. Wofford’s team was in the second year with its Late Model machine but it didn’t make an appearance until the middle of summer.

“We got tired of racing with mid-level equipment so I made a promise to myself last year not to race until we had our new motor,” explained Wofford, who skipped the 2011 Apple Cup and Yakima’s first four Late Model races. “We finally got it by the end of June and we hired (local racing and crew veteran) Jeff Jefferson to help us with all the set-up work. After that it all started coming together.”

Wofford’s new motor had run only four races prior to the Fall Classic, but he led all but the final circuit of his 25-lap qualifier and started sixth in the 31-car main.

Still, the breakthrough didn’t appear imminent. He broke a clutch on the final lap of the qualifier, ending a chance to start on the front row, and in the main Wofford nearly ran out of fuel before the first-half pit break. The team caught a huge break when the field pit was flagged early, but he was forced to start in the back of the pack when action resumed.

“I still felt OK because we were running strong and we had over a 100 laps to go,” Wofford recalled. “Some big names had dropped out and that’s the biggest key to the Fall Classic — making it to lap 200.”

Wofford patiently worked through traffic, reaching fifth with 30 laps to go. While he gained just one more spot over those final 30 laps it offered plenty of time to see the lead and gain the confidence that he belonged there.

With the means to ramp up his racing campaign as the owner of the family businesses, which include towing, body shop and auto wrecking operations, Wofford spent the winter building a new car and has ambitious plans to compete locally and in Spokane and Montana.

Wofford and his crew won’t break out the new car this weekend, hoping last year’s machine will pick up where it left off last October. Even six months later, the Fall Classic run still gives him chills.

“That was my first experience running with the elite guys and it was crazy all the things going through my mind,” he said. “I’ve been in the stands over the years watching these guys and, honestly, never imagined racing with them. But there I was battling with them and thinking, ‘This is unreal.’”