Full Throttle

Overshadowed, to some extent, by some NASCAR celebrities, Roger Crockett of Medford, Ore., continued his perfect record at Grays Harbor Raceway this season.

Crockett led from the green flag to the checkered flag, as he was never seriously challenged in the 30-lap feature race Sunday at Grays Harbor Raceway.

The Medford driver, a six-time champion on the Northwest Sprint Challenge Series, is 3-for-3 at the Elma track this year.

The event was highlighted by the unannounced appearances of NASCAR standouts Kasey Kahne, an Enumclaw native, and former Winston Cup series champion Tony Stewart.

Coming off a runner-up finish in the Nextel Cup race and a victory in a Busch Series event in Bristol, Tenn., last weekend, Kahne was unable to finish the main event when he became tangled up in an accident with Glenn Borden Jr. of Raymond on Turn Two of the opening lap.

Stewart had mechanical problems in his heat race and wound up being relegated to the B main following a ninth-place finish.

Refusing a provisional starting spot in the feature by saying he wanted to earn his way into the final field, he was unable to qualify for the A main.

The Stewart/Kahne surprise visit to Grays Harbor Raceway is a prelude to a Wednesday appearance at Alger, Washington’s Skagit Speedway.

Stewart is set to return to Skagit Speedway competing in the second annual Kasey Kahne Foundation Sprint Car Challenge. Stewart will join Kahne for the Aug. 29 event which will feature the pair going head-to-head in winged 360 sprint car competition.