ITS THE ASA ARCA WEST NW LMCS TOUR

From the RacingWest.com message board comes word that Ron Bennett is stepping down in sake of not only his health but to help combine the two major stock car touring series in the Northwest, the ASA NW Tour and the ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series.

I have to admit I am confused. Wasn't it at the Fall Classic last year when both series were racing at Yakima Speeway that Bennet and Jerry Losch were talking about merging the two series...Bennett being head of the NWT and Losch the LMCS? But they couldn't decide who would be head honcho of the one series so the deal wasn't done?

Seriously, isn't that how it was? Back then the rumor was Losch was done. But by the start of the season it was Bennett that was struggling to find car count. In fact Stateline Speedway canceled a race due to lack of car count in the ASA NWT.

But the last ASA NWT race we saw a significantly increased car count. It looked to me like things were picking up.

Now here we are, once again, just like we were at the Fall Classic. The two series are racing at Yakima again and now back to talking about these two series merging, with Bennett, stepping away.

Taking his place will be Scott Ellsworth.

As a fan I admit I am confused. Ellsworth was Losch's right hand man, then he left Losch to work for Bennett as his right hand man.

What will the series be ARCA West? ASA? or?

All we need now is Humpy Wheeler as ring master.

One thing is certain... there are a lot of passionate people in the NW that love their stock car racing and many of them have felt the two series needed to work together.

It almost feels like more promoter's magic, with this act falling under Teleportation, Vanish, Restoration and Prediction. Good entertainment for sure, and maybe, just maybe it truly is in everyone's heart to do what is right for racing...and this will be the best thing that ever happened in the Northwest racing community for a long time. Hope so.

I will wait and see...

And to Ron Bennett, I wish him all the best. I know, despite the hard time many of us gave him, his heart was in the right place. And speaking of heart...taking care of his physical heart is important, too. I truly hope he does find more time to spend with the family. It is often said that regrets at life's end is not giving more time to those who love us...and that usually is family. I am right there with ya, Ron. All of us need to spend more time with the people that have been there for us.

And yep... I know people may be thinking I am poking fun at a serious situation. But I know how much I want to see the SRL succeed. It is the same for the fans in the NW, they want their ASA NWT or ARCA West LMCS to succeed as well.