JEFFERSON’S DODGE DOMINATES AT YAKIMA SPEEDWAY

Source: Kelly Hart
Date: 06/17/2002

In front of one of the best crowds of the year and his hometown fans, Jason Jefferson piloted the Mike Olson Dodge Intrepid to the 75 lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge main event win. Starting tenth in the star studded field of Late Model racers, Jefferson took over the lead on lap 31 from Mike Zamora and then held off hard charging Brandon Riehl in the final laps for the win. Riehl charged from the back twice after racing incidents slowed his forward progress, only to wind up second. BJ Tidrick led the first 19 laps; Zamora led laps 20 through 30. Riehl was the last car to qualify and the only car in the 18-second bracket with an 18.933 to start the night. Track temperatures over 130 degrees, with an air temp in the high 90’s during qualifying caused a very loose track with most of the field timing in at the 19.20’s or 19.30’s. Tom Sweatman and Travis Bennett won the trophy dashes.

Andy Beaman the defending champion in what is now called the Street Stock division led all 35 laps for the Yakima Speedway Street Stock main event win. Beaman’s new motor was to credit for the victory, as he was virtually uncatchable on restarts. Beaman held off points leader Erick Hargraves for the win. Hargraves picked off cars one by one after starting eighth in the eight-car invert to make his way onto Beaman’s rear bumper setting up the final dash to the finish. Hargraves set fast time (23.487), with Terry Cook winning the A dash and Ted Wilburn getting the B dash trophy. Wilburn also captured the slow heat with Beaman capturing the fast heat win, a preview of things to come in the main.

With just 7 cars, the Factory Stocks made their final appearance at Yakima Speedway. These cars are moving up to the Hobby Stock division from this point forward. Points leader Jake "The Snake" Maggard set fast time at 25.004 and won the fast dash and heat race. Dan Monroe captured the B trophy dash win. In the main event it was a 15-lap battle between Maggard and his employee Steve Kastl. Kastl was making is first appearance of the year and it was well worth it. Kastl and Maggard went wheel to wheel for 15 laps, and exiting the last corner of the 20th lap inched past Maggard to capture the win. There was contact made, but both drivers exited their cars laughing and the crowd was enthusiastic about the show those two put on.

Next week at Yakima Speedway, the Super Stocks, Hobby Stocks and NW Legends will race. Admission has been reduced to $8.00 for adults, students and seniors, or three for $20.00, kids 6-12 just $2.50 and kids under 6 get in free. Gates open at 5 with qualifying at 6 and racing to follow at Yakima Speedway.

RESULTS 6/15/02

Factory Stocks

Fast time #27 Jake Maggard 25.044

B dash #58 Dan Monroe, #02 Mike Mallula, #8 Richard Durfee

A dash #27 Maggard, #3 Steve Kastl, #38 Dusty John, #44 Mark Tenney

Heat #27 Maggard, #3 Kastl, #38 John, #44 Tenney, #8 Durfee

Main #3 Steve Kastl, #27 Maggard, #38 John, #44 Tenney, #58 Monroe, #8 Durfee, #02 Mallula

Street Stocks

Fast time #15 Erick Hargraves 23.487

B dash #5 Ted Wilburn, #86 Steve Conduff, #04 Dwayne Nunley, #95 Buck Noel, Jr.

A dash #13 Terry Cook, #16 Ashley Beaman, #15 Hargraves, #17 Tim Mills

B heat #5 Wilburn, #04 Nunley, #29 Casey Merrill, #86 Conduff, #8 Chuck Cook

A heat #3 Andy Beaman, #7 Tony Huffines, #69 EJ Trujillo, #16 Ashley Beaman, #15 Hargraves

Main #3 Andy Beaman, #15 Hargraves, #16 Ashley Beaman, #78 Harold Seekins, #13 T. Cook, #17 Mills, #69 Trujillo, #04 Nunley, #7 Huffines, #29 Merrill, #95 Noel, #5 Wilburn, #8 C. Cook, #86 Conduff, #88 David Denton

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge Late Models

Fast time #69 Brandon Riehl 18.933

B dash #53 Travis Bennett, #37 Mike Longton, #3 Lenard Barthell, #05 Ken Olsen

A dash #1 Tom Sweatman, #69 Riehl, #00 Brad Rhoads, #34 Scott Walker

Main #97 Jason Jefferson, #69 Riehl, #52 Mike Zamora, #34 Walker, #72 BJ Tidrick, #93 Shawn Mathews, #05 Olsen, #12 Ron Bemis, #90 James Van Cleave, #3 Barthell, #33 Christopher Kalsch, #1 Sweatman, #28 Brian Olson, #4 Jerrod Sessler, #37 Longton, #50 Mel Shenyer, #53 Bennett, #59 Bill Mills, #00 Rhoads

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