DAYTONA BEACH, Flordia -- After coming away with top-five finishes at Evergreen Speedway the past two seasons, Scott Gaylord (No. 00 Oliver Gravity Separators/Denver Seminary Chevrolet) is hopeful of picking up that elusive first career win when the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series visits the Monroe, Wash., track this year. The west's oldest stock car racing circuit makes its annual visit to the historic speedway this week for the Coors Light 200 presented by NAPA & Creekside-Mountain Glen Retirement Centers on Saturday, July 30. The $117,595 event is to be televised to a national audience on SPEED Channel. It is slated to air at 2:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 26. Maneuvering 3,300-pound stock cars in traffic around the .646-mile track provides a challenge to the drivers and offers plenty of exciting close racing action for the fans. "That track is just wide enough in some areas to squeeze two cars in there," Gaylord said. "So, you get that close side-by-side racing. It's a great track for the spectators. I know I always have to work pretty hard to get by other competitors without wrecking each other."
After coming home third a year ago, to record his best finish in 10 visits to Monroe, Gaylord is optimistic about his chances this time. "If things start clicking and we get the handling right, I think we have a pretty good chance," said the long-time series veteran from Lakewood, Colo.
Gaylord considers handling to be the key to getting around the Monroe track. "I consider it a pretty flat track," he said. "So getting the car to handle is crucial. It depends how well you get that front end turning, because it always seems to have a tendency to push there. Then you try to work around that and you get the car too loose. It's one of those things you have to be aware of. You can only go so far."
Experience and race strategy are two other important factors that can contribute to the outcome of the race, according to Gaylord. "It's a track that has been around for a while," he said of the semi-banked oval. "It does have some unique character to it. How the racecar handles and adheres to the track is different than a newer track. You've got to know what it will allow and how far you can go with things without getting the car too crazy."
It is also important to know when to pit for fuel and fresh tires, because the speed drops off there on worn tires, according to Gaylord. "It's something to decide," Gaylord said. "How far do you go? If the race stays green, do you get to a point where you're going so slow and you're hoping for a yellow? Or do you just come in and if the yellow doesn't come out, you're back out on new tires and making up the distance."
"If the leaders start coming in, you better come in," he said. "If other people start coming in, they're going to make ground on you. You've got to get that happy median, where you go as far as you can."
With a limit to the number of tires that teams are allowed, it's also important not to take on fresh tires too soon. "You don't want to get it where you're short of tires and run out," Gaylord said. "It definitely plays a big part in the strategy of how far you can go with the tires."
Gaylord, who has competed in the West Series since 1988, is currently seventh in the championship standings. He has rebounded after struggling early this season. Part of his struggle has been in qualifying. He is hopeful of improving on that at Monroe. "If we would qualify a little better, I think we would have a really good chance," he said. "I usually start back in the field a little further than I like. By the time we work our way up, the race is over."
"A couple of years ago we won the pole a couple of times and were in the top five a lot," Gaylord said. "That fell off at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. So, we do have to get our act back together there. Once we get that speed back it's going to make a big difference for the rest of the race."
- The race . This event is the sixth race for the series this season
and marks the halfway point on the 2005 schedule. It is the only visit by the series to the state of Washington this year.
- The track . Evergreen Speedway is a semi-banked .646-mile paved oval
with turns banked eight degrees and four degrees banking in the straights.
The track has hosted 37 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series races in the modern era, since 1971. In addition, the track held approximately 10 events between 1964 and 1970.
- Media luncheon . Members of the media will get a special opportunity
to meet many of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series drivers during a media luncheon at Evergreen Speedway at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 29.
Following the luncheon, the speedway is hosting an open practice session from noon to 5 p.m.
- Last year's event . Although David Gilliland (No. 88
RaceCarCeilingFans.com Chevrolet) captured the Bud Pole Award in last year's event, his lead was a short one as Mike Duncan (No. 9 Lucas Oil/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet) quickly charged out front. Austin Cameron also was moving forward and took over the lead on lap 25. Pit strategy among the leaders became apparent during the third caution of the race, when Cameron relinquished the lead to pit for fresh tires and fuel. Duncan, however, remained on track and inherited the lead. Duncan got a big break 57 laps later when the yellow flag flew - allowing him to pit for fresh tires and fuel under the caution. He restarted 10th, but was quickly advancing to the front in a fashion similar to Cameron's previous charge. Duncan's effort came up short, however, as he began to fade in the final stages. Jeff Jefferson, competing in the event as a teammate to Cameron, closed in on the leader and dogged him through the final 10 laps. Cameron held on for the win, followed by Jefferson, Duncan and Kerry Earnhardt.
