GATORADE NIGHT AT THE RACES presents NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES SUPER STOCKS ROOKIE LEX JOHNSON TAKES FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON
Gatorade Night at the Races, was witness to Lex Johnson in the #22 (a Monroe resident) taking his first win of the 2001 season. Lex Johnson was season champion for the NASCAR Street Stock Bombers in the 2000 season, and was the Great West Region champion, as well. Way to go Lex!!! Nice to see you in winner’s circle.
The field was light tonight with only 12-13 cars in the lineup. Tom Moriarty (#5) set fast time, and spun a 4-car invert. Moriarity also took the trophy dash. Supers were back on the 3/8 mile oval after being on the 5/8 last week. The main event went all 40 laps, as was a very clean face, overall.
John Zaretzke flew in from Portland where he had qualified 2nd and ran the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Tour race. Unfortunately, after only 6 or so laps, Zaretzke had car problems and was out early. But on the ‘up’ side, this allowed him to get to Evergreen in plenty of time to start the main. He had Moriarty scuff his tires earlier in the day, and was gracious enough to pay for all of Tom's entry into the track as a way of saying thanks. Great sportsmanship!
The 4-car invert put Matt Murphy (#00) on the pole with Lex Johnson (#22) on the outside. Murphy led a good portion of the first half, but it appeared that his tires might have gone away. Moriarty was running strong, but as Murphy lost the lead, Lex Johnson pulled in and took over. Moriarity was running not letting up and rode right on his rear bumper the whole way. The race was very clean, a few spins, and only a couple of quick cautions. At about lap 30, Moriarty pulled off the track coming out of turn 4 (appeared to have engine or ignition problems), and Lex Johnson managed to hold off the field for the win for the remaining 10 laps and take the checkered. Very impressive win for the rookie. Great runs also for Joel Cox and Jack Wolfe Jr. The final count was as follows: Lex Johnson in 1st place, Joel Cox (#10) took 2nd, John Pierce placed 3rd, Jack Wolfe, Jr. came in 4th and Matt Murphy rounding out the top 5. As an FYI for all you fans out there….Jack Wolfe, Jr. in the #30 car is also a rookie this year and has been placing in the top 10 consistently. Way to go Jack! And as a correction for last week’s finish, with Rob Touchette being disqualified at the end of the night, Jack Wolfe, Jr. finished in the 5th spot.
NASCAR STREET STOCK BOMBERS MID SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS
VICTOR FORT SEES HIS WAY TO VICTORY LANE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2001
Victor Fort (#38) from Snoqualmie, WA found his was to victory circle for the first time this season. Fort has been running in the top 10 practically every race and is #3 in points, but has just missed the checkered flag on numerous occasions. But tonight, Fort broke that streak and came across the finish line and took the win.
It was a great field of Bomber cars tonight with the Mid Season Championships on the line. In the main, all the fast drivers (Dave Lund (#10), Gary Flammang (#91), Victor Fort (#38), Chuck Conwell (#72) started at the back of probably a 25 car A main. There were rumors that maybe Bryce Christiansen was running tonight, but we didn't hear for sure if he was there. Bryce was 1999 division champion and also took the Great West Region that year, as well.
The division was scheduled for and ran a 50-lap main. Great race, with on a couple of caution flags. Scott Mann (#6) hit the wall HARD coming out of four, and the race was red flagged to make sure he was OK. After about a 15-20 minute delay, he was out of the car, and appeared a bit loopy as he was assisted to the ambulance. Mark Moulaison (#99) had a rough night, as he flew off turn 1 in the heat race. They got Mark out and towed his Camaro back to the pits, where his crew managed to get him out for the main. He ran well and managed to move up maybe 10 positions before something in his car decided to ‘quit’, and he was a non-factor. As the race progressed, it came down to Victor Fort, and Brad Sweeny in the 65. Fort’s car was having many ‘issues’ (that were not a ‘positive’ issue, by any means) in turns 1 and 2, but his backstretch and straightaway speeds kept him out in front. Sweeney was within 2-4 car lengths behind until some happened to the car, and he fell backwards, and wasn't a contender. That put Dave Lund (#10) in second position, with Chuck Connell in third and Gary Flammang in fourth. Fort managed to hold off Lund to take the bit win and they managed to get all 50 laps in. Fort ran a great race and worked very hard for this win. This, I believe, is his first win since 1999. He has had many ‘close calls’ with the checkered, but this time he managed to ‘break the run’ and ‘just misses’ and take the trophy home for the mid season championships. Trophy Dash was taken by Brad Sweeney (#65) tonight (Sweeney is in the top 10 in points this season!) The to 5 for the night following Victor Fort were Dave Lund came in 2nd, Gary Flammang 3rd, Shane Landry 4th and Allen Clarke placed 5th.
