EVERGREEN TRIO RETURNS HOME DURING ROOKIE CAMPAIGN ON THE RBNWS

Source: Scott Harra
Date: 09/14/2000

Three drivers who can trace their stock car racing beginnings back to Evergreen Speedway return to their home track after successful rookie seasons in the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring. Gaylon Stewart, Matt Kelley, and John Zaretzke all raced in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series at Evergreen Speedway during their careers. Each can find successes in their 2000 seasons.

Indeed, the trio has collected between them three wins, 10 top-five, and 23 top-ten finishes in 42 starts this season. Leading the way in the Totem Travel Rookie of the Year chase is Stewart out of Everett, Wash. Currently sixth in the overall championship points race, Stewart can capture the Rookie of the Year award by starting the final two races. Stewart started off the season with a thrilling last lap pass to win over Tom Sweatman. He has soldiered on to collect that one win and four top-five and nine top-ten finishes in 15 starts this season.

Kelley, a milkman from Kirkland, Wash., has one top-five (a runner-up finish at Portland International Raceway) and seven top-ten finishes in 14 starts. Kelley, who found himself near the top of the overall points chase during the first quarter of the season, has fought engine gremlins over the last half of the season. "You would think we had made a deal with the devil the way we started the season," said Kelley. "It has been disappointing to have the problems we have had over the last part of the season. But all of it is part of the learning process that you go through as a rookie."

For Zaretzke, a transplant to Yakima, Wash., if every race were held in Portland, Ore., he would be a happy man. Zaretzke scored two victories in Portland this year, one at the historic half-mile oval at Portland Speedway and the other at the roadcourse at Portland International Raceway. On top of that he has added five top-five and seven top-ten finishes in 13 starts. "I am here to win races," said Zaretzke of his racing style. "If I can't win, I'm going to entertain the crowd. That's what I am about."

The trio will head home to Evergreen Speedway for the Lowes 125 presented by Cascade Clear on September 16. Qualifying starts at 5:45 p.m. for the series. There will be an autographs session at 6:30 p.m. Nine NASCAR Touring Series blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career, or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks. Corporate sponsors make significant contributions to NASCAR Touring Series point funds. The sponsors include R.J. Reynolds, Anheuser-Busch, Featherlite Trailers, O¹Reilly Auto Parts, Slim Jim, Goody¹s Headache Powders, Raybestos Brakes and the RE/MAX Realty Corp.

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