Evergreen Speedway A Mix Of Speed, Noise

Raymond Schmidt, wearing as much ketchup on his shirt as on his hot dog, didn't hesitate when asked his favorite part of watching auto races at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe.

"The noise," said the 8-year-old. "And I like it when they crash."

The Schmidt clan of Lake Stevens, which includes parents Mike and Sue and Rusty, 5, were among hundreds of families celebrating noise - and the occasional crash - on a recent weekend night at the track on the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

Children giggled and squealed in the covered grandstand, waving souvenir checkered flags as brightly colored race cars screamed past and screeched into the turn. Tires smoked. Metal fenders clanged. The jovial track announcer delivered a steady banter, telling of drivers' backgrounds and blunders.

"The kids really enjoy it," said Mike Schmidt. "Whenever we're driving around somewhere and see a race car on a trailer or parked somewhere, they always ask when we're going to the track next."

If the South is home to stock-car racing, Monroe is a tasteful addition to the racing circuit. Thousands of fans flock to the paved oval throughout the summer, cheering on racers from the next-door neighbor to professional stars such as Bill Elliott, Chad Little and Derrike Cope. The track's configuration allows racing on laps of five-eighths of a mile, three-eighths of a mile or one-fifth of a mile.

"We really do offer a wide variety of racing here," said Evergreen Speedway general manager Tom Glithero. "From demolition derbies, the figure-eight cars, stocks and the super modifieds and midgets, we run just about everything."

This year, the Western Washington Racing Association, which races on Friday nights, is featuring the "thunder cars," designed more to bang bumpers than shift gears. And Glithero said the Saturday night shows, sanctioned by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing and draw experienced competitors from throughout Western Washington and Vancouver, B.C., occasionally this summer will include something called "train racing," in which three cars are connected by chains. The first car has a driver, engine and brakes. The second has none of the three, and the third has a driver and brakes but no engine.

"You should see that third guy whipping around back there," Glithero said.

The track's biggest annual event is the Motorcraft 500, a Winston West Series race that attracts a handful of the big-name NASCAR drivers. This year's Motorcraft 500, set for July 12, will be Elliott's eighth. Sterling Marlin, Little and Cope also have said they're coming for the 500-lap, 312-mile affair that caps three days of racing, exhibitions and fireworks displays. Last year's event attracted a record crowd of 15,000. Glithero said 20,000 are expected this year.

SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE

Prices are the same unless otherwise noted. Western Washington Racing Association races Friday nights, 7 p.m.; $7.50 adults; $3 seniors and children 6 to 11; 5 and under free. NASCAR races Saturday nights, 7 p.m. $9.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free. Evergreen Speedway, Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe on Highway 2. 776-2802.

May: 16 - Figure 8 nationals plus NASCAR super stocks and bombers: 7 p.m. $10.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free. 22 - WWRA; 23 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's; 24 - Coors Light Demolition Derby, fireworks, WWRA, limited stocks: 7 p.m. $10.50 adults; $3 children ages 6 to 11; 29 - WWRA; 30 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis, figure 8s and train race.

June: 5 - WWRA; 6 - NSRA super modifieds and NASCAR super stocks, bombers and figure 8's: $12.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11;, 5 and under free; 12 - WWRA; 13 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's; 19 - WWRA; 20 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's, Big Brothers/Big Sisters car bash: $9.50 adults, children 11 and under free; 26 - WWRA; 27 - Valvoline mid-summer championships, NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's: $10.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free.

July: 3 - WWRA; 4 - Coors Light demolition derby, fireworks/figure 8's and train race: 7 p.m. $11.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free; 9 - Practice Motorcraft 500: noon to 5 p.m., $7.50 adults; children 6 to 11 $2.50; 10 - Qualifying Motorcraft 500: noon. WMRA Midgets/NASCAR bombers, minis and figure 8's: 7:30 p.m. $10.50 adults; children 11 and under free; 11 - Evergreen 100-Northwest Tour/NASCAR super stocks: 7 p.m. $23.50 reserved, $18.50 general. Children 1 to 11 $8.50 reserved. Children 6 to 11, $5.50 general; 5 and under free; 12 - Motorcraft 500/NASCAR Winston West Series racing: 12:30 p.m. $22.50 to $50.50; 17 - WWRA; 18 - NASCAR Super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's; 24 - WWRA; 25 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's: $9.50 adults, children 11 and under free; 31 - WWRA.

Aug.: 1 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's: $10.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free; 7 - WWRA; 8 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's; 14 - WWRA; 15 - Valvoline Showdown-Northwest Tour/NASCAR super stocks: 7 p.m. $23.50 reserved, $18.50 general; $8.50 reserved child 1 to 11; $5.50 children 6 to 11 general; 5 and under free; 21 - WWRA; 22 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's; 28 - WWRA; 29 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's.

Sept.: 5 - NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's; 6 - Coors Light demolition derby, fireworks, WMRA midgets: 7 p.m.; 7 - WWRA Championships; 12 - Valvoline Race of Champions, NASCAR super stocks, bombers, minis and figure 8's: $10.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free; 19 - Season championships for NASCAR bombers, minis, figure 8's Big Brother/Big Sisters carnival: $9.50 adults; children 11 and under free; 26 - Coors Light demolition derby/season championships for figure 8's and train race: 7 p.m. $10.50 adults; $3 children 6 to 11; 5 and under free.