Lex Johnson has had a few days to let his victory from last weekends NASCAR Whelen All American Series race set in. It is perhaps more satisfying coming on the heels of two disappointing seventh place finishes in the first two races. "Things didn't go our way for sure in the first two" Lex said, and certainly they had not. "Last week I decided that it would be a make or break week for us, luckily it turned out great and now we're points racing for the championship". After adding Wired X Energy Drinks to their Sponsorship package that already includes Lex's business, Concept Racing & Graphics as well as Coleman Motorsports, the team stands ready for the long battle towards what it hopes will be the "Duel" championship at Evergreen this season.
The Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks are competing for well over $120,000 in prize, purse, contingency and awards during the 2007-racing season. The NASCAR Whelen All American Series Track Championship is up for grabs and the first ever Washington State NASCAR Championship as well. The eventual champion will be honored at the NASCAR National Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.
Two-time defending champion Shane Harding has already said that he wants to make it back to the banquet so he can "Get up on that stage and make a speech". Rarely is Shane caught with a loss of words as he has mastered the art of interviews and is especially adept at working his sponsors into the conversation at every opportunity. Last years NASCAR National Banquet experience has motivated him for sure in the 2007 championship battle at Evergreen but tough times have fallen on his team. After damaging his car in the first outing this season in a Trophy Dash that relegated him to a back up car, last week he was involved in an incident that took him off the track for repairs and out of the hunt for his first win of 2007. "I've been pretty lucky for the last couple years I guess maybe some of that luck turned on me a bit" he said this week.
Two-time champion John Zaretzke is the current points leader with a terrific field of competitors in tow. Kelly Mann is "Very excited to be at Evergreen this weekend" as well as a terrific crop of rookies and veterans alike. Jeff Knight's seventh place run in only his second ever Late Model race was pretty amazing and rookie Mike Holden held the lead in last weeks race for a nice run as well.
This Saturday May 5 (Cinco de Mayo!) The NASCAR Whelen All American Series continues with the Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks, Les Schwab Tires Bombers, Mini Stocks, Super Figure Eights, Stinger Eights, Northwest Legends & Crash Cars! Back gates open at 12:30 with racing action at 7pm. For more information please visit evergreenspeedway.com
NASCAR Whelen All American Series Track Championship - Current Points
Pos No. Name Total Diff Gap
1 51 John Zaretzke 74 0 0
2 22 Lex Johnson 60 14 14
3 39 Shane Harding 54 20 6
4 76 Roger Habich 50 24 4
5 9 Kelly Mann 48 26 2
6 4 Darin Stordahl 48 26 0
7 48 Tom Hughs 42 32 6
8 00 Naima Lang 42 32 0
9 28 Chris Preston 36 38 6
10 12 Jeff Holden 34 40 2
11 11 Mike Holden 28 46 6
12 42 Kevin Hamlin 26 48 2
13 53 Doug Wilkinson 24 50 2
14 87 Travis Powell 22 52 2
15 70 Jeff Knight 18 56 4
16 38 Tom Mathew 12 62 6
17 38x Darrin Hall 8 66 4
18 55 John Ross 4 70 4
19 27 Jill Lang 2 72 2
