WEATHER WASHES OUT WENATCHEE WEEKEND

EAST WENATCHEE, Washington - Hometown driver Brent Harris took top qualifying honors at the Apple Blossom 125 Presented by ABC Landscaping and Irrigation, the opening event of the 2008 ARCA West Circle K Series championship season.

The cool, wet weather that had already put a damper on the town's annual Apple Blossom festivities also forced the cancellation of the main event as rain began to fall shortly before the drop of the green flag. Harris, #0 Chevrolet Impala SS, with his sizzling 12.665 second lap at the tight and fast ¼-mile Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval was just short of the track record 12.645 time set by Jay Sauls at a Series event in August, 2005.

Less then 3/100ths of a second behind with a 12.668 second lap was Jason Jefferson (Yakima, WA) driving the #97 Evans Car Credit Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

2006 Rookie of the Year, Shelby Thompson of Spokane, WA in the #3 Bill Thompson's Auto Sales Chevrolet Impala SS, posted the third quick time of 12.696 seconds.

This was the second year in a row that Harris was top qualifier at the season opening Apple Blossom 125. In 2007, he posted a 12.803 time to pace the field.

Twenty one teams were on hand for the inaugural event with new Series sponsor Mac's Convenience Stores and Circle K Stores.

The strong group included defending ARCA West champion Gary Lewis (Bothell, WA) , #73 The Sign Factory Chevrolet Impala SS and 2007 Port City Race Cars Rookie of the Year, Erick Hargraves (Yakima, WA) #51 PJ's Tire Pontiac GTO.

Before the rains put an early end to the evening's events, the spectators got a small preview of the season's racing as the top four qualifiers ran a Fast Dash. Wes Rhodes (Yelm, WA) led all the way in his #6 Knight Fire Protection Chevrolet Impala SS to claim the first trophy of the 2008 season.

This year's Apple Blossom 125 marked the fourth consecutive year the ARCA West Circle K Series has opened its season at Wenatchee. Lewis won the 2007 event. Troy Conrad (Tacoma, WA) the 2006 Series champion claimed the 2006 season opener. And in 2005, Harris visited victory circle.

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