Garrett Evans began the new millennium with a win in last year’s Yakima Speedway Apple Cup. That win served to propel him to a Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series Championship, and an unprecedented $55,000 payday in the Speedway’s award-winning Fall Classic. He and Pete Harding (who has done it twice) are the only drivers who have been able to win both the Apple Cup and Fall Classic in the same year.
This year, the Les Schwab Tire Center’s 35th Annual Apple Cup should have no less excitement. In fact, it should be even better. More than 40 racers from all over the Northwest, including the best of the Northwest Tour Series and NASCAR Late Models, will be at the famed half-mile oval, where a $5,000 purse will be waiting for the winner in the Late Model division. A formidable cast of the best of Northwest racing is expected to be in Yakima this weekend.
Already entered are in this classic event are Brad Rhoads, Steve Thompson and Jeff Bailey, Tri-Cities; Evans, Shane Mitchell, Kim Winnenberg, Geri Tipton, and Terry Halverson, Wenatchee; Jason Stowe, Kelly Mann and Ted Mickleson, Seattle; Craig Doehling, Boise, ID; Rick Schultz and Ron Turner, Spokane; Dan Obrist, Brandon Riehl, Darrell Hanson, Rod Schultz, Jody Tanner, Portland; Chris Skinner, Hermiston, OR; Chris Hart, Dean Owens, Jim Dobbs, Ron Dexter, Yakima.
Mike Longton, who was Yakima’s 2001 Late Model Rookie-of-the-Year, should also be at the Apple Cup seeking to get his sophomore year off to a winning start in his bid for the 2001 Yakima Speedway Late Model Championship.
Yakima’s Hart will be looking for his second Apple Cup win, and as one of the most determined racers in the area he will be tough to beat. The ever-dangerous Jefferson brothers should make an appearance as well. Jason took home the 2000 Late Model championship at Yakima Speedway, and Jeff was a serious contender on the Winston West circuit, as well as finishing in fourth place in the Speedway’s final standings. Riehl finished in second place on his home track last year, and ninth at Yakima. But with the closing of Portland Raceway, Riehl could become a transplanted Yakima contender.
In the Street Stock division, the winner will get a $1,000 paycheck, but if the driver is not a regular Yakima Speedway competitor, the purse will double to $2,000. This rule would be in effect for the top five finishers’ purse share, and should make for a very enticing draw for class champions from other tracks in the Northwest. Last year, Yakima racers swept the top-five, with BJ Tidrick coming up with the checkered flag for the second year in a row. Expected out-of-the-area competitors include Shane Harding, Jim Wilcox, Chris Moloso, Gary Homad, Rod Schultz, Jr., and Hanson.
An open practice will be held on Friday, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Saturday, there will be a practice, dashes, heat races and B-mains, while on Sunday there will also be practices, division main events, and the 100-lap Apple Cup Main Event. The track will be open both Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m., with racing scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Before the beginning of Sunday's main events, a memorial will be held in honor of the late Dale Earnhart.
Also on the bill will be the always-exciting Northwest Late Model 4s.
Yakima Speedway’s 39th regular season will get underway April 7, with Late Models, Limited Sportsman and Bombers. Check www.yakimaspeedway.com for additional information, or call 248-0647. See you at the track!
