QUITE A NIGHT AT EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY

Source: Evergreen Speedway
Date: 06/29/2003

The main event started with Kevin Richards of Spokane on the pole. Monroe's Moriarity pulled the 12th position. The cars burst out from the green flag with Richards in the lead. The first excitement hit in Lap 21 with a multiple car contact just out of turn two. Gene Woods of Glendale, CA had to retire to the pits with damage. The yellow flag was back out on Lap 30. Jack Sellers of Sacramento, CA hit the wall outside of turn two, bringing out the tow truck. Sellers walked to the ambulance as the race proceeded under the caution.

Mark Reed of Orange, CA was out in front by Lap 35. Scott Lynch of Burley, ID keeping him company. The two stayed ahead of the pack with no serious contenders until Lynch began to lose ground towards the halfway mark. Lap 100 saw Reed a full turn ahead of the field. Lynch was bringing up second and was followed by Mike Duncan of Lamont, CA and Kevin Richards. Jeff Jefferson of Naches, WA was in the fifth position.

By Lap 105, Lynch began to fall back. Richards eased his way into the second spot in Lap 121. Reed finally went in for a pit stop at Lap 135 leaving the fore to Richards once again. The three-quarter mark of the race had Richards in the lead with Reed in second, Duncan following and Jim Inglebright making his way resolutely into fourth. Jeff Jefferson challenged Inglebright for the slot. Richards and Inglebright both took pit stops in Lap 157 leaving the field to Reed.

The last few laps saw Reed holding the lead for the win. Mike Duncan, Scott Gaylord and Jeff Jefferson rounded out the field.

"It was awesome!" Reed said after the race. "I've got an awesome team!"

Monroe's Moriarity pulled into the pits at Lap 68 with smoking engine. He did not return. Moriarity had been holding at approximately the 12th position until that time. It was a disappointing conclusion to Evergreen Speedway race fans who had been hoping for a top five finish from their champion.

The NASCAR Super Stocks Mid-Season feature was 75 laps on the 5/8 oval. Wade Bennett led off the pole of a four-car invert. Matt Murphy shot ahead like his bullet nickname with Tom Sweatenham a close second. The two held those positions strong through the 50th lap when Sweatenham pulled in front of Murphy and held on for the lead. Wade Bennett was a strong third until lap 20 when John Zaretzke pulled up by his side, finally passing on turn three. A yellow flag came up on Lap 22 when Ed Thompson and Tom Matthew made some extreme contact at turn three and left the race. Much of the first half of the race saw Jason Jefferson, who was in the fourth position trying to get around John Zaretzke. Jefferson played on Zaretzke's bumper angling and edging throughout the laps. Tom Moriarity kept his nose on Jefferson making the three look like a train. By Lap 50, Sweatenham was a good ten car lengths ahead of Murphy who was holding second.

The race livened up considerably by Lap 71. Moriarity finally edged passed Jefferson and was closing in on Zaretzke. He gave Zaretzke's car a bump on turn two of Lap 74 and by turn three the pair were rubbing tires and wobbling from contact. Patience proved a virtue as Jefferson got past both. The final results were Sweatenham for the win with Murphy, Jefferson, Zaretzke and Moriarity rounding out the field.

Fast Time

Tom Sweatman 22.76

Main Event

Tom Sweatman, Matt Murphy, Jason Jefferson, John Zaretzke,Tom Moriarity, Travis Bennett, Lex Johnson, Harold Raczniski, Kelly Mann, Gary Anderson, Joey Decker, Chuck Dills, Vince Conwell, Doug Davidson, Max Boyd, Randy Blaylock, Rob Angus, Dirk Kruiswyk, Wade Bennett, John Pierce, Tom Matthew, Rod Schultz Jr. #71

Fast Time

Kevin Richards

Coors Light 200

Mark Reed, Mike Duncan, Scott Gaylord, Jeff Jefferson, Jason Jefferson, Scott Lynch, Johnny Boreman, Brett Thompson, Steve Portenga, Ed Watson, Jim Inglebright, Dan Obrist, Daryl Harr, Kevin Richards, Carl Harr, Jeff Davis, Bobby Hillis, Tom Moriarity, Jason Small, Jack Sellers, David Eshleman, Gene Woods, John Borneman

See Also .:

• Evergreen Speedway Track Page

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