GRAHAM, Washington -- The Late Model Challenge Series tenth and final race for 2006 will be on the big .646-mile oval at Evergreen Speedway on Saturday night September 16. The best Late Model drivers in the Northwest will be challenged by the big oval to decide the series’ 2006 champion.
The LMCS makes its only stop this season at the nostalgic .646-mile oval track, dubbed the ‘Super Speedway of the West’. The thirty plus teams are busy preparing for the 75-lap season finale, each with hopes of bringing home a big piece of the nearly $9,000 in cash and bonus awards offered. The .646 oval is the largest track the series will race on this season.
Three divisions will be holding championship races on the ‘Big Track’ this Saturday: the LMCS Late Models, the local Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Super Stocks, and the NW Pro 4 Truck Tour.
The Late Model Challenge Series’ top contenders are chasing valuable points toward the series’ season championship. Going into this event, the current top five are: Troy Conrad (Tacoma, WA), Shelby Thompson (Spokane WA), Jason Hedrick (Spanaway, WA), Wes Rhodes (Yelm, WA), and Billy Coates (Bothell, WA). In the nine races already completed this season, there have been seven different winners, many of whom will be competing for a prime starting position. Conrad and Kevin Richards (Spokane, WA) stand as the only two LMCS drivers to have scored two victories each this season.
Conrad, the current point leader, last ran on Evergreen’s .646 oval back in 2002 while competing with the NASCAR NW Tour. “We are definitely looking forward to running again on the big oval, and hopefully we can grab the season championship without incident. We know some of the locals will be hard to beat at their home track, but our main focus will be to run a smooth race as Shelby (Thompson) is still in the point’s battle. Of course, it would be great to finish the season with a win on the big track while securing the 2006 LMCS Championship.” Rookie Thompson, making his debut at Evergreen, currently sits only 14 points behind Conrad.
The Late Model Challenge Series has continued to grow in popularity over seven seasons and has become one of the most competitive programs in the Northwest. This season, the series has maintained the region’s highest average car count per event (27+) and also hosted record setting events at WVSO & Yakima Speedway. Spectators are sure to witness one of the largest gatherings of many of the Northwest’s finest stock car teams.
Evergreen’s local Super Stocks will also be using the ‘Big Track’ to decide their 2006 season champion. With just 6-points separating leader Rob Touchette (Lake Stevens, WA) and last year’s champion Shane Harding (Langley, BC). Third in points Doug Davidson (Monroe, WA) is well within range of the championship only 18-points back.
The Northwest Pro 4 Truck Tour will be using the ‘Big Track’ to decide who will represent the tour as the season’s champion. Current point’s leader Bart Hector (Ephrata, WA) has a slim edge over the 2005 champion Jason Majors (Tacoma, WA).
Never before has the big .646-mile oval been used to decide the three close points chase championships on one night.
Who: Late Model Challenge Series (75-Laps), Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Super Stocks (75-Laps) & NW Pro 4 Truck Tour (40-Laps).
What: Season Championships
Where: Evergreen Speedway Monroe, WA (.646-mile oval)
When: Saturday September 16, Back Gate opens at 11:00am; Practice from 12:30pm until 4:30pm; Qualifying starts at 4:30pm with racing beginning at 7:00pm
Tickets available via the web www.evergreenspeedway.com or call 360 805-6100
