ALGER, Wash. — On some nights, the racing gods see foot to put the right person in the right place to complete the right story.
At Skagit Speedway on Saturday night, we honored Fred Brownfield for the last time at the Fred Brownfield 360 Nationals presented by Bob’s Burgers & Brew and it was the driver in the field who had raced under Brownfield’s regime the most, Jason Solwold, taking his record setting fifth win at the event.
It was the finale of the Western Speedweek with SCCT as well on Saturday night, paying $26,000 to win in the main event and $4,000 for the Speedweek title.
Max Mittry set out to the early lead in the feature with Solwold quickly advancing to second place. Solwold caught MIttry as the pair raced in traffic and passed the California youngster on lap 11 to take his first lead.
From there, Solwold opened a gigantic lead, stretching over half the track before Braden Chiaramonte experienced motor issues on lap 28, bringing out a yellow flag. Jason had eight lapped cars in between him and now second place driver Levi Hillier erased by the caution, setting up the final 12 laps burst that would determine the champ.
Solwold reestablished his lead but Hillier still loomed, making up ground in turns three and four as Jason searched for a place his car felt comfortable in the corner.
With lapped traffic all over the place, Hillier punched, finding space around Jason on lap 37 to take the top spot and seemingly closing the door on the veteran down the front straight away coming to the line on lap 38.
Solwold found a new gear, driving back underneath Levi in turn two coming to the white flag, retaking the lead down the back chute and then found room under two slower cars to effectively block any Hillier comeback as rolled to the checkered flag and the win.
For Solwold, it’s a record setting fifth win at the 360 nationals. His car owner, Mike Ander / Shaylen Raye Motorsports now has six 360 national championships.
Hillier scored second in his second attempt at this race while defending champion Trey Starks worked his way from as deep as eighth up to third. Colby Copeand’s fifth place finish scored him the Speedweek title.
The finish:
Jason Solwold, Levi Hillier, Trey Starks, Max Mittry, Colby Copeland, Justin Sanders, Colton Heath, Austin Wood, Kinzer Cox, Justyn Cox, Levi Klatt, Tyler Thompson, Colin Mackey, Corbin Rueschenberg, Cam Smith, Robbie Price, Chase Goetz, Eric Fisher, Landon Brooks, Kai Dixon, Aydan Saunders, Levi Kuntz, Braden Chiaramonte, Cole Croft
