Photo by Sherie Bialous

Redwood Acres Raceway will be closing out the 2021 season with a bang this month with a pair of two-day events scheduled, including this weekend’s Legends Of The Redwoods Shootout.

The action gets under way on Friday and promises to be one of the biggest and most exciting events at the local raceway this season.

Friday evening will feature Roadrunners, Mini Stocks, local Bombers and the Legends, while Saturday’s races will have the addition of the Upstate Bomber Series and the Late Models.

Saturday’s event will begin by remembering the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a memorial that will include the Marines, Army, Coast Guard, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team, and the Fire Department.

Redwood Acres Raceway has had over 30 competitors attempt to race in the Legends division this season and this weekend’s Legends Of The Redwoods Shootout is expected to draw a very strong field featuring the best drivers in the region.

Chris Lawrence appears to have the division track championship well in hand, with a comfortable 44-point advantage over Brandon White in second.

The winner of the feature event on Friday will pocket $750 while Saturday’s victor will earn a healthy $2,000. A $1,000 bonus is on the line if the same driver and car can win both main events.

The championship battle for the roadrunners, meanwhile, is essentially a two-driver race now, with Bob Ratzlaff holding a 15-point lead over Jeremiah Martin.

Tanisha Ratzlaff is enjoying a spectacular rookie season and is third in points, but at this stage it would take a major setback by the two frontrunners for her to have a chance at the track title.

Despite facing mechanical gremlins the past several races, Eric O’Ferrall still has a firm grasp on the points lead for the Mini Stocks, with a 30-point advantage over young Colton Kinsey.

This Saturday’s Late Model event will be the final race toward the division’s track championship.

Veteran driver David Henderson has endured some difficulties this summer, but still holds a 22-point lead over Scott Baker at the top of the season standings.

Friday’s Bombers race will have no points up for grabs, but the purse for the race is increased with the main event winner getting a $750 payout.

Saturday’s Upstate Bomber Series winner will receive $1,000 and if the same driver and car wins the feature for both nights, they will earn an addition $1,000 bonus.

Tyler Krupa leads the local Bomber standings by 28 points over his sister, Raquel Krupa. Third place is a tie between Jordan Krupa and Ed Rasmussen, with both drivers 33 points behind the leader.

Tickets for each day’s races are $10 and can be purchased on RacinTheAcres.com as well as at Automasters and Don’s Rent-All in Eureka, McKinleyville Barber Shop in McKinleyville, and JC Auto in Fortuna.

Tickets will also be available at the front gate Friday and Saturday.

Gates open at 4 p.m. on both days.