JEFFERSON GOES WIRE TO WIRE FOR SECOND VICTORY ON RBNWS

Source: NASCAR PR
Date: 07/14/2002

MONROE, Washington -- Jeff Jefferson led al 125 laps of the Parts Plus 125, held at .646-mile Evergreen Speedway, to claim his second Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring victory of the 2002 season. Gary Lewis was second followed by Pete Harding. Kevin Hamlin and Ron Eaton rounded out the top-5.

Troy Conrad led the field to the green flag based on a four-car invert. Zach Niessner picked up his first career Bud Pole Award on the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series. Jefferson’s wire-to-wire victory earned him the Gatorade Front Runner Award.

Jefferson moved past Conrad in turn No. 3 to take the lead on the opening lap. Rookie of the Year points leader, Kelly Mann, was involved in an incident on the backstretch and brought out the evening’s first caution.

Conrad faded back two car lengths by lap 16 as Jefferson began to move out in front of the field. Harding passed Conrad for second place exiting turn No. 2 on lap 35.

By lap 43 Jefferson moved out to a two second lead on Harding. Lewis grabbed third place in the running order on lap 53 as Conrad’s car began to fade back. Hamlin had worked his car patiently through the field from his 12th starting position to fifth place by lap 55, and then made the move to fourth place on the next circuit.

Harding caught Jefferson in lapped traffic on lap 69 as Lewis sat five car lengths back. The leaders battled for several laps but Harding was never able to clear Jefferson’s D&G Bodyworks Chevrolet. Lewis closed in on Harding by lap 74 to make it a three-car train around Evergreen.

Hamlin caught Lewis on lap 82 and the pair inched closer to Harding with Lewis guided his Sign Factory USA Pontiac into second place off turn No. 4 as lap 85 came to a close.

Harding held Hamlin at bay for several laps before the defending series champion made the moved with his American Dream Motorsports/Berryman’s Chevrolet to take over third place. Harding was able to retake the position in the closing laps to claim his second straight top-3 finish.

Jefferson moved with ease through lapped traffic as the Parts Plus 125 began to wind down. Lewis caught the Naches, Wash. native by lap 100, looking to the inside exiting turn No.1 but was never able to grab the top spot in the running order.

“This was the hardest race I’ve run in a long time,” Jefferson said. “Pete and Gary ran me clean all race, it was a lot easier when you are in front and don’t have to race those guys.”

“Those boys saved something for the end and I know they’ll be there and it turned out to be a good race. This feels great, I have to thank my crew and Rick Allison for letting me drive this car and my sponsors D&G Bodyworks, Gary Mears Trucking, Owens Enterprises, and HiWay Towing.”

For the second race in a row, Lewis came up one position short in his attempt to win his first series race of the 2002 season. “We have to put this baby up front,” he said.

“Finishing second is awesome, we’ve had two second’s in a row and we’re running up front so were just going to keep digging and plugging away at those points. Jeff had a great car and I needed some long green flag laps to catch him. I have to thank Sandblasters and The Sign Factory USA for all the help,” Lewis added.

Harding made his late race move for third place on the backstretch and said he was just letting the tire cool for a run at Hamlin. “I got it down on the bottom a little better than he did,” he said. “It sure helped with our points and I’m looking forward to going to Yakima next week.”

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