MONROE, Washington Brandon Riehl won the Top Foods/Haggen’s Wired X Energy Drink 125, the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series event at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. It was Riehl’s second win of the season and his first since the season opener in April at Meridian (Idaho) Speedwway.
Riehl, out of Boring, Ore., took the lead on lap 62 when then leader Mike Longton tangled with a lapped car. Riehl led the final 71 circuits around the 3/8-mile oval. The race went 133 laps in order to get a green-white-checkered finish. He beat Travis Bennett, who finished second, to the line by 0.217 seconds.
Steven Howard finished third followed by Shane Harding and Brent Harris in fourth and fifth, respectively.
John Bender, Zan Sharp, Shane Mitchell, Troy Tramell and Darren Rupinski rounded out the top 10.
Unofficially, Gary Lewis retained his points lead, but saw it shrink from 80 to 37points over Bennett after losing a lap to a flat tire. Riehl jumped from seventh to third with the victory.
The Northwest Series is right back at it next week for a 125 lap event on the 1/2-mile track at Yakima (Wash.) Speedway.
UNOFFICIAL Results from Top Foods/Haggen's Wired X Energy Drink 125
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, NORTHWEST SERIES
Monroe, WA July 15, 2006
Final leaders of Saturday's $48,578.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, NORTHWEST SERIES
stock car race with driver's hometown, make of car, laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1. Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet, 133, 48.475 mph, $2,700
2. Travis Bennett, Ellensburg Wash., Chevrolet, 133, $2,000
3. Steven Howard, Roy Wash., Chevrolet, 133, $2,550
4. Shane Harding, Langley B.C. Canada, Chevrolet, 133, $1,700
5. Brent Harris, Wenatchee Wash., Pontiac, 133, $1,200
6. John Bender, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet, 133, $1,300
7. Zan Sharp, Wellsville Utah, Chevrolet, 133, $1,000
8. Shane Mitchell, Orondo Wash., Chevrolet, 133, $1,100
9. Troy Tramell, Yakima Wash., Chevrolet, 133, $1,000
10. Darren Rupinski, Rathdrum Idaho, Chevrolet, 133, $700
11. James McVey, Port Orchard Wash., Chevrolet, 132, $650
12. Gary Lewis, Bothell Wash., Chevrolet, 132, $800
13. Wilbur Bruce, Lakewood Wash., Chevrolet, 132, $750
14. Mike Longton, Moxee Wash., Chevrolet, 131, $725
15. Joey Decker, Jr, Carnation Wash., Chevrolet, 131, $500
16. Jason Fraser, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet, 130, $910
17. B. J. Tidrick, Yakima Wash., Chevrolet, 130, $635
18. Pete Harding, Surrey B.C. Canada, Chevrolet, 130, $400
19. Michael Merry, Spokane Wash., Chevrolet, 129, $400
20. Darren Trimble, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet, 127, $400
21. Jay Sauls, Puyallup Wash., Chevrolet, 107, $600
22. Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge, 100, $600
23. Garrett Evans, E. Wenatchee Wash., Chevrolet, 92, Overheating, $600
24. Matt Hall, Spokane Wash., Chevrolet, 62, Penalty, $600
25. John Dillon, Eagle Idaho, Chevrolet, 60, Accident, $600
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 1 mins, 44 secs
Average Speed: 48.475 mph
Margin of Victory :0.217 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Jason Fraser *, 31 Rich's Car Corner/BRI Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE "MOST IMPROVED DRIVER" AWARD: Shane Harding *, 93 Ed's Transmission/Harding Forklift Chevrolet
POWERADE "POWER MOVE OF THE RACE" AWARD: Steven Howard, 38 Great Northwest Homes Chevrolet
LUNATI “CREW CHIEF OF THE RACE” AWARD: Steve Dykman, 69 Aero Exhaust/Darrel’s Economy Muffler Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 2-5; 9-12; 17-20; 27-29; 57-69; 92-98; 121-130. 7 for 45 laps.
Lap Leaders: Mike Longton * 1-62, Brandon Riehl 63-133.
Total Laps Led: Brandon Riehl 71, Mike Longton * 62. 1 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Gary Lewis 827, Travis Bennett 790, Brandon Riehl 713, Jay Sauls * 681, Mike Longton * 671, Shane Mitchell * 669, Wilbur Bruce 669, Jeff Barkshire 667, Steven Howard 652, John Bender 630
Next Race:7/22 at Yakima Speedway
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
