ROSEBURG, Oregon -- In a race night where something went wrong for nearly every entrant in the Elmer’s Restaurant 125, Jeff Jefferson cruised flawlessly to victory Saturday night at the Douglas County Speedway and ASA Member Track.
Jefferson, Yakima, Wash., started ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series event on the inside of the third row. By Lap 25 he was driving in third and on Lap 44 he raced past Gary Lewis to move in the second spot. And on Lap 50, race leader Jason Hedrick pulled to the high side of the track and he waved to the crowd as his car slowed and he exited the track with a blown motor.
Jefferson, who also posted the fastest qualifying time, led the final 75 circuits and lapped all but five cars in the field.
“I’m having the most fun in my life right now than I ever have,” Jefferson said immediately after the race. “The car has been put together so well. I have the best crew chief and the car is so easy to drive. It’s just awesome.”
The night was not equally as awesome for several other competitors.
Sutherlin’s Bryon Harvey, the only local entrant, was involved in contact with drivers during the first lap of the race and subsequently hit the wall. Harvey was unable to continue more than the single lap.
“I hit the wall going down the backshoot,” Harvey said. “The front suspension broke and that was it for us.”
Hedrick, who led the race’s first 50 laps, seemed poised to compete for the duration before his mechanical failure.
Other top teams also suffered mishaps.
Garrett Evans, who was second fastest in qualification, blew a transmission before the feature and was unable to start the 125-lap event. Willy Thom, another entry with a strong timing effort, was involved in a collision during the local ASA Late Model main, and only completed nine laps in the 125. Of the 17 car entries, only 10 finished the feature and only six remained on the lead leap. Even Lewis, who won the trophy dash, was not totally satisfied with his outcome.
“Our car was great in practice, but it was not the same in the race,” Lewis said. “We took a risk with a set of tires that we shouldn’t have, so now we’re happy with second place.”
The Roseburg event was the only Oregon stop of the 10 ARCA West Tour races. Lewis and Jefferson began the evening first and second respectively after two events in the point standings.
Following Jefferson and Lewis, Bothell, Wash., to the checkered was Brent Harris, Wenatchee, Wash., Mike Obrist, Portland and Erick Hargraves, Yakima, Wash. in third through fifth place respectively.
In the local portion of the program, Adam Whitlock passed Harland Koens on Lap 17 enroute to his ASA Late Model 35-lap victory.
Whitlock, Medford, also was won the fast-time award. Koens, who held on for second in the main, won the first heat race. Mark Pothoff, Dundee, finished third in the main, Sutherlin’s Rod Scevers was fourth and Albany’s Rod McCombs was fifth.
Matt Klaas won the second heat and Portland’s Brad Stanwood won the trophy dash.
Rob Mueller topped the 13-car field to capture the 25-lap Mini Stock main event. For Mueller, it was the second consecutive weekend that he won both the main and the fast-time award.
Jim Smith, Tyson Eaton, Dave Wilson and Eric Luckman finished second through fifth respectively in the main. Dale Yarbrough won the first heat and Smith won the fast heat. Eaton captured the dash.
Josh Cox and Ben Herbert Jr. each won Hornet races.
Racing resumes Saturday at the Douglas County Speedway featuring the Bi-Mart Sprintcar Shootout, Modifieds, Oldtimers and Street Stocks.
