Rick Kraft grabbed the lead from his pole starting spot and went wire to wire winning Saturday night's season opener for the Washington Midget Racing Association on the Spanaway Speedway ¼ mile oval. While never losing the lead, Kraft was under constant pressure including a last lap challenge from Darren Linder. Linder edged fast timer Travis Johnson for second as the top three finished in a pack. Mel Kemper, Jr., Bobby Bird and Duane Westby filled the top six spots.

 Following a lap 2 yellow for a two-car tangle that eliminated Glen Guiles, Kraft led an early race breakaway with Ken Ferris, Brad Curtis and Linder trailing. The four-way battle ended on lap 11 when Kraft and Ferris made contact with third running Curtis spinning to avoid the two. Both Kraft and Ferris kept moving but Curtis was forced to restart at the back of the field.

 The three remaining leaders pulled away again while Johnson battled Westby for the fourth spot. Damage from the earlier incident claimed Ferris on lap 23 when he lost steering and left the track entering turn one. The car remained on all four wheels and was towed to the pits. Six laps later Curtis's night ended when he and Pete Bittrolf left the track in turn three.

 Both were eliminated for the night.

 Kraft continued to hold the top spot over the final six laps with Linder making a last charge exiting turn four of the final lap. The second year WMRA driver made it close but was unable to get past Kraft at the checker.

 In preliminary action, Kraft won the A Dash over Curtis and second heat over Curtis and Linder; Westby was also a double winner taking the B Dash over Jeff Bird and the first heat from Bittrolf and Guiles. Johnson's fast time was 13.849.

 Summary:

Fast Time: Travis Johnson, 13.849

 B Dash (4 laps): Duane Westby, Jeff Bird, Mel Kemper, Jr., Tommy Erdman

 A Dash (4): Rick Kraft, Brad Curtis, Johnson, Darren Linder

 Heat 1 (8): Westby, Pete Bittrolf, Glen Guiles, Nick Seidelman, Kemper, J Bird

 Heat 2 (8): Kraft, Curtis, Linder, Ken Ferris, Johnson, Bobby Bird, Mike Gardner

 Main (35 Laps): 1st Rick Kraft, 2nd Darren Linder, 3rd Travis Johnson, 4th Mel Kemper, 5th Bobby Bird, 6th Duane Westby, 7th Brad Curtis, 8th Pete Bittrolf, 9th Nick Seidelman, 10th Ken Ferris, 11th Glenn Guiles

 DNS Main: #24 Dave Hoene, #32 Mike Gardner, #45 Jeff Bird, Tom Erdman