YAKIMA, Washingon -- After a long absence from the American Speed Association Northwest Tour and racing in general, former tour racer Chris Hart returns to action. On Saturday August 30, Hart will drive in the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment 125 on his home tracks .500-mile oval at Yakima Speedway. Hart will drive a car out of the Tidrick racing stable. Joining Hart for the Labor Day Weekend 125-lap tradition will be many of the Northwest’s best Late Model Stock Car Racers.
Two time ASANWT winner this season Gary Lewis will strive to get his miracle season back on track. Heading into the last stop for the traveling series at South Sound Speedway Lewis had a perfect season with six wins in six starts. Contact with a lapped car in the Miller 200 ended the perfect record.
Both Pete and Shane Harding will be at a track that dad Pete has had a lot of success including the ASANWT season opener on May 4. Another favorite at his home track is Travis Bennett">Travis Bennett who has wins in the Yakima Speedway’s Apple Cup and Fall Classic. Bennett won three tour races in 2007 and has one this season in two starts.
ASANWT defending Champion B.J. Tidrick will return to a track he has enjoyed many visits to victory circle in his still short career. Other locals that will be on hand are Owen Riddle and Christopher Kalsch.
Jason Fraser has come so close to getting his first ASANWT win with two seconds this season is always a formidable opponent on the .500-mile oval some consider too tough to tame.
The season point leader Brad Stanwood comes into the next to last stop of the 2008 season with a 155-point advantage over Harold Racynzki. Stanwood has made it to the podium at the last two races. Stanwood said recently, ‘I love the tracks that we finish the season on.”
There will be three Walters’ driving for the first time in a ASANWT event. Chris, Todd and Pat make their debut this Saturday. Jay Sauls is another that has been close to a win will vie for that elusive first victory. Shelby Thompson has had a good INSSA season makes his first tour start this season.
Alan Jewett has been at all five races this season but has been able to only start four. The Jewett team has been struggling with motor problems this season. There has been a concerted effort to rectify the problem heading to Yakima.
This is the second year for the series under the American Speed Association’s umbrella. After 22 years NASCAR decided to abandon a NW tradition. A group of people gathered to try to keep the tradition alive. ASANWT Director Ron Bennett led the charge. The hard work and passion has paid off this season with the traveling late model stock car racing series averaging over 17-cars per event.
Who: ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment; Northwest Modifieds Series
What: ASANWT 125-lap Main; Accompanying main for the NW Modifieds
Where: Yakima Speedway, Yakima, WA (.500-mile oval)
When: Saturday August 30, 2008 at 7:00pm
Early Entrants:
Brad Stanwood
Alan Jewett
Harold Racynski
Gary Lewis
Shane Harding
Travis Bennett
Jason Fraser
Chris Walters
Darin Stordahl
B.J. Tidrick
Chris Hart
Pat Walters
Owen Riddle
Christopher Kalsch
Jay Sauls
Shelby Thompson
Dan Lowther
Todd Walters
James Spiering
