MONROE, Washinton — On Saturday September 3 the racing at Evergreen Speedway gets intense with the championships just a few races away. The Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Night at the Races in conjunction with the Evergreen State Fair will feature the Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Whelen All American Series Super Late Models for twin 50’s on the 3/8-mile paved oval. The Les Schwab Tires NASCAR Street Stocks, Foster Press NASCAR Mini-Stocks and Outlaw Compact series are also on the short track. The NASCAR Super Figure Eights will be back in their close battle for the 2011 division title. Top eight drivers in this division are within 68-points of the leader and the top three are within 14-points and all three from the same family. The racing starts at 6pm. It is a rare chance to see the fair and NASCAR racing on the same day and at the same place.
"The battle for the NASCAR Super Figure Eight championship is as tight as anyone can remember in recent years. "
Naima Lang the current point leader and winner of 11 of the 14 starts for the Super Late Models, is in line to be Washington State’s NASCAR champion and the Evergreen Speedway Super Late Model division champ. With just three races to go in the season, Lang only needs to have solid finishes to wrap up his third title. Winning the 08 and 09 championships, Lang only planned on racing part time this season, a strong start to the season kept him racing and then the streak of eight wins in a row made the season his strongest ever. Lang currently ranks tied for fourth in wins with other racers in the nationwide NASCAR Whelen All American Series. The last time on the 3/8 the SLM division had twin mains. Lang won the first and ended the eight win streak by finishing third in the second main. Tom Hughes won that main his first ever as a SLM driver. Others that could be in victory lane are WSU student Daniel Moore or Monroe’s Rock Church pastor Jeff Knight just to mention a few.
The battle for the NASCAR Super Figure Eight championship is as tight as anyone can remember in recent years. With just two races remaining this season the race Saturday becomes extremely important. Also it is the first time in the 45 year history of figure eight racing at Evergreen Speedway that the top three in points are all in the same family. Leader Nick Gunderson has a 1-point edge over his dad Brian and a 14-point margin on his brother Ryan. Last year’s division champion Jake Repin is 19-points back in fourth. Repin actually led the point’s two races back. That is how quickly things change in the tightly contested chase to title. The Gunderson’s will be flying in on Saturday after racing in a national figure eight event in Indiana.
Joe Kneeland the point leader in the NASCAR Street Stock division holds a 53-oint lead over Steve Ptacek with three races to go. Kneeland’s lead has shrunk a bit in the last few races. With points awarded for qualifying position, heat race finishes, main event finishes and passing points it will be important for both of these drivers to get as many points as possible each of the remaining weeks.
The NASCAR Mini-Stock division point’s chase is a bit simpler for Scott LaCross. LaCross enjoys a 128-point advantage over his closest pursuer defending division champ Kris Harriss. With three races left in their season LaCross knows he will need to finish strong, a bobble or two could tighten the chase immensely. The visiting Outlaw Compact traveling series will be grouped in the mini-stock main making it a bit tougher for all.
The Labor Day Weekend, the Evergreen State Fair and NASCAR Racing will bring many fans out to ‘Northwest Center of NASCAR Racing’. Racing starts at 6pm with the front gates opening at 4pm. Also on tap for the speedway over the holiday weekend is the first ever Northwest Rockfest on Friday September 2 featuring eight of the best northwest rock bands for eight hours from 2pm until 10pm. On Sunday September 4 in is Mr. Dizzy Eve of Destruction with three demolition derbies. There will be a large car derby, small car derby and a truck derby. The Hornets, Extreme V-8’s, Roll-Over-Contest and Mr. Dizzy stunts all followed by a giant fireworks display. Sunday’s events get started at 6pm. Tickets are available at www.evergreenstatefair.org web page or you can get them at the fairgrounds ticket office on race days. Ask for the combo ticket to save some money.
