past present future

Mountain (formerly Evergreen) sprung back in 1988

By Gene Ostrowski
July 2005

After sitting dormant for 10 years, Mountain Speedway (formerly Evergreen Raceway) was repaved and reopened in 1988.

The first show was Sunday, April 17th. Many drivers took to the asphalt that day, and with only street stocks and modifieds on hand as regular divisions for the season; the fans witnessed one heck of a show.

Denny Wenner won the street stock feature, just edging out Dale Fey and Glenn Sullivan beat Paul Bauscher to the stripe, claiming the modified victory.

Many household names at Mountain Speedway were ‘rookies’ at the time. Some of the rookie contender list included names such as Dale Fey, Steve Clark, Jerry Hildebrand, Tommy Zajac, Larry Fisher and Joe Kulaga in the street stocks. A variety of modified drivers too to the track throughout the season. Some of the names from the list include Roger Heffelinger Jr., Bob Dresser, Tony Siscone, Jerry ‘Magee’ Miller, Tony Hirschman, Ed Spencer, Sr. and Russ Frantz. Frantz picked up his first career-modified victory at Evergreen in ’88. Other names that popped out from the list are Dean Kline and Eric Aigeldinger.

Just like the present, special shows were run that season, including four cylinder pure stocks, midgets and mini modified fans, the AMSRA micro stocks. Don Wagner turned his first laps at the speedway that season, not in a street stock or modified, but piloted a micro stock.

Other areas of 1988 interest:

Price of regular unleaded fuel: 0.94 per gallon
Pit Admission (with pit license): $10
Modifieds were allowed to run on Good Year Eagles
Oscar winner: Rain Man
Movies Released: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Mystic Pizza
Most popular TV show: The Cosby Show
TV Notables: Yo! MTV Raps debuts
Top of the Pops: Faith by George Michael
Music Notables: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby Darin, "She's Like The Wind" by Patrick Swayze, "Push It" by Salt 'n Pepa

CD's outsell albums for the first time and Spuds Mackenzie becomes the original party animal.

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