- Many different winners . Twenty-three different drivers have won a
series race at Evergreen Speedway since 1971.
- Big winners . Ray Elder has the most wins at Evergreen Speedway,
with five. He visited victory lane in 1971, twice in 1972 and twice in 1975.
Other multiple winners include Ron Eaton (1979, 1980 and 1982), Chad Little (1986, 1988 and 1989), Brendan Gaughan (2000 and 2001), Butch Gilliland
(1996 and 1998), Harry Jefferson (1974 and 1977), Neil Newberry (1976 and 1979), Jim Robinson (1983 and 1984) and Bill Sedgwick (1990 and 1992).
- Most poles . Eaton and Bill Elliott share the distinction for
winning the most Bud Pole Awards at Monroe, with four each. Eaton won his in 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1985 - while Elliott won his in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990.
- Best finishes . The late Roy Smith leads the lists for most top-five
finishes (nine) and top-10 finishes (14) in series competition at the track since 1971.
- Most money . Sedgwick leads in terms of money won in series events
at Evergreen Speedway in the modern era. He has winnings of $108,351 in 10 races.
- Out front . Little has led the most laps of series competition
around the Monroe track since 1971, staying out front for 1,183 circuits.
- Return performance . Jack Sellers (No 15 Aramark/Dayco Belts
Pontiac) plans to return to Evergreen Speedway, where he has taken the green flag in 16 series races. He holds the top mark among active drivers in the series.
- High marks . Although he has yet to win on the .646-mile oval, Mike
Duncan has finished second or third at Monroe for three consecutive years.
Not surprisingly, Duncan has the best average finish among active drivers with four or more starts at Monroe. His average in four events is 3.75.
- Manufacturers' battle . Ford tops the list of manufacturer wins at
Evergreen Speedway, with 10. Chevrolet won the most recent, however.
- Stat of the race . Five of the past nine races were won by the
driver who started fourth on the grid. Only eight of 37 winners at Evergreen Speedway since 1971 started from the Bud Pole. The last time the winner started from the Bud Pole in a 200-lap event was 1982.
- Etc. . A total of 294 different drivers have competed in the 37
series races at Evergreen Speedway since 1971.
- This Week's Series Leaders . Through five races of the NASCAR Grand
National Division, West Series season:
- Points leader - Scott Lynch, 844
- Money won - Scott Lynch, $45,033
- Laps led - Scott Lynch, 176
- Laps completed - Scott Lynch, 717; Steve Portenga, 717
- Average finish - Scott Lynch, 3.2
- Victories - Scott Lynch, 2
- Poles - Mike Duncan, 3
- Top-five finishes - Scott Lynch, 4; Mike Duncan, 4; David
Gilliland, 4
- Top-10 finishes - Scott Lynch, 5; Steve Portenga, 5
- Races led - Scott Lynch, 3; Mike Duncan, 3
- Points leader - Scott Lynch, 844
Drivers celebrating a birthday in the first portion of August include Scott Gaylord, who turns 47 on the 12th; Rick Craig, who turns 33 also on the 12th.
On July 6, 1975, Ray Elder lapped the field en route to victory in West Series competition at Evergreen Speedway. Completing the top five were Chuck Wahl, Chuck Bown, John Kieper and Ernie Irvan. Elder scored four other victories that year as he went on to win the series championship, the final of his record six series championships.
- What:
- Coors Light 200 by NAPA & Creekside-Mountain Glen Retirement Centers NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Race #6
- Where:
- Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash.
- When:
- 8:00 p.m., Saturday, July 30.
- Track layout:
- .646-mile paved oval.
- Distance:
- 200 Laps, 129.2 miles.
- Posted Awards:
- $117,595
- TV:
- SPEED Channel (enhanced replay, Aug. 26, 2:30 p.m. ET)
- 2004 winner:
- Austin Cameron.
- 2004 polesitter:
- David Gilliland.
- Records:
- Qualifying: Mark Krogh, June 29, 1996, 99.589 mph, 23.352 sec.;
Race: Roy Smith, July 12,1981, 83.359 mph, 1 hr 29 min 56 sec
- Pre-race schedule:
- Saturday - Practice, Noon-1 p.m., 2-2:30 p.m.,
Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. Note: All times subject to change.
- NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Top 10:
- 1. Scott Lynch 844 2.
Steve Portenga 798 3. Mike Duncan 776 4. David Gilliland 741 5. Mike David
720 6. Brett Thompson 683 7. Scott Gaylord 631 8. Andrew Myers 631 9. Tim
Woods III 629 10. Andrew Lewis 616.
- Track Contact:
- Scott Ellsworth, (360) 805-6100
