MONROE, Washington — On Saturday night August 20 at Evergreen Speedway it is the 28th annual Comcast Business Class Figure Eight Nationals. The best figure eight racers in the northwest head to one of the country’s premier events. The 100-lap $2000 to win race has traffic at the center of the eight (aka the X) from lap one through the remaining laps. The names that are on the winners list from races past have gone on to other major figure eight races in the country and done well including winning them. This year’s crop of racers will be joined by many of the past winners of this prestigious event. In addition the Les Schwab Tires NASCAR Street Stocks, Foster Press NASCAR Mini-Stocks, Stinger 8’s and Extreme V-8’s will be in action. The full night of NASCAR figure eight and stock car racing begins at 6pm.
The 2011 race for the speedway’s figure eight championship is the tightest it has ever been in the 45 year history of this style of racing at the ‘Super Speedway of the West’. The top eight drivers are within 135-points of each other. The Gunderson family holds the top three spots with 1-point between leader Nick Gunderson and his dad Brian. Then brother Ryan is in third just 18-points back. Defending division champion Jake Repin who had the lead heading into the last race dropped to fourth, 19-points from the leader. That is how quickly things have been changing each time this competitive group hits the track. This Saturday the Figure Eight National is a straight up point’s race with all racers getting the same points in this specialty event. The winner of this year’s National will get $2000.
In the Street Stock division the points race is also very competitive. Current leader Joe Kneeland holds a slim 46-point edge over Steve Ptacek. There is also a good battle for the third spot between Lane Sundholm and Brian Cottrell with just 2-points between them. Cottrell has won the last two mains for this division. The points awarded Saturday will be the regular scheduled points with qualifying, heat, main event finish and passing points.
Mini-Stock division point leader Scott LaCross is in a better position for the 2011 championship with a good lead on second in the chase Kris Harriss. With four races remaining LaCross knows he will have to keep finishing strong. A bad night for LaCross and a good one for Harriss could change things dramatically. As with the Street Stocks the points will be the regular system on Saturday.
The 4-cylinder figure eight division the Stinger 8’s are back at it this Saturday with point leader Lance O’Grain looking to make it to victory stage. Todd Stilwell, Joselyn LaFleur and Sean Peters are the likely candidates to potentially keep O’Grain from completing his mission. This division always has the fans on their feet because of the close calls at the X.
Just racing for trophies division the new Extreme V-8’s have increased their car count each time out in this inaugural season. Not knowing what type of main event they will be running until just prior to race time. This bump-to-pass group has provided the race goers with plenty to ooh and aah about. They could run figure eight or circle track or as they did the last time out a flagpole race.
Needless to say the action will be intense on the beautiful northwest summer night at the ‘Northwest Center of NASCAR Racing’ this Saturday August 20. Evergreen Speedway is located in Monroe, WA at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds where Highways 2 and 522 collide. The racing starts at 6pm with front gates opening at 4pm and pre-race activities beginning at 5pm. For tickets call 360-805-6100 or go to Evergreen Speedway’s web page at www.evergreenspeedway.com.