NASCAR MINI STOCKS MID SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS SCOTT LACROSS TAKES 5TH WIN FOR 2001
Scott LaCross (#99) is hot this year as he secures his 5th win for the 2001 season as he takes the 50-lap A-Main event for the Mid Season Championships. But this in no way rules out Bobby DeYoung (#65) as a strong contender (has been leading in points this year) for the season championships.
Tonight Bobby DeYoung started in the back of the pack and still managed to place 2nd in the final count for the night. This was not without problems on his trek to the front. When he had reached about mid pack, there was an incident in turn 2 that caused him to loose 4-5 positions. He was clipped by the #13 car of Doug Hinds and almost ‘lost it’ but managed to pull out of what could have been disastrous for DeYoung. The remainder top 5 had Bob Edwards (#88) taking 3rd, Dale Creager (#21) placing 4th, with Gregg Saether (#12) taking 5th.
Galaxy Stadium 12 Theatre Night EXTREME CONTACT FIGURE EIGHT STEVE PETERS TAKES 4TH WIN OF THE 2001 SEASON
It was another Steve Peters win making this his 4th win for the 2001 season. But the night was no less entertaining as the crazy drivers of this division took to the figure 8 track and that wild and crazy intersection so well know in the Northwest. Peters did not start out in the front, Bruce Wilson in the #95 car lead the pack from the green to lap 4 when the first lead change came with Wendy Green in the #49 car took over. The first 9run in’ came at the intersection on lap 5 when the #74 car of Jason Britton spun Charlie Ruddell in the #7 car. While all this was going on, Peters was creeping up through the pack, making his way to the front. By lap 14, Peters had secured the #2 position.
The first red flag came when Bill Chandler (#22) got tagged in the intersection. This caused Geoffrey Chandler (#21) and Kenny Schukar (#11) to tangle with Chandler being T-Boned by Schukar. This was not the end of the ‘close calls’, ‘near misses’, and ‘complete contacts’ being made at the intersection. Yet another ref flag when the #55 of Jessica Wilkinson tags Bill Chandler in this crazy X….her second incident here in 2 weeks. Schukar lost his rear wheel in this incident. With all these incidents, Peters was just closing in and by lap 20 he had the lead and there he stayed to cross the finish line and take the checkered, making this his 4th win this season and still points leader. The finishing order was as follows: Steve Peters in 1st, Wendy Green (#49) came in 2nd, (WAS TO GO WENDY!), Merlin Cook placed 3rd, Troy Simianer took 4th, and Nick Niesen placed 5th. The Trophy Dash for the night was won by Geoffrey Chandler.
SUPER EIGHTS STEVE COX TAKES 5TH WIN OF THE 2001 SEASON
It was Steve Cox from Arlington, WA. yet again who managed to move up to the front and see the winner’s circle here at Evergreen Speedway for the Mid Season Championship night. Cox is no stranger to the arena as he continues his run for the 2001 season championship.
The first red flag came with the #21 car of Joe Young, Sr. stopped in the intersection. Once the restart came things continued on getting more congested in the intersection making for great excitement for the fans, when on lap 12, Malcolm Lindberg in the #88 car was pushing hard to pass the #50 of John Carlson when Kenny Schukar (#11) makes contact with Lindberg and all are involved and causes a flat tire on Carlson’s car and forcing him to leave the field. The intersection as usual became the ‘place to be’ and made for some very exciting racing for the fans. The final order across the finish line behind Steve Cox was as follows: Malcolm Lindberg placed 2nd, Kenny Schukar took 3rd, Shane Sawin came in 4th with Doug Delfel rounding out the top 5. Trophy Dash was won by Shane Sawin.
Thank you again drivers and fans for your continued support of Evergreen Speedway. You are some very special people and we appreciate you very much. Thank you drivers for your driving skills and entertainment and thank you fans for coming out and supporting our drivers.
Coming Next week: COORS LIGHT 200 NASCAR WINSTON WEST presented by NAPA AND WASHINGTON STATE LITERACY plus NASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES SUPER STOCKS FOR MID SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL ON THE BIG TRACK
Gates open at 3:30 pm with qualifying starting at 4:30 pm with racing at 7:00 pm.
Admission prices are for reserved: $35.50 Section D and E. General Admission prices are: $25.00 for adults $14.50 Jr./Sr.(12-18, 62+) $10.00 children (6-11)
For further information please call (360)805-6110
