Source: Gary Lewis Racing / dp
Date: 05/31/2007

BOTHELL, Washington --Coming off a strong performance at Yakima Speedway for the second consecutive week Gary Lewis Racing heads to Roseburg, OR and the Douglas County Speedway site of this week’s ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series Elmer’s Restaurant 125 looking for win number three in 2007.

Last weekend’s victory on the ASA Northwest Tour gives Lewis two wins in his first three events this season, but Roseburg will be both a long haul and first-ever race for the team, he noted.

“It’s basically the same feeling as before when we went down there (in 1998 while running the NASCAR Northwest Series). This will be the first time I’ve laid eyes on the track (since it was reconfigured) and I haven’t even been able to see pictures of the new look. I have been able to talk with a few people who’ve run the track recently and that should help our preparation.”

Lewis won the 98 NASCAR Roseburg event in route to his first Tour championship. Coming into this week’s ARCA event the Bothell, WA native finds himself atop the points standings with Naches, WA veteran Jeff Jefferson hot on his heels.

In the ARCA Series event two weeks ago and again last Saturday the Leary Shock Shop crew faced the task of limited practice while tending to several race day challenges. Their dedication pushed Lewis towards two top-5 runs in a row, something that is not lost on the Longacre Racing Products driver.

“We haven’t been able to catch a break for some good practice time lately. This week will be very important that we are able to get those laps in. This team has worked so hard on race day to make it to the feature. It’s all worth it when we’re able to go out and post some of the great finishes that we have had.

“Our crew has put so many hours into the car every day after work so soon we’re hoping to have all the bugs worked out of both cars. I can understand the ASA car maybe having trouble as we have not focused as much time on it but not the troubles we’ve faced with the ARCA car of late.”

While it may be a new experience for the Nutter Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo team many of Lewis’ competitors have run Douglas County Speedway under its new look. Consistency on the track during the afternoon runs will be key to the evening’s success, Lewis added.

“Most all of the teams on the Series have been practicing lately so we’ll need to bring our A-game to Roseburg this week to chase another win.”

One key to victory will be the reliance of the Penske Shocks from Leary’s Shock Shop and the AP Brakes system that have done well for Lewis in the season’s first three events, he said.

“The brakes have been great all year so far since we made the switch to AP on both of our cars. They slow the car down much more now then what we had in the past but it has taken a little while for me to get use to them. We are changing up our brake duct work a little this week to accommodate the flat track thinking that we may see some more brake heat from the flat track.

“Our shock program has been outstanding and should be strong again this week for Roseburg.”

This week the two-time championship driver has been featured in the national publication Late Model Digest with a feature story, photographs and advertising support from sponsors including AP Brakes and ARP Bodies.

Lewis is humbled by the recent media coverage of the strong start to 2007.

“Racing is my life and my business so this is very important for me to be featured. It’s nice to get the exposure for the companies that help us out when they can so far this year.”

See Also .:

• Jeff Jefferson Driver Card
• Gary Lewis Driver Card
• Douglas County Speedway Track Page

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