NASCAR EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY

Source: Evergreen Speedway
Date: 08/08/2007

The prestigious Washington 500 left fans with the knowledge that the very best drivers in Street Stock and Late Model racing in the Pacific Northwest race at Evergreen Speedway. The Northwest's biggest track and only NASCAR Home Track was the scene of the "Central Welding 50" NASCAR Whelen All American Series Les Schwab Tires Bomber race and the "Wired X Energy Drink 150 presented by Haggen Food & Top Food" NASCAR Whelen All American Series Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks race.

The Bombers started the day with their event and in 50 laps gave the fans something to cheer about. Numerous position changes, close racing and a last lap pass for the lead left fans on their feet. Darin Stordahl making his first start in the Bombers in 2007, warming up for the Super Stock race later, overtook James Mugge a Bomber regular and looked to have the race in hand. Kelly Mann also doing double duty and making his first start lurked in third place behind Mugge. Lap traffic came into play as the race wound down and Mugge maneuvered brilliantly through the field catching Stordahl. A lap car and Mugge's dive to the bottom of turn three made for the wild finish as the Bomber regular drove out of turn four beating Stordahl to the line for victory. Mann finished third rounding out the podium. The first ever points race for the Bombers on the big track also featured the biggest purse of the season of over $1800.00.

Geoff Bodine fans welcomed the NASCAR legend with enthusiastic applause. He spent time autographing for the fans then set sail with the rest of the field in then Super Stock event. John Zaretzke took command on lap three and set the pace for the close field behind him. Two-time defending champion Shane Harding shadowed him followed by Jeff Holden. Lex Johnson and Roger Habich fell into line and by the middle part of the 150-lap event it was Zaretzke, Habich, Johnson and Harding nose to tail. After lap 111 Johnson had mechanical issues bringing Rob Touchette and Kelly Mann into the fray. An incident involving Mann & Touchette relegated Mann to the pits for repairs and Touchette to the back of the field. Habich and Harding held onto second and third respectively but Touchette was coming. He caught and passed both and looked to finish second when a last caution was waved setting up the green-white-checkered finish. Fans stood and watched as Zaretzke restarted with a two-lap dash ahead. He painted the bottom line and cut two fantastic laps to earn the win, representing the 6th different winner in 13 events at Evergreen. Touchette finished second and Habich third. The driver many were watching in the field was Darren Hall. Hall came to the track to pit for Tom Mathew who was held up and asked Hall to go ahead and make the start. Hall started 18th and drove all the way to a fourth place finish!

Next up at Evergreen on Saturday August 11th, the NASCAR Whelen All American Series continues on the "Almost Too Tough To Tame" 3/8's mile-oval. Super Stocks, Bombers and Mini Stocks will be on hand as well as FEAR's Super Figure Eights and Stinger Eights. Also Evergreen's Crash Cars! Front gates open at 3:30 with racing at 7:00pm.

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