YAKIMA, Washington --The fourth of the eight race series for the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour is on Saturday July 7 at Yakima Speedway, Yakima, Washington. The .500-mile oval is a fitting place for a mid-season race. Over the years it has proven to be a tough place to get a handle of.
The mid-season is bringing out some drivers that have been sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what direction the new ASANWT was headed. Drivers such as: Pete Harding (Surrey, B.C.) and Rick Suran (Estacada, OR) will make their 2007 racing debut. They will join tour regulars Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, WA), BJ Tidrick (Yakima, WA), Jeff Barkshire (Auburn, WA), Kelly Tanner (Auburn, WA), Garrett Evans (E. Wenatchee, WA), Brandon Riehl (Boring, OR), Jay Sauls (Puyallup, WA), Matt Hall (Spokane, WA) and Ron Eaton (Spanaway, WA).
Also joining this elite group of premier northwest stock car racers are Jason Fraser (Snohomish, WA), Kevin Moland (Spokane, WA), Mike Longton (Moxee, WA) and Eric Richardson (Bakersfield, CA) plus a handful of local late model racers. This will be the largest gathering of ASANWT racers this season.
Yakima’s 1/2-mile has always been a track that forces the drivers and teams to bring their ‘A’ game. Besides the challenge of the super fast speedway, the teams will be using a new tire for the tour. Due to production problems by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the ASANWT will be moving to the American Racer brand tire. When this unknown is added to the mix it shapes-up to be an interesting mid-season event.
Only 45-points separate the top five for the 2007 ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour Championship. Currently in command is Sauls (480 pts) followed closely by Tidrick (469 pts). Moving into third after a win at the tour’s last stop is Riehl (460 pts) just ahead of former tour champion Tanner (453 pts). The fifth in the chase Hall (435 pts) has four of the top five chasing after their first tour championship.
The ASANWT has not had a repeat winner so far this season. The first race at South Sound Speedway Tom Sweatman (Cosmopolis, WA) won. In race #2 at Yakima Speedway Gary Lewis (Bothell, WA) made it to victory lane. Race #3 at Stateline Speedway, Riehl won.
The 2007 season for the Northwest Tour could be defined by this mid-season race. With the large contingent of competitors, new race tire and Yakima Speedway all being a large part of that equation.
For more information call 509 925-2806
