Source: Scott Hara
Date: 06/25/2000

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 24, 2000) - John Zaretzke, Yakima, Wash., became the first two-time winner on the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series in 2000 after he rallied to win the Netxposure 100 on the 1.95-mile roadcourse at Portland International Raceway. Zaretzke took the lead from eventual race runner-up Joe Benedetti on lap 44, beating the Pontiac of Benedetti's into the Festival Turns. Garrett Evans finished third. Ken Kaltschmidt and Zach Niessner rounded out the top five.

For Zaretzke, the day did not start out well. On the first lap, contact in the Festival Turns cut the left front tire on Zaretzke's Ford. After limping around the track back to the pits, Zaretzke's crew was able to change the tire and get him back out on the track about 100 yards in front of the leaders. From there, Zaretzke was able to stretch the margin to about a quarter mile. When the caution flew on lap 13 for a spinning Rick Allison, Zaretzke was able to catch up with the back of the field.

While Zaretzke was having his problems, Bud Pole winner Chris Hart jumped out to the early lead. Road racing specialist Steve Hodge took the point on lap eight. He gave up the lead to Gary Lewis on lap 11. Lewis led until a pit stop on lap 24. Hart retook the lead at that point in the race. Benedetti took the lead on lap 29. He continued to hold the lead until Zaretzke ducked to the inside heading into the Festival Turns.

"We got turned sideways a little bit in the Festival Turns and a guy got into me and cut my left front tire," said an elated Zaretzke in victory lane. "The crew did an awesome job getting me back out so we wouldn't go a lap down. It was out lucky day. I want to thank NASCAR and Raybestos Brakes and everyone here."

"I don't know where to begin with the crew," said Benedetti after the race. "Friday morning, first lap, blew up the motor. We worked all through the first practice to put another engine in. Then we blew it up qualifying. Our engine builders then put the first engine back together with some pieces that I have not idea where they came from. The thing ran great for the whole race. We pitted early. We were the first ones off pit road after the pit stop. I had so much fun working through the field that I think I burned off the tires a little bit too soon there. I have to say thanks to the whole crew that worked so hard here this weekend. If I didn't run well, I would have had to park it out on the North 40 and head for the hills.

Hart claimed the Bud Pole award, his first on a roadcourse. Benedetti won the Gatorade Frontrunner Award. Zaretzke was the Totem Travel Rookie of the Race. The race was slowed by four caution flags for 13 laps. The average speed was 66.723 mph.

The Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series travels next Yakima Speedway in Yakima, Wash., for the Frank's Chevrolet 125 on July 1.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

Zaretzke became the first repeat winner in nine races on the 2000 Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series season.

The win for Zaretzke moved him from 11th to 7th in the championship points standings.

When asked if the rubber on the track left by the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) bothered the drivers, a common complaint in reverse made by the CART drivers, Gaylon Stewart responded, "No, the rubber doesn't bother me. But they are loud. When they hit the rev limiters, it hurts my ears."

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