ARCA WEST LMCS AT YAKIMA SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 1

Source: AWLMCS/Scott Ellsworth
Date: 08/29/2007

GRAHAM, Washington -- The next-to-last race of the 2007 season for the 8 year old ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series is this Saturday, September 1 at Yakima Speedway. Point leader Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA) will try to do something no other driver in the previous 7-years of the series. Lewis winner of four races this season will strive for an unprecedented five wins in the same season. The race will also be the 80th race over the 8-seasons.

Lewis has had many of his successes on the .500-mile Yakima Speedway, Yakima, Washington. On the previous stop at Yakima earlier this season Lewis finished a season low fourth. Lewis a former 2-time NASACAR Elite Series champion used Yakima as a spring board to those championships. “Yakima Speedway has always been a favorite track of mine; I have had good fortune there.”

A dream season is what Lewis is in the midst of. The four AW LMCS wins have been paired with a Montana 200 and Idaho 200 win. Include, at Yakima Speedway, a Northwest Tour race win.

Not finishing out of the top five in any race he has entered in 2007 Lewis is even mystified by his accomplishments. “I can not believe what is happening” was stated by Lewis as he climbed out of his winning car in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, the last stop for the traveling AW LMCS.

Even through all the success this season Lewis has not been able to put enough distance between himself and second in the points Jeff Jefferson (Naches, WA) to win the 2007 championship. Jefferson who has also had good results at Yakima will use knowledge of his home track to attempt to close the gap. The gap currently is 96-points with two races to remaining. The 2007 season for the AW LMCS ends on September 15 at Wenatchee Valleys super Oval, Wenatchee, Washington.

The expected driver roster includes well known local-area racing talent as Ron Bemis, Scott Walker, Mike Zamora, Lon Werremeyer and Brad Rhoads.

Series top point standing drivers (in order) Gary Lewis, Jeff Jefferson, Wes Rhodes, Erick Hargraves, Brent Harris, Jim Warn, Garrett Evans, Ryan Fischer and Joe McNeil are all shooting for a prime qualifying spot.

Series regulars such as Shelby Thompson, Christian Roeder, Mike Obrist, Jason Hedrick, Scott Davis, Don Vickery, Josh Roberts, Rick Hager, Mike Kenyon, and Marty Wason all know they have their work cut out this weekend.

Also attempting are Pete Harding, Jason Fraser, Mark Sundberg, Rob Angus, Jarrod Crum, Don Cralle, and Willy Thom; whom all must qualify well to get locked into the 28-car feature, or face a tough challenge in a consolation race battling over just 4 move-up positions.

The ARCA West Q-Racing Late Model Challenge Series ‘Sea Galley 125’ event headlines an exciting first of the two day Labor Day racing weekend at Yakima Speedway. The Saturday schedule: Hot lap sessions begin at 2:00pm, qualifying for all classes begin at 5:00pm, Racing begins at approx. 6:30pm. Large crowds are expected; arrive early for best seating and time trials. Front Gate opens at 4:00pm.

Top 20 Points as of 8/18/2007

1 Gary Lewis 1914

2 Jeff Jefferson 1818

3 Wes Rhodes 1623

4 Erick Hargraves 1619

5 Brent Harris 1618

6 Jim Warn 1599

7 Garrett Evans 1585

8 Ryan Fischer 1470

9 Joe McNeil 1245

10 Todd Walters 923

11 Shelby Thompson 895

12 Bryon Harvey 805

13 Rick Thompson 799

14 Dan Beecher 680

15 Mark Owens 571

16 Don Vickery 570

17 Scott Davis 560

18 Mike Obrist 550

19 Christian Roeder 533

20 Jared Vorse

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