GRAHAM, Washington – Entering the second half of the season, ARCA West’s touring late model series will be making its third visit to Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval this Saturday. Many of the region’s best Late Model Super Stock teams are expected to show for the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series sixth race of 2008, dubbed the ‘Pepsi Cola 125E2. Teams will be competing for nearly $12,000.00 in purse & bonus awards available.
The expected driver roster for this weekend includes current points leader Jared Vorse of Lacey WA, in addition to series’ regulars Brent Harris, Erick Hargraves, Wes Rhodes, Shelby Thompson, Garrett Evans, Jason Jefferson Don Vickery, Josh Roberts, Todd Walters and Marty Wason. Jarrod Crum, Alan Cress, and Robert Sprague are expected to make their first appearance this season. AW LMCS Port City Racecars ‘Rookie Challengers’ entrants include Vorse, Dan Rhodes, and Chris Walters. With this grouping of veteran and rookie drivers, Saturday’s race should prove to be a very exciting, competitive program at the beautiful ¼-mile venue located in East Wenatchee.
Gary Lewis has won two AW LMCS events this season, with Pete Harding and Jared Vorse each scoring single victories. Lewis took top honors (and a $10k check) at Mission Valley Speedway in May, and won also at WVSO in June. Harding won at Sun Valley Speedway and Vorse earned his first late model win at Montana Raceway Park earlier this month. Brent Harris of Wenatchee WA secured top qualifying spot at the WVSO season opener, only to have his efforts rained out late in the program. Harris, Evans, and Thompson have all secured wins at WVSO in the past while Hargraves, Rhodes, and Jefferson are all past due for a win.
July-August is typically one of the busiest months for late model teams in the Northwest, as many of the regional tracks hold their annual high-stake ‘special’ races during this period. Many of the AW LMCS teams regularly participate in these increased purse events, and historically do very well. 2007 AW LMCS champion Gary Lewis just made it two victories in a row for the prestigious Montana 200 last weekend, with 7 of the top 10 positions clinched by AW LMCS regulars: 2nd- Mike Longton, 3rd< /SUP>– Shelby Thompson, 4th– Mike Obrist, 5th- Wes Rhoades, 6th- Brent Harris, 10th- Mark Sundberg.
WVSO’s ‘Pepsi Cola 125’ schedule: Front Gate opens at 5pm, with qualifying to begin at 6pm and racing at 7pm. Ticket prices: $16.00 adult, $11.00 student, $4.00 kids, 5yo & under free. Additional classes running include the Northwest Outlaw Street Stocks, Mini Supers and Youth Hornets.
