WENATCHEE, Washington — Garrett Evans (E.Wenatchee, WA) waited until the final green flag lap to win the first ever iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour feature. In 1985 Evans won the first ever Northwest Tour race. Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA) a close 2nd and Brent Harris (E. Wenatchee, WA) was third. Twenty cars started the ‘Apple Blossom 125’ at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval in E. Wenatchee, WA.
Evans took advantage of the new commitment cone restarts. With first place Lewis and second place Harris choosing to go to the inside Evans went to the outside putting himself along side of Lewis at lap 119. When they got back to the finish line under green Evans beat Lewis by less than .200 of a second. Another caution came out as Evans and Lewis crossed the line with Evans inches ahead of Lewis. While getting the field lined for the restart the track got too wet forcing an early end to the 125-lap feature.
Lewis took the lead on lap 61 after then leader Jared Vorse (Olympia, WA) had to head to the pits to remedy a flat tire. A late race caution bunched the field. On the ensuing restart Evans chose the outside groove and was able to beat Lewis back to the line as a yellow flew for a car stalled in turn one.
Lewis was able to take advantage of the new style of restarts on the lap four restart. From his 6th starting spot he was able to move to 4th and by lap eight. Lewis was content to stay behind Vorse until the flat tire for Vorse.
Evans had fallen as deep as 7th in the early portion of the race. By lap 61 Evans had moved into 3rd. During the post race interview when asked about the new format Evans said “I raced with a series in the south and they used the same format. It is exciting for the fans.”
Wes Rhodes (Yelm, WA) the fast qualifier rolled the dice for a 12 car invert. Rhodes the 2008 LMCS champion finished a strong 4th.
Kelly Mann (Monroe, WA) and Dan Rhodes (Rainier, WA) had a spirited battle in the final lap with Mann finishing just ahead at the line.
Also added to the 2009 season is the free pass and the iRacing Hard Charger of the race Brad Stanwood (Portland Oregon) was the recipient of the first free pass. Stanwood ended up back on the lead lap and finishing 7th after starting 19th.
The remaining top 10 were Josh Roberts (Ephrata, WA), Erick Hargraves (Toppenish, WA) and Mark Sundberg (Seattle, WA) all one lap down.
Seventeen of the original twenty finished the race.
Next up for the iRacing.com ASA Northwest Late Model Tour is a stop on May 9, 2009 at the newly owned and operated Spokane County Raceway’s .500-mile oval. The 125-lap feature is being billed as the ‘Grand Opening’ of their 2009 season.
