SNOHOMISH, Washington–Gary Lewis has no answers as to why his race team is so good at figuring out new race tracks and events, but he’ll take the accomplishments in stride each time The Sign Factory USA Chevrolet Impala finds its way to victory lane.
Competitors need not ask for advice on how to duplicate the feat, the Snohomish, WA native isn’t quite sure himself, he explained.
One thing is certain, counting Sunday’s win at Mission Valley Speedway, Lewis has won five consecutive first-time visiting events (three points races and the Montana and Idaho 200’s) heading into the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series next event June 14 at Sun Valley Speedway in Vernon, BC–an event Lewis won on his first visit to the facility last year.
Puzzled to the reasons, Lewis tried to explain.
“Oh man that’s the $10,000 (the Big Sky 150 winner’s check) question,” he said. “I don’t know how we do it to be honest. We just work hard and try to learn as much as possible from race to race. I am still shaking my head (after last weekend’s win) that I can’t even believe it myself.
“We have a great shock package from Leary Racing Products and great springs from Swift Springs USA and these days that stuff is extremely important and can be the difference between first and second place. It doesn’t hurt to have a great car, solid motors from Nutter Racing Engines, an awesome crew and then of course you always need a little luck to do all of this.”
Achieving the victory at Mission Valley did not come easy. The tricky .375-mile oval presented the team with a tremendous challenge in the only practice session of the weekend–a one-hour midday run on Sunday after almost two straight days of rain.
“The biggest challenge that we faced all day was trying to set-up the car and learn the track on old tires. It is a very fast and challenging track and turn No. 4 was very tough,” Lewis noted. “I tried to knock down the wall down (in turn No. 4) twice in the practice session but the wall won every time.”
Lewis took the lead from Brent Harris on lap 43 and led the rest of the day. The three-time late model touring champion never developed a comfort zone while out front, he said.
“They (Lewis’ pit crew led by his father, Ralph) were just telling me who was fast on the track and what my lap times were. I wanted to make sure I had a good car at the end of the race when I needed it so I did my best not to burn off the right rear tire.
“The (lapped) traffic was really tough to get through at times so I had to really focus on what was going on in front of me and rely on my spotter (Chuck Pickens) to let me know what was going on behind me.”
With the win Lewis continued to top the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series points standings; a position he has occupied for over a year. The win marks the teams fifth ARCA victory in just under a one-year span and 10th overall in as many months.
To learn more about the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series log onto www.latemodelchallenge.com For more on Gary Lewis check out www.garylewisracing.com
