AMERICAN SPEED ASSOCIATION READY FOR WASHINGTON 500


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Nov 20, 2008

AMERICAN SPEED ASSOCIATION NW TOUR

Source: ASANWT Media
Date: 07/23/2008

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AMERICAN SPEED ASSOCIATION READY FOR WASHINGTON 500

ELLENSBURG, Washington -- The American Speed Association (ASA) Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment is preparing for its portion of Evergreen Speedway’s ‘Washington 500’ on Saturday July 26. Over twenty of the Northwest’s best traveling late model stock car drivers are readying for the ‘Evergreen State Fair150’ on the Super .646-mile oval. The ASANWT will be one of four racing divisions making up the 500-laps in one night of racing.

Former winners on Evergreen’s super track that are expected are Ron Eaton, Pete Harding, Gary Lewis, Lex Johnson, Kelly Mann, Kelly Tanner, Jason Fraser, John Zaretzke and Shane Harding. P. Harding, Eaton, Lewis and Tanner have won previous Northwest Tour Championships.

S. Harding and Zaretzke have dominated the local Super Stock division at Evergreen the last five years. Both have plenty of big track experience. Their knowledge of the track and the Hoosier tires being used by both the ASANWT and the Super Stocks will give these two a definite advantage.

ASANWT defending champion BJ Tidrick will return to action after a short break. Making his first race this season is Jay Sauls. Current ASANWT point leader Brad Stanwood will be at Evergreen for the second time. The first was back in March when the race was canceled after practice due to rain/snow.

Jason Fraser who is a tour veteran has already been in action on the big track in 2008. Running with the local NASCAR Super Stock program this season he won the mid-season race on the big track at the end of June. Fraser who has come so close to his first NWT win, hopes this time it happens, and at his home track.

Other tour regulars expected will be Rick Suran, Ken Sleveland, Allan Jewett, Rick Hager, Doug Davidson, Darin Stordahl and Harold Racynski.

With three races remaining for the 2008 ASANWT championship, Stanwood has a 49-point advantage over Travis Bennett. Just 59-points back of Stanwood, P. Harding will be vying for a second ASANWT win in 2008. The top four drivers are separated by 64-points.

The Northwest’s hottest driver in the last year and a half is Gary Lewis. Winning last seasons Montana and Idaho 200’s capping that off with the 2007ARCAWLMCS championship. His fortunes have continued in 2008. Lewis has started the season with four wins in the four races he has competed in, including another Montana 200 this past weekend. Lewis has not raced at his home racetrack Evergreen Speedway in over two years.

A young 16year old driver will be making his first trip to Evergreen Speedway. Travis Milburn from Eagle, Idaho made his debut as an ASANWT driver, with a 4th place finish at the traveling series’ last stop on July 5 at Meridian Speedway.

The race scheduled for 150-laps will be the second of four separate races comprising the ‘Washington 500’. The ‘Evergreen State Fair 150’ coincides with the fair celebrating its 100-year anniversary. The race, fittingly, will feature a fuel only break at lap 100! A 50-lap shoot out will conclude the American Speed Association’s portion of the 500-lap night.

Winning will get the driver valuable season points and a large winner’s share of the purse. The fast qualifier will win the ‘Cutting through the Competition’ award. This consists of a new ECHO chainsaw and kit from Oregon Saw.

Who: ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment, NASCAR Les Schwab Tires Bombers, NASCAR Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks and NASCAR Camping World West Series

What: Washington 500 – Bombers 50-Laps; NWT 150-laps; Super Stocks 150-laps; west series 150-laps

Where: Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Washington (.646-mile oval)

When: Saturday July 26, 2008. Backgates open at 9:45am. Practice begins at 11:30am. Front Gates open at 1:30pm. Qualifying to begin at 2:30pm and the first of the four main events starts at 5:00pm. Order of mains: Bombers, ASANWT, Super Stocks and West Series

Tickets available via ww.evergreenspeedway.com or call 360.805.6100

ASANWT information call 509.728.3768

Expected driver list:

Ron Eaton (Lakewood, WA)

Kelly Tanner (Auburn, WA)

Pete Harding (Surrey, B.C. Canada)

Gary Lewis (Bothell. WA)

BJ Tidrick (Yakima, WA)

Eric Richardson (Bakersfield, CA)

Shane Harding (Langley, B.C. Canada)

Kelly Mann (Monroe, WA)

Jason Fraser (Snohomish, WA)