DEBENEDETTI WINS RACE OF CHAMPIONS

Source: Jack Fordyce
Date: 07/28/2007

ELMA, Washington -- Jon DeBenedetti of Medford, the only consecutive champion in the history of the Ship Wreck Beads Northwest Modifieds Nationals at Grays Harbor Raceway, (2004 and 2005, there was no champion crowned in 2006), made a strong showing tonight as he took over the top spot from early race leader Ryan McDaniel of Marysville, CA. on lap-eighteen of the thirty-lap Pete Muller Logging/PBM feature race of the night and never looked back taking the checkered flag going away and pocketing the $750.00 first place money.

DeBenedetti on the second row, behind McDaniel, and defending Grays Harbor chanpion Blair Shoemaker of Yakima, WA. and next to another Grays Harbor champion, Scott Miller of Shelton, WA.

Shoemaker was able to hold onto the top spot for three laps before McDaniel made his move to the front, followed by DeBenedetti putting Shoemaker in the third spot , Miller in forth and Scott Dorie in fifth.

McDaniel survived a restart on lap-14 when the caution flag came out when Dan Fox of Warren, Or. spun out in turn four.

With the field bunched back up for the restart it was just a question of when, not if, DeBenedetti would get by McDaniel and he made the move in just past the flag stand on lap-eighteen.

From there to the finish everybody else was left to pick up the left what was left. McDaniel held onto the second spot, Miller third while Craig Hanson of Albany, Or. got by Shoemaker for fourth spot dropping Shoemaker back to fifth.

DeBenedetti made his case as the man to beat as he was perfect for the night, winning two heat races earlier in the night besides posting the top time in time trials.

The week-end series wraps up on Saturday night with trophy dashes and Main events, with the top twenty-four drivers getting into the feature race for the top prize of $4,000.00. Gates open at 5:00 P.M. with racing around 7:00 P.M.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend