This is a glance at the current top ten drivers in the championship standings in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series. At season’s end the top ten drivers in each of the four series (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest) in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division will be invited to compete in the second annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on November 11-13.
No. 1 – Garrett Evans, Ardenvoir, Wash. (No. 64 Leonard Evans Hyundai Chevrolet), Evans Racing. Previous ranking: 2. Moved into first place in the point standings after posting a finish of fourth on May 29 at Yakima Speedway after winning the Bud Pole Award. Evans notched his 139th career Top 5 finish in his 269th career start. Has been in the top five in all three events this season.
No. 2 – Travis Bennett, Ellensburg, Wash. (No. 33 Bowman’s Electro Painting/Zeb’s Truck Stop Chevrolet), DS Racing. Previous ranking: 4. Earned a solid sixth-place at Yakima. Was on his way to a top-five finish, but suffered some front end damage on a restart forcing him to make a trip down pit road to have the hood removed moving him to the back of the lead pack. Bennett has been the top finishing rookie in each of the three Northwest Series events this season.
No. 3 – Jason Jefferson, Naches, Wash. (No. 97 Mike Olsen Dodge/SPE Racing Engines Dodge), Simmonson Racing. Previous ranking: 1. Struggled from the very start at Yakima. As soon as the green flag waved, he discovered a clutch problem that several trips down pit road could not cure. Jefferson retired from the race after just 45 laps. The two-time race winner in 2004 is just 23 points behind leader Garrett Evans.
No. 4 – Brandon Riehl, Boring, Ore. (No. 69 Aero Turbine/Darrell’s Economy Muffler Chevrolet), Hanson Racing. Previous ranking: 3. If consistency is the secret in NASCAR points racing, then he has heard it. Riehl earned his third top-10 finish of the season at Yakima with a finish of 10th.
No. 5 – John Bender, Snohomish, Wash. (No. 18 Oso Lumber/Reece Asphalt Chevrolet) Kearney Racing. Previous ranking: 5. Did a good job to finish seventh after starting 13th at Yakima on May 29. Was the POWERade “Power Move of the Race” Award winner by improving his position six slots from the start of the event. Bender has been quite consistent since joining the circuit in 2000; he logged his 24th top-10 finish in just 37 career starts last Saturday at Yakima Speedway.
No. 6 – Wes Rhodes, Lacey, Wash. (No. 6 Knight Fire Protection Chevrolet) Foulkes Racing. Previous ranking: 7. Only Garrett Evans with three has posted more top-five finishes in 2004. Rhodes along with Jason Jefferson and Pete Harding have earned a pair. Rhodes has positioned himself to have his strongest season in the Northwest Series after the first three events.
No. 7 – Steven Howard, Roy, Wash. (No. 38 Great Northwest Homes/Seddon Marketing Group Chevrolet) Howard Racing. Previous ranking: 6. Had a middle-of-the-pack car at Yakima Speedway for the Frank’s Chevrolet 125 with a start of 15th and a finish of 12th. However, it did not do much damage to the 22 year-old’s season standing as he is still solidly looking at a trip to the Second Annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.
No. 8 – Pete Harding, Surrey, B.C. Canada (No. 39 L.P. Body Shop/Harding Forklift Chevrolet) Harding Racing. Previous ranking: 10. Harding continues to climb the rankings after a horrendous start to the season at TriCity Raceway. Harding finished last in that race, but has since posted consecutive third-place efforts. Is one of two Canadian drivers, along with four-time West Series champion Roy Smith, to win a NASCAR championship. Harding earned top honors in the Northwest Series in 1999.
No. 9 – Shane Biles, Woodinville, Wash. (No. 31 Angel Racing Ford) Angel Racing. Previous ranking: 8. Started back in the pack at 17th at Yakima, but rebounded to finish in 11th. The 36 year-old out of Woodinville, Washington dropped one slot this week, but is just four points out of eighth.
No. 10 – Jeff Jefferson, Naches, Wash. (No. 42 Sunfair Chevrolet/Morgan Transport Chevrolet) Morgan Racing. Previous ranking: 23. Was the week’s biggest mover after posting his first win of the 2004 and the seventh of his career in the Northwest Series. The 2003 series champion got off to an abysmal start in 2004 with finishes of 24th and 18th in the first two events.
No. 11 – Joe Benedetti, Auburn, Wash. (No. 2 Bret Chevrolet/RaceCals Chevrolet) Benedetti Racing. Previous ranking: 13. Moved up to places after a finish of 8th at Yakima Speedway.
