A visit by the Weaver Racing team's modified #16 "Bookmobile" to River Cities Speedway in

Grand Forks Friday night reminded Bemidji race fans who took the 120 mile

trip down U.S. Highway 2 why the track is regarded as one of the finest

short track facilities in the country.

The weekly show features full fields of Street Stocks, Modifieds, Late

Models and winged Sprint cars on the very tacky (almost dust-free)

high-banked oval. Despite temperatures in the 50s, a nice crowd of about 3,000 was on hand

to watch three-abreast racing, close finishes, lots of passing, a couple of

hair-raising crashes (one Streeter and two Sprint cars logged some

serious air time), and another come-from-behind victory in the sprint

feature by World of Outlaws caliber driver Mark Dobmeier.

Skyler Smith in the Weaver Midwest Modified proved he can run with the

region's best.  At one of the fastest tracks, early in his first full season

at the wheel in this class, he finished a strong third out of eight in his

heat.  Later, he ran 9th amidst a very aggressive starting field of 22 in the

feature. Early in the event he spun in traffic, was sent to the back, and

gained positions steadily from then on. Another 5 laps would have proved

that he is a top-five competitor among this very experienced field of

drivers.

(Marsh Muirhead has written for many racing magazines, including OPEN WHEEL.)