HOME TRACK GOOD FOR TOP THREE OF INAUGURAL ASA NORTHWEST TOUR RACE

Yakima, WA – The 23rd season, albeit under a new banner, of the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour got underway at the fast 3/8-mile oval of South Sound Speedway. The Rochester, Washington track was used by the home town boys to the utmost with the top three finishers of the Saturday night Aero Exhaust 150 calling SSS home. Tom Sweatman, Ron Eaton and Jay Sauls whom finished in that order all have spent a lot of time racing and or watching races at the fabled facility.

Tom Sweatman grabbed the lead on lap 30 of the 150 and never looked back as he went on to win his third NWT career victory all coming at South Sound Speedway. Getting around early race leader and pole sitter Ron Eaton, Sweatman made it look easy on the home surface. On exiting the car in victory circle he said “I did not even know I was going to race until early this week and then win, it is awesome. Brandon Riehl showed up at my shop with this car and told me, I was going to use it to race with. It was all a surprise to me and what a way to end it.” When asked if the home track had something to do with it he stated “I don’t know if that was the case or the fast car provided by Riehl.”

Eaton after losing the lead to Sweatman fell back to third by lap 50 was back to second and held the spot the remainder of the distance. Eaton who has nine of his NWT best forty-one wins have been at his home track. Five of the last nine ASA Northwest Tour races held at SSS have had Eaton finishing in the top five.

Third place finisher, second year driver, Jay Sauls was as excited as if he had won. To finish on the podium of a NWT event at his home track in front of many of his fans had him beaming. Sauls by lap 60 of the 150 took over third from Brandon Riehl and was sailing along when he was caught and passed by Jason Fraser with 12 to go. The youngster fought back on the outside as the two were side-by-side for 4-laps when a slight bobble by Fraser was all Sauls needed to get his previous position back. It was the most spirited battle of the event and had the packed crowd buzzing after the race.

Fraser finished a close fourth followed by Matt Hall one lap back. Also one lap down Jeff Barkshire finished sixth.

Next up for the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour is the Penguin Plumbing & Electrical 125 at Yakima Speedway’s ½-mile oval, Yakima, Washington on Saturday May 26.

ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour 150 at South Sound Speedway on May 5

Official Finish: (finish position (start) name, hometown, (laps completed)

1 (5) Tom Sweatman, Cosmopolis, WA (150); 2 (1) Ron Eaton, Spanaway, WA (150); 3 (2) Jay Sauls, Puyallup, WA (150); 4 (8) Jason Fraser, Snohomish, WA (150); 5 (10) Matt Hall (149); 6 (6) Jeff Barkshire, Auburn, WA (149); 7 (7) Kelly Tanner, Auburn, WA (147); 8 (4) Brandon Riehl, Boring, OR (146); 9 (9) Travis Bennett (141); 10 (3) B.J. Tidrick, Yakima, WA (133).

Time of Race – 50min 54sec;

Lap Leaders – Eaton (1-30), Sweatman (30-150)

Cautions – 1 (5-laps)

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