TRAVIS BENNETT WINS ASA NORTHWEST TOUR RACE AT MERIDIAN SPEEDWAY IN IDAHO

MERIDIAN, Idaho ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment driver Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, WA) won the first annual Project Filter 150 at Meridian Speedway. Chris Ratteree (Nampa, ID) and John Newhouse (Twin Falls, ID) finished in order behind Bennett.

The heat of the day concerned Bennett who had only been on the tight .25-mile oval once prior. “I am having trouble getting a handle on this track’, he said prior to qualifying for the 150-lap main event. That showed during the ensuing time ins. Local track Late Model point’s leader John Nesmith was the quickest and won the “Cutting Through the Competition’ award of a new ECHO chainsaw and maintenance kit from Oregon Saw. Bennett was third behind Dan Kayle (Filer, ID). With sixteen of the nineteen cars in attendance within four-tenths of a second of the fast time it was setting up to be a great race.

Nesmith drew for a six car invert to start the main. That put Bennett in the fourth starting position. Pole sitter Brad Stanwood (Portland, OR) led the first 21-laps before Bennett was able to power by. In the process of the pass Bennett brought Nesmith and Ratteree with him. Nesmith was giving Bennett fits by pulling along side time after time. The trio while in traffic on lap 79 there was contact between Ratteree and Nesmith sending Nesmith into the turn one wall ending his bid for his first ASANWT win.

Ratteree stayed with Bennett the remaining laps but was unable find a way to get around the fast Bennett. After the race Bennett admitted he had concerns in the waning laps. “I had a clutch slipping and I am surprised it held up.” The win was the fourth on the ASANWT Series for Bennett and 4 of his last 5.

The ASANWT 2008 rules package enabled late model stock cars from the local Meridian Speedway division and Rocky Mountain Challenge Series the opportunity to be competitive. The finishing order reflected that with a ASANWT regular winning followed by two RMCS regulars and Meridian Speedway racer 16-year old Travis Milburn (Eagle, ID) fourth.

Next up for the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment is the Washington 500 at Evergreen Speedway on Saturday July 26. The 125-laps on the 5/8-mile oval will be a highlight of the 2008 season. The ASANWT will be at the Super Speedway of the West in conjunction with three NASCAR divisions including the local NASCAR Whelan All American Series Bombers and Super Stocks. Also the NASCAR Camping World Grand National West Series will all join to make a total of 500-laps of racing on the big track in one night.