NASCAR WEST SERIES TIDBITS ON SERIES & EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY

Source: NASCAR
Date: 07/31/2007

Ø The race … The NAPA 300 presented by Basalite is the 11th event of a 13-race NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series schedule for 2007. It is the only visit by the series to the state of Washington this year.

Ø The track … Evergreen Speedway is a semi-banked .646-mile paved oval with turns banked eight degrees and four degrees banking in the straights. The track has hosted 48 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series races overall, with 39 of those in the modern era since 1971.

Ø Big night of racing … The West Series race is part of a big NASCAR night of competition at Evergreen Speedway that features 500 laps of competition, known as the Washington 500. In addition to the 300-lap West Series race, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Stock class will race 150 laps in the Wired X Energy Drink 150 presented by Top Food & Haggen Food. The entry list for that event includes Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine, who won the Washington 500 at Monroe in 1991. Evergreen Speedway’s Bomber class is slated to round out the Washington 500 with a 50-lap race.

Ø Special event at Seattle Center … Four Grand National West Series drivers, along with several local drivers from Evergreen Speedway, are slated to be on hand to meet the media, greet fans and sign autographs during a special event at Seattle Center on Friday, Aug. 3. Autograph sessions are planned from noon to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 5 p.m. In addition, several race cars are to be displayed adjacent to Key Arena throughout the afternoon on Friday.

Ø Winning car repaired, ready for return … Johnny Borneman (No. 8 Twisted X Boots/Red Line Oil Ford) plans to return to Monroe with the same car he won this event with last year. The car required extensive repairs after suffering major damage during a last-lap incident at Altamont Motorsports Park earlier this year.

Ø Mayhew joins GGRT/RCR … David Mayhew has been named to replace Ryan Foster in the No. 21 Golden Gate Petroleum/RCR Chevrolet for Jim Offenbach’s Golden Gate Racing Team, which operates a driver development program with Richard Childress Racing. Mayhew of Atascadero, Calif., has registered two top-10 finishes in four West Series races this season. He led 56 laps at Phoenix International Raceway in April, before encountering engine failure late in the race.

Ø Mack returns to action … Lloyd Mack (No. 83 Borneman Plastering Ford) is slated to be back in action. The Los Angeles driver is to make his second appearance in a Borneman Motorsports entry.

Ø Veteran Northwest driver to debut … Travis Bennett will step aside from his spotter duties to get back behind the wheel and make his West Series debut at Monroe. Bennett, who has served as a spotter this season for series rookie Eric Richardson (No. 20 Basalite Chevrolet), competed as a driver in NASCAR Elite Division, Northwest Series from 2004-2006, missing the championship by just one point in his first year on that circuit.

Ø Local competitor to make series debut … Jason Frazer of Snohomish, Wash., is also slated to make his debut in the West Series this weekend. Fraser has won this season in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Super Stocks at Evergreen Speedway. He spent last season racing in the Northwest Series in NASCAR’s Elite Division.

Ø Competing for Showdown spot … Drivers in the West Series only have three more chances to secure a spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown by winning a race. Only Grand National Division race winners and champions of the NASCAR Developmental Series will be locked in to the field for the prestigious post-season event. All others must race their way in. (A special graphic listing drivers who have secured a spot in this year’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is available at www.nascarmedia.com and is updated each Tuesday.)

Ø Last year’s event … Last year’s race culminated in an emotional victory lane, with Johnny Borneman winning the event where his father had won 28 years earlier. After starting 11th and running mid-pack through the first half of the race, Borneman charged to the high side of turn two to seize the lead on lap 164 and end what had been a dominant run by Eric Holmes. Borneman streaked away from the field to quickly establish a sizeable lead. While that margin was erased by a fifth and final caution on lap 183, Borneman had no trouble in pulling away after the restart to win by more than 14 seconds. Mike Duncan (No. 9 Lucas Oil/Ron’s Rear Ends Chevrolet) finished second, followed by Steve Portenga.

Ø Many different winners … Twenty-five different drivers have won a series race at Evergreen Speedway since 1971. Brendan Gaughan was the last repeat winner, in 2000 and 2001.

Ø Big winners … Ray Elder has the most wins at Evergreen Speedway, with five. He visited victory lane in 1971, twice in 1972 and twice in 1975. Other multiple winners include Ron Eaton (1979, 1980 and 1982), Chad Little (1986, 1988 and 1989), Brendan Gaughan (2000 and 2001), Butch Gilliland (1996 and 1998), Harry Jefferson (1974 and 1977), Neil Newberry (1976 and 1979), Jim Robinson (1983 and 1984) and Bill Sedgwick (1990 and 1992).

Ø Most poles … Eaton and Bill Elliott share the distinction for winning the most Bud Pole Awards at Monroe, with four each. Eaton won his in 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1985; Elliott won his in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990.

Ø Best finishes … The late Roy Smith leads the lists for most top-five finishes (nine) and top-10 finishes (14) in series competition at the track since 1971.

Ø Most money … Bill Sedgwick leads in terms of money won in series events at Evergreen Speedway in the modern era. He has winnings of $108,351 in 10 races.

Ø Out front … Chad Little has led the most laps of series competition around the Monroe track since 1971, staying out front for 1,183 circuits.

Ø High marks … With his five consecutive podium finishes, Mike Duncan has the best average finish among active drivers with four or more starts at Monroe. His average in six events is 3.0.

Ø Manufacturers’ battle … Ford tops the list of manufacturer wins at Evergreen Speedway with 11, including last year’s victory by Johnny Borneman

Ø Stat of the race … Only nine of 39 winners at Evergreen Speedway since 1971 started from the Bud Pole spot.

Ø Going the distance … This will mark the second time for the West Series to run the 300-lap distance at Monroe. The season opener in 1991, one of two visits to the speedway that year, was 300 laps long.

Ø Etc. … A total of 304 different drivers have competed in the 39 series races at Evergreen Speedway since 1971.

Ø This Week’s Series Leaders … Through 10 races of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series season:

· Points leader – Mike David, 1,548

· Money won – Mike David, $62,806

· Laps led – Brian Ickler, 246

· Laps completed – Mike David, 1,476; Eric Hardin, 1,476

· Average finish – Mike David, 7.8

· Victories – Mike David, 2; Brian Ickler, 2

· Poles – Mike Duncan, 3

· Top-five finishes – Mike David, 7

· Top-10 finishes – Mike David, 7

· Races led – Mike Duncan, 5

BIRTHDAYS

Drivers celebrating a birthday during the month of August include Scott Gaylord, who turns 49 on the 12th; Burney Lamar, who turns 27 on the 21st; Travis Powell, who turns 43 on the 26th; John Moore, who turns 44 on the 27th; Brandon Loverock, who turns 30 on the 27th; Brian Richardson, who turns 32 on the 28th; and Brandon Miller, who turns 26 also on the 28th.

See Also .:

• Evergreen Speedway Track Page

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