YAKIMA, Washington – The 2007 Bud Clary Toyota Fall Classic at Yakima Speedway had to be rescheduled for this Sunday October 7. Rain washed out the first attempt of the third day of the 20th Annual Northwest ritual. On tap for Sunday will be the 75-lap Street Stock main and the 200-lap Fall Classic Late Model main.
The one week delay has given drivers and crews the opportunity to fine-tune their cars for the richest Late Model race in the Northwest this season. 34-cars timed in on either Friday or Saturday a week ago. With the weeks delay there are more cars expected to join the original 34 for the start of the 200-laps on the .500-mile oval. Any new cars will have their own qualifying session on Sunday and will join the back of the field in their respective qualifying order.
Pole sitter Garret Evans (E. Wenatchee, WA) and outside front row starter Kevin Richards (Newman Lake, WA) have the option to start at the back of the field with a $2,000.00 bonus if either wins the Classic. When added to the $10,000.00 to win plus the $1,000.00 from the Ashley Bergman Foundation winner’s share of the $75,000.00 purse makes the challenge very enticing. Yakima Speedway recently added another $1,000.00 incentive to the winners check if that driver is a first time winner of the ‘Fall Classic’.
Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA) the best 2007 Northwest Late Model racer looks to add to his season total of 9-wins in 16-starts. Two of the wins came on the first two days of the 2007 Fall Classic. On Friday September 28 Lewis won the Race of Champions and on Saturday the 125-lap Limited Late Model Main. “A first time win of the Fall Classic would be the capper to my most successful season”, said Lewis. “With the ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series, Idaho 200 and Montana 200 Championships this season all on my first attempts at them a Fall Classic win would be unbelievable”, stated the 2-time NASCAR Elite Series Champion.
Any of the other 33 plus drivers would like to spoil Lewis’ bid for his first ever Fall Classic. One that has come close in the first two days of the Classic is Jason Fraser (Snohomish, WA). Fraser finished second to Lewis in both the Race of Champions and the Limited Late Model 125. “I needed longer green flag sessions in the 125 to beat Lewis. My car gets better the longer we run”, said Fraser after the yellow plagued race on Saturday evening.
Three champions of their respective 2007 series will take the green. BJ Tidrick (Yakima, WA) representing the ASA Northwest Tour, Dave Garber (Spokane, WA) of the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association and Lewis fresh off the ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series.
The Northwest’s best Stock Car Racers will share the final day’s stage with the best Northwest Street Stock Racers. The 75-lap feature has 34-cars presently qualified in. The race will pit the 2007 champions from Evergreen Speedway (Lane Sundholm – Snohomish, WA) and Yakima Speedway (Buck Noel Jr – Selah, WA) against the rest of the star studded main.
The day will start with the backgate for the racers opening at 8:00am. Practice starting at 9:00am. The main gate opens for the fans at 11:00am. Opening Ceremonies will commence at 1:00pm sharp. Racing will immediately follow. To assist in getting the 70 plus cars unloaded as quickly as possible, Yakima Speedway officials are opening the pits for unloading only starting at 5:00pm on Saturday.
Starting Line-up for the Bud Clary Toyota 20th Annual ‘Fall Classic’ 200-lap Main
Yakima Speedway (.500-mile Oval)
Sunday October 7, 2007
Pos Name Hometown Nat/State
1 Garrett Evans E. Wenatchee WA
2 Kevin Richards Newman Lake WA
3 Gary Lewis Snohomish WA
4 Shelby Thompson Spokane WA
5 Jason Fraser Snohomish WA
6 Mark Owens Kalispell MT
7 Erick Hargraves Yakima WA
8 BJ Tidrick Yakima WA
9 Travis Bennett Ellensburg WA
10 Kelly Mann Monroe WA
11 Brandon Riehl Boring OR
12 Christian Roeder Ephrata WA
13 Pete Harding Surrey BC
14 Scott Walker Prosser WA
15 Naima Lang Snohomish WA
16 Rick Suran Estacada OR
17 Rob Touchette Lake Stevens WA
18 Owen Riddle Naches WA
19 Dan Obrist Portland OR
20 Ron Dexter Selah WA
21 Jim Johnson Orting WA
22 Jay Sauls Puyallup WA
23 Ken Olson Yakima WA
24 James Spiering Redmond WA
25 Dan Beecher Marysville WA
26 Mike Obrist Portland OR
27 Christopher Kalsch Hillsboro WA
28 Brad Stanwood Portland OR
29 Dave Garber Spokane WA
30 Darrin Stordahl Marysville WA
31 Rick Christopherson Yakima WA
32 Willy Thom Dundee OR
33 Wade Bennett Granite Falls WA
34 Dave Drinkwine Condon, OR
Plus expected additional cars
Qualified Street Stocks (75-Lap Main)
Car # Name Hometown Nat/State
00 Lane Sundholm Snohomish WA
07 Brian Pepper Yakima WA
08 Jeff Mullins Naches WA
09 Mike Pepper Yakima WA
1 John Rose Yakima WA
3 Andy Beaman Selah WA
4 Joe Kneeland Mill Creek WA
5 Dan Woodward Maple Valley WA
6 Gary Homad Wenatchee WA
7 Tony Huffines Selah WA
9 Bob Edwards Roseburg OR
14 Zach Havens Kalispell MT
15 Gary Perry Winston OR
16 Dan Fouts Roseburg OR
17 Casey Merrill Yakima WA
18 Eric Lee Rochester WA
20 Ron Stewart Moses Lake WA
24 Tom Wentz Wenatchee WA
27 Jill Lang Snohomish WA
33 Clayton Beaman Selah WA
38 Dusty John Yakima WA
47 Chet Beaman Yakima WA
51 Josh Wilson Arlington WA
60 Brian Tischler W. Richland WA
61 Steve Floyd E. Wenatchee WA
66 Brandon Haley Yakima WA
69 Rich Peters Yakima WA
70 Mike Butler Benton City WA
72 Richy Balderson Olympia WA
75 Mike Easley Olympia WA
76 Amanda McDonald Ellensburg WA
95 Buck Noel Jr Selah WA
96 Jerry Walker Jr Yakima WA
97 Josh Ingram Wenatchee WA
