MONROE, Wash. ( March 29, 2003) Pete Harding of Surrey, BC collected his sixteenth career NASCAR Elite Division, Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series victory Saturday night at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe,Wash. Harding started in the tenth position for the BIG O TIRES "125" and patiently worked his way to the front and assumed the lead when Bud Pole winner Jeff Jefferson had to make a pit stop for a right rear tire. Following Harding at the finish was two-time and defending series champion Kevin Hamlin, who led much of the middle stages of the event. Jason Jefferson brought his Northwest Dodge Dealers Dodge Intrepid home in third, with Chris Hart, and John Bender rounding out the top five finishers.
The race had only four caution periods totaling 30 laps of competition, and there were 19 cars running at the conclusion of the race. Jeff Jefferson won the Bud Pole Award but had to start in the sixth position due to the invert that is commonly used in the series. John Bender collected the $750 Powerade "Power Move-of-the-Race" award for advancing the most positions in the event. Bender started 18th an finished fifth. Jason Jefferson won the Victory Circle Chassis' Rookie-of-the-Race Award and leads the rookie standings after one event of the 14 race schedule.
The Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series will take a little less than four weeks of before returning to action on Saturday, April 26 in West Richland, Wash. at Tri City Raceway where Harding will hope to add to his points lead in quest of his second series crown.
NASCAR Elite Division, Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series Big O Tires "125" Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash., March 29, 2003 125-Laps/78.125-Miles on 5/8-Mile Paved Oval, Purse: $46,496 Finishing position, starting position, driver, car, laps completed, reason out, money won.
1. (10) Pete Harding, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $2,100; 2. (7) Kevin Hamlin, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $1,700; 3. (5) Jason Jefferson, Dodge, 125, Running, $1,400; 4. (8) Chris Hart, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $1,200; 5. (18) John Bender, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $1,700; 6. (1) Joe Benedetti, Pontiac, 125, Running, $850; 7. (4) Robb Touchette, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $800; 8. (20) Rick Suran, Pontiac, 125, Running, $700; 9. (3) Kelly Mann, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $650; 10. (14) Steven Howard, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $600; 11. (13) Garrett Evans, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $575; 12. (23) Travis Powell, Pontiac, 125, Running, $550; 13. (6) Jeff Jefferson, Chevrolet, 124, Running, $825; 14. (9) Gary Lewis, Pontiac, 123, Running, $490; 15. (25) Brian Saling, Ford, 121, Running, $480; 16. (17) Rod Schultz Sr., Chevrolet, 120, Running, $470; 17. (12) Rod Schultz Jr., Chevrolet, 118, Running, $460; 18. (16) Matt Hall, Chevrolet, 111, Running, $450; 19. (21) Bill Lawrence, Chevrolet, 108, Electrical, $440; 20. (22) Ken Smith, Chevrolet, 105, Engine, $430; 21. (19) Jerry Fink, Chevrolet, 87, Running, $420; 22. (15) Jeff Bailey, Chevrolet, 82, Rear End, $410; 23. (26) Robert Tesch, Chevrolet, 62, Oil Line, $400; 24. (24) Jody Tanner, Pontiac, 52, Accident, $390; 25. (2) Brandon Riehl, Chevrolet, 33, Rear End, $385; 26. (11) Ed Watson, Chevrolet, 22, Accident, $380;
#Victory Circle Chassis Rookie-of-the-Year Contenders
Failed to Qualify: Greg Bennett, Shane Biles, Ron Eaton
TIME OF RACE: 1 Hour, 11 minutes, 27 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 67.801 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: .384 seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Jeff Jefferson, Morgan Transport Chevrolet 22.860/101.732 mph POWERADE MOVE OF THE RACE: John Bender, Big Daddy's Bar & Grill Chevrolet
ROOKIE-OF-THE-RACE AWARD: Jason Jefferson, Northwest Dodge Dealers Dodge
CAUTION FLAGS: Eight for 30 Laps (22-24,35-37, 38-40, 48-49, 52-57, 65-67, 91-92, 95-103) LAP LEADERS: Three lead changes among four drivers. Kelly Mann 1-34, Kevin Hamlin 35-63, Jeff Jefferson 64-97, Pete Harding 98-125
