PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR THOMPSON WITH INSSA WIN

SPOKANE, Washington -- Late in the rain-delayed Inland Northwest Super Stock (INSSA) event at Spokane Raceway Park (SRP) on Sunday it appeared to everyone, including Spokaneʼs Shelby Thompson, that Kevin Richards had this one in the bag.

Richards, from Newman Lake, Washington, who had posted a new track record (17.673), took the lead from Sagle, Idahoʼs Corey Allard on lap 20. Well into the race, Richards was out for a Sunday drive with nearly a half lap lead over Thompson, Christian Roeder (Ephrata, WA), and Erick Hargraves (Yakima, WA).

The caution flew at lap 84 as Jeff Fenton, who had been running 5th, spun on the back stretch and knocked down a concrete section of the wall ~ a caution Richards was soon sorry to see. With the field tightened up, the green flag flew and Richards appeared to have a tire going down. His hands full with a very loose car, Richards did all he could to hang on to the lead. By lap 90, Thompson took over the lead to the boisterous cheers of the ecstatic die-hard race fans that were all on their feet. Thompson led the way to the checkered, followed by Roeder and Hargraves, who were also able to make their way around Richards before crossing the stripe. Corey Allard rounded out the top 5.

Several of the 22 cars that started the event were unable to return Sunday due to other obligations. Saturdayʼs start was the largest field of late models to take the green flag at SRP for many years. Among some of Saturdayʼs starters were ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour drivers Jay Sauls, Matt Hall, Kevin Moland and Brandon Riehl. The Tour drivers were extended a one-time invitation after their race at State Line Speedway was rained out (to be run at a later date).

INSSA returns to State Line Speedway for the 4th event of their season this Saturday night, June 16th. Dave Garber maintains a slim pointʼs lead over Kevin Richards going into this event.

NEXT EVENT: Saturday, June 16, 2007 @ State Line Speedway

.1   3  Shelby Thompson      Spokane, WA           Running            100
 2  84  Christian Roeder     Ephrata, WA           Running            100
 3  51  Erick Hargraves      Yakima, WA            Running            100
 4  14  Kevin Richards       Newman Lake, WA       Running            100
 5  23  Corey Allard         Sagle, ID             Running            100
 6  41  Andy Brown           Spokane, WA           Running             99
 7  11  Greg McKinley        Spokane, WA           Running             97
 8  93  Dave Garber          Spokane, WA           Running             92
 9   4  Jeff Fenton          Spokane               Accident            84
10  10  Jeff Little          Dover, ID             Running             69
11  28  Ross Cooper          Spokane Valley, WA    Mechanical          35
12  6   Rob Reinbold         Davenport, WA         Accident            34
13  5   Bill Belton          Spokane, WA           Accident            27
14  20  Jay Sauls            Puyallup, WA          Rain                 8
15  28x Matt Hall            Spokane, WA           Rain                 8
16  21  Jack Morse           Colbert, WA           Rain                 8
17  11B Brandon Riehl        Boring, OR            Rain                 8
18  32  Kevin Moland         Spokane, WA           Rain                 8
19  45  Steve Parrish        Coeur d'Alene, ID     Rain                 8
20  19  Marc Oergel          Colbert, WA           Rain                 8
21   7  Jessie Taylor        Clayton, WA           Rain                 8
22  98x John Clark           Spokane Valley, WA    Rain                 0