LEWIS PREPARES FOR ‘OFFICIAL’ DEBUT ON ARCA WEST SERIES

Source: dp
Date: 05/02/2007

BOTHELL, Wash. -- While Gary Lewis has made a start on the ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series over the course of his career; this weekend marks the debut of The Sign Factory USA teams run for the championship in the widely popular showcase of late model talent in the Pacific Northwest.

When Lewis and team unload this weekend for the Apple Blossom 125 in East Wenatchee, WA the safety net of a provisional as he had in the former NASCAR Elite Series and the comfort zone of familiar faces will be gone; replaced with excitement for that unknown and a brand new race car.

“I want to race with the best drivers and the most cars,” Lewis said of his entry to the Late Model Challenge Series. “At this time we believe this is where the best competition will be racing for a championship in a late model series. It’s going to be a change of pace for us with a new car and different type of car and rules package than what we’ve been racing for over 14 years. It is an exciting challenge for our race team to undertake after winning the final NASCAR Northwest Series championship.”

Lewis will be running races on the ASA Northwest Series over the course of 2007, but, the focus on a championship will be on this new endeavor, he added.

Jeff Jefferson, Garrett Evans, Troy Conrad, Wes Rhodes and other drivers from the Late Model Challenge Series are familiar to Lewis and his Nutter Racing Engines crew, but, the majority of Saturday’s field will be out to beat the Bothell, WA native for the first time, he noted.

“Many of the drivers on this series I do not know much about. Hopefully we can earn their respect and make some new friends along the way this year.”

Lewis has multiple NASCAR victories at the tight high-banked Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, but with a new car and equipment comes a learning curve, according to the two-time Northwest champion.

“Many of the parts on this new Chevrolet Monte Carlo are different than what we’ve had in the past. We’ve gone to AP Brakes, a DPI Platinum Track Differential and an ARP Body kit. AC Nutter has built us a solid late model motor for this season so the challenge is to learn those changes in a timely fashion. This Friday night will be the first time our Victory Circle chassis will be on the track so we’re going to be gathering information quick on our new equipment.”

The Late Model Challenge Series travels to four states and the province of British Columbia over the course of their 2007 season. Lewis will be racing for the first time at Stateline Speedway (Post Falls, ID) and Vernon, BC with returns to Roseburg, OR and Kalispell, MT. Each stop including the chance to race new facilities and meet new fans has Lewis thrilled going into this weekend’s event.

“I love to race at new tracks so we’re really excited about running Stateline and Vernon and I can’t wait to get back to Roseburg and Kalispell. The fans in those cities are great and have always been very supportive of our race team when we’ve run our Tour car.”

Just getting to Wenatchee this weekend will be a welcome relief to the last few months of trails and tribulations that Lewis has faced, he added.

“It has been a very up and down off season for us. The fire at my parents home was a very tragic thing to go through. It’s weird how things like that bring everybody together. It’s really made us stop and appreciate the friends and family we have. My parents are moving and trying to get settled into a new home right now so this is a very busy time for us.”

Lewis will be in East Wenatchee, WA on Friday, May 4 for practice on the .250-mile paved oval operated by four-time NASCAR Champion, Garrett Evans.

On Thursday evening Lewis will be a guest of North Sound Racing’s Steve Mortland, Carla Heath, Gaylon Stewart and a cast of thousands. The show can be heard on 1380AM ESPN Radio beginning at 9 p.m. and will be simulcast at www.krko.com

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