HUGHES & MOORE WINNERS AT EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY

MONROE, Washington — Saturday night September 3 at Evergreen Speedway it was the Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR All Star Night at the Races. The Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Whelen All American Series Super Late Model division held twin 50 lap mains on the 3/8-mile paved oval. Race one Tom Hughes picked up his second career win and second in a row on the short track. In race two WSU student, Daniel Moore went wire to wire for the win. The tight race for the NASCAR Super Figure Eight championship remained tight with Brian Gunderson unofficially taking the point lead after winning the feature race. The Les Schwab Tires NASCAR Street Stock division main event winner was Brian Cottrell who now has won 3 of the last four races. Scott LaCross won the Foster Press Mini-Stock main adding to his point lead for the 2011 championship. A great crowd attended the Evergreen State Fair during the day and then the races on a record setting hot day.

Hughes followed up his first ever win two weeks ago. Running a close third for much of the race Hughes was able avoid the spinning Jeff Knight and Naima Lang after those two got together with a few laps to go in the 50-lap main. On victory stage Hughes said “I can’t believe I am here (as the winner), I was in the right place at the right time I guess. I will take it.” Jeff Knight finished second and Lang third.

In race two for the Super Late Models, Moore started on the front row and took the lead on lap one and led from start to finish of the 50-lap feature. There was only one time the win might have been in question, it was when there was a green white checker restart at the end of the race. Moore chose the inside with Lang on the outside of the double file restart. A great jump on the restart by Moore propelled him on to the victory. On victory stage Moore attributed the win to finding a problem with the car during the first race. “We discovered the brake bias was off with just the front brakes working. It has been a problem for a few races. The car was much better handling with all four brakes working,” said the Washington State University student. When asked if he was back at school he said, “Yes I started three weeks ago. I got home around midnight last night (Friday) and started to work on the car.” Lang finished second and Hughes third.

The Super Figure Eight 2011 championship will come down to the final night on September 17. The racers met with officials and it was decided that the racers would get their qualifying points and a straight 25-points for each car that started the main. For that concession there will now be twin mains on championship night. Unofficially after qualifying Brian Gunderson who was a point behind in the standings passed up his Nick to take the point lead going into the final night on the 17th. Gunderson went on to win the main followed by Jake Repin and Mike Middleton. The Gunderson’s and some of the other racers immediately left for the airport to fly to Indiana for a race Sunday and the World Championship Figure Eight Race next weekend.

Cottrell’s season has turned around in the last four weeks with three wins in the last four Street Stock division races. Gaining the lead early in the 30-lap main Cottrell was strong and kept pulling away from his nearest competitors. Even on restarts Cottrell had the best car of the night. “I thank my crew chief Bill Fleischacker and Lane Sundholm for getting my car to run so well,” said an elated Cottrell on the victory stage. Duane Schosboek finished second and Frank Cowgill third.

The Mini-Stock division combined with the Outlaw Compact Series for the main event. Nineteen cars started the 40-lap main. After many restarts due to cautions Scott LaCross won the shortened to 30-lap feature. On victory stage LaCross when asked about the championship he stated, “With the points the way they are if you have one bad night with just two races left it could change quickly. All I have to do is concentrate on strong finishes and try to win,” as he smiled. Kris Harris finished second and Bobby DeYoung finished third.

Next up at Evergreen Speedway is First Responders Tribute Night on Saturday September 10 at 6pm. It will be the next to last night for the Speedway Chevrolet NASCAR Whelen All American Series Super Late Models as they will go for 50-laps on the 3/8-mile oval. Also on the 3/8 and their next to last race this season will be the Les Schwab Tires NASCAR Street Stock and Foster Press NASCAR Min-Stock divisions. The Cub Scouts of America Mt. Baker Council Hornets and Extreme V-8’s will be in action. There will be a ‘First Responders Race’ pitting area fire, police and medical responders against each other. Front gates will open at 4pm. Tickets are available at the door or via the web at www.evergreenspeedway.com or call 360-805-6100.