MONROE, Washington -- The second verse was the same as the first in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. on Saturday night as Jason Jefferson took the checkers just as he did two weeks ago in the series opener. It was almost eerie how similar the two races were for the Naches, Wash. native. He drove the Mike Olsen Dodge/SPE Racing Engines Dodge to the lead on lap 79 and watched the rest of the field in his mirrors for the final 45 laps.
Just like in the season's first race that Jefferson won at Tri-City Raceway, he took the lead from Garrett Evans of Ardenvoir, Wash. in his Leonard Evans Hyundai sponsored Chevrolet. Even though it took Jefferson a little longer to get past Evans in this event, it was never of matter of if, but when. Jefferson started fifth in the 27-car field, but was on Evans' rear deck lid by lap 40 and spent the next 38 trips around the 3/8-mile oval looking for an opportunity to get around Evans. "I just had to wait for him to give me a chance to get around him," said Jefferson. After that, Jefferson ran away from his competitors. A late caution did tighten the field, but after a three-lap dash to the finish Jefferson still was able to beat John Bender, out of Snohomish, Wash., in his Oso Lumber/Reece Asphalt Chevrolet by 0.78 seconds to the finish line.
Jefferson is seemingly intent on winning the season championship in 2004 after finishing second to his brother, Jeff, in 2003. Jason stretched out his season points lead to 40 over Evans with the win. Reigning champion Jeff struggled again as he brought his Morgan Transport/Gary Mears Trucking Chevy home in 18th place. This comes on the heels of a finish in 24th in the opening race. Jason wants to keep the championship in the family, but Jeff will undoubtedly have something to say about that before the 2004 season comes to an end.
Following Jason Jefferson and Bender to the line was Pete Harding, out of Surrey, B.C. Canada, bringing his L.P. Body Shop/Harding Forklift Chevrolet machine home in third. Harding collected the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award, which is given to the driver who improves his finishing position the most from the previous event. He was forced to leave the race at Tri-City Raceway on April 24 early and finished at the back of the field, but rebounded to notch that third place slot in this race. Evans came in fourth while Steven Howard of Roy, Wash. and his Great Northwest Homes/Seddon Marketing Group Chevrolet finished fifth.
Rounding out the top ten was Brandon Riehl, John Zaretzke, Travis Bennett, Shane Biles and Ed Watson. Bennett of Ellensburg, Wash. was the top-finishing rookie for the second consecutive race and leads the Auto Meter Rookie of the Year standings by three points over Jim McVey from Port Orchard, Wash.
Bothell, Washington's Gary Lewis won his second straight Bud Pole with a speed of 78.456 mph. He and his Sign Factory USA/Sandblasters got lapped early in the race and could never recover. Lewis finished in 24th.
Shane Biles of Woodinville, Wash. in the Angel Racing Ford, earned the POWERade Move of the Race Award, given to the driver who improves his starting position the most during the evening. He started 25th, but was able to move through the pack to collect a 9th place finish.
The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series is back in action next on May 29 at Yakima Speedway in Yakima, Wash. for 125 laps on that 1/2-mile track.
