ALGER, WA – For the second consecutive weekend Lane Zerbin was competing in Washington State.  Last weekend (July 14/15) it was Grays Harbor Raceway.  On Friday and Saturday night, July 21/22, it was a special mid-season, two-night show, at Skagit Speedway.  On Friday night Zerbin overcame a 17th starting position and cruised to a 5th place finish in the C-Force Marine/Northern Provincial Pipelines #81 Modified.  His 17th start spot in the Friday night Feature was due to wild mishap in his Heat race.  Zerbin had a front row seat to a rare IMCA Modified rollover.  “The driver chopped across my nose twice.”  On both occasions there was contact.  “I just got him with the front right and on a weird angle (the second time),” explains Zerbin, “definitely didn’t want to see him flip but the contact was enough to send him over.”  There were no injuries in the rollover.  Damage to Zerbin’s car was minor but it did take him out of the Heat.  “I just broke the tie rod end (with the contact) which is why I didn’t finish the heat.”  Zerbin was credited with a 6th place DNF in his Heat.

The Friday night 25-lap Feature saw Zerbin gain 5-spots in the first 5-laps.  The Victoria, British Columbia driver would crack the top-10 just a few laps later.  He would make a majority of his passes using the high groove of the track.  “Luckily the track was good enough to run the top.”  Zerbin finished the caution-filled Friday night Feature in 5th.

On Saturday night, Zerbin had a better starting position (10th) courtesy a 4th place finish in his earlier Heat race.  Track conditions however were not to his liking.  “They had 410 sprint cars running (on Saturday night).  There was no tilling (of the track) at intermission.  It’s pretty hard to make the top work if there is not a big cushion.”  Unlike Friday night, where Zerbin gained 12 spots, he only would gain two spots in the Saturday night Feature and finished 8th.  “Wish Saturday night was a bit better but that’s the way it goes sometimes.  Unfortunately it was a train race.  It’s hard for me to ride the bottom and let everyone make mistakes.  I like making things happen running the top.”  Despite his 8th place finish this was Zerbins 5th consecutive top-10 finish of 2023.  The last time Zerbin had a similar streak was back in 2017.

Next race for Lane Zerbin and his father (Ted) in the Team NPP #81 Modified is annual County Fair race at Grays Harbor Raceway on Saturday, August 5th.
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Race replay’s from Skagit Speedway
— COURTESY DIRT TRACK RACING BY STREBFEST–

NIGHT #1/Friday, July 21st – click HERE

NIGHT #2/Friday, July 22nd – click HERE