MONROE, Washington -- The Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Super Stocks get their season off to a fast start at Evergreen Speedway, Saturday Night April 22. The Speedway’s premier race division is part of NASCAR’s Weekly Racing Series.
The revamped division starts a new era of late model racing. In an effort to lower costs and provide more competitive racing Evergreen Speedway has changed the rules. Track officials are encouraging the use of a crate engine. Existing large bore engines will be grandfathered but will be brought back to be competitive with the crate motor. The use of weight restrictions, restrictor plates and such will put the entire division on an even keel. Also in an effort to make the Super Stocks more exciting in 2006, the entire field at the start of the main events will be inverted with the faster qualifying cars starting at the rear. It is the return of ‘real short track’ Saturday night racing.
Back to defend his 2005 Super Stock Championship, Shane Harding (Surrey, B.C.) is looking forward to the new rules and the competitive racing. With the majority of the seasons racing taking place on the 3/8-mile oval, starting towards the rear each week, will be a challenge for a repeat championship. To add even more of a challenge for a repeat is the return, from retirement, of five times Super Stock Champion Tom Moriarity (Monroe). Moriarity will be using one of the less expensive crate motors.
Others that are expected to give Harding a run for the crown are last season’s second in points, Jason Fraser (Snohomish). Fraser like Harding will also be racing in the NASCAR Elite Division Northwest Series when not racing at Evergreen. Doug Davidson (Monroe), overdue for that first championship, is always a favorite.
Will the new rules be the catalyst that takes one of these drivers to the head table at the season ending banquet as the 2006 season champion? Naima Lang (Lynnwood), John Burtsche (Bellevue), Joey Decker (Carnation) veterans that should be in the point chase. A rookie this season Matt Barrett (Tacoma) has the credentials to quickly raise to the top. Barrett a former Karting and Northwest Legends champion hopes to use that knowledge transferring to the full body stock car division.
In addition to the NASCAR Super Stock season opening race the Les Schwab Tires NASCAR Bomber Division resumes their season. In the first race of the season, Duane Schosboek (Bothell) drove from the back to the front in spectacular fashion on a wet race track. This rain or shine division provides plenty of close short track racing.
It will also be the opening night for the traveling Northwest Legend Series that uses Evergreen Speedway as their home track. With 2005 Pro Division Champion Matt Barrett moving into the NASCAR Super Stock Division, the door is open for a new champion in the top division of the three division series. The Semi-Pro and Masters Divisions have continuously provided great racing.
The NASCAR Mini-Stocks, Stinger 8’s, Super and Extreme Contact Figure Eight Divisions resume their seasons that began earlier in the month. A ‘Go Til You Blow’ contest will round out the action packed night of seven racing divisions and a special contest.
All this activity begins with the Front Gates opening at 3:30PM and Main Event Racing at 7:00PM. Tickets are available online at www.evergreenspeedway. com, calling 306-805-6100 and at the front gate on race night. Evergreen Speedway is in Monroe, WA at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.
