HARDING GRABS LONG OVERDUE WIN IN HOME COUNTRY

Source: AW Media Relations/dp
Date: 06/15/2008

VERNON, British Columbia–Canada’s own Pete Harding used a patient approach to the early portions of the 4 Re-Fuel CAN-AM 125 for the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series then mounted a charge towards the front in the latter stages for his first career win on the nine-year old series.

Harding, a 40-year racing veteran, had not won a stock car race in his home country in over two decades and had only two British Columbia starts over 13-years.

Wes Rhodes was second followed by Erick Hargraves, Jared Vorse and Dan Rhodes.

Chris Dennis, Wade Bland, Korbin Thomas, Randy Kozek and Todd Walters rounded out the top-10. Harding’s margin of victory was 1.656-seconds with an average speed of 55.226 mph.

Vorse set the fastest time of the evening in qualifying with a lap of 17.446-seconds at 103.176 mph. Bland picked up the win in the four-car fast dash.

Mark Berriau led the field to the green flag and held point over the race’s first two circuits. Thomas moved by Berriau for the lead on lap 3 and kept a determined Brent Harris at bay over the next 26 laps.

Harris passed Thomas on lap 27 entering turn No. 1 and moved out to a five-car length lead. Hargraves dispatched Thomas to third place in the running order by lap 28.

Settling into a line that chased Harris, Hargraves’ Pontiac found itself in the lead by lap 31 as Harris’ Chevrolet developed motor trouble that forced the Ambitions Chevrolet to the pits.

Over the next dozen laps Hargraves and his APEX Anodizing/Magic Metals Pontiac battled with Vorse’s Knight Fire Protection Impala for the lead. Vorse finally moved underneath Hargraves in the middle of turns No. 1 and 2 and set his sights on a potential first career win.

Harding held a steady drive behind the wheel of his Harding Forklift/LP Body Shop Chevrolet. Starting sixth based on an eight-car invert of the fastest qualifiers, Harding moved to third by lap 46 then got by Hargraves during the middle portions of the event for second.

Vorse and Harding battled over 20 laps for the top spot in the running order with Harding finally prevailing on lap 89 exiting turn No. 2. With Vorse up high on the track Hargraves moved back to second and chased the Surrey, BC native for the win over a seven lap stretch.

Rhodes started his day in seventh place and moved to third by lap 90. With time winding down the Yelm, WA driver got by Hargraves on lap 97 and began to mount pressure on Harding’s 1.5-second lead. The Knight Fire Protection Chevrolet got as close as .40-seconds to Harding but was unable to overcome the strong lead the former NASCAR champion had built.

The victory was Harding’s second of the season after taking almost a year off while battling prostate cancer. While addressing fans and media the new grandfather urged men over the age of 50 to schedule a PSA blood test with their doctor.

“I know guys don’t like to go to the doctor but this test is so simple and if caught early this disease can be beat. I am so happy to be out here running again.”

Next up for the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series is a return visit to Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval in East Wenatchee, WA on June 21. The series season-opening date on May 3 was rained out.

NEWS/NOTES/QUOTES

No. 39 Pete Harding, Harding Forklift/LP Body Shop Chevrolet Impala: “I have waited a long time to win a race in Canada. This Port City chassis was awesome all night and I worked real hard to keep it under me all night so that I didn’t burn up the right rear. This is a great facility to race at and it’s so nice to be able to have my family here to see this. Shane had a tough day but we managed to have a great night.”

No. 6 Wes Rhodes, Knight Fire Protection/Larry’s Shock Shop Chevrolet Impala: “I’m pretty patient out there and I tried to get to Pete but he had a good car tonight. We might have waited a bit to long go but I am very proud of this team. This is one of the best facilities out there and I would have to say it’s the Irwindale of Canada that’s for sure. You can race all over and it’s very wide. I love coming here and look forward to coming back.”

No. 51 Erick Hargraves, APEX Anodizing/Magic Metals Pontiac GTO: “I think we got the lead a little early tonight. I like to be the hunter instead of the hunted. Early on when (Brent) Harris pulled off and moved to the front my plan was to not push the car hard but those guys (Harding and Rhodes) were just faster than we were tonight. It was a good points night for us and the car is in one piece heading to the next race.”

–Harding’s son, Shane, a two-time Super Stock champion at Evergreen Speedway made contact with the turn No. 1 outside wall during the afternoon practice session and was forced to withdraw from the event.

–The top-10 qualifying order featured an even mix of U.S. and Canadian teams as all but one driver from south of the border was in the top-10 starting positions. Todd Walters missed the top-10 by one position with an 11th place qualifying run.

–Many of the 12 Canadian drivers that took the green flag used the 4 Re-Fuel CAN-AM 125 as a warm-up for the ARCA West Mac’s Late Model Challenge Series race that will be run at Sun Valley on June 28.

–Jared Vorse, fresh off a runner-up finish in the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series first race of the season and current Port City Racecars Rookie of the Year points leader, captured his first career Mechanix Wear Pole Award. Vorse credited his teammate with help in getting his rookie season going in the right direction. “Wes Rhodes is a God to me.”

–There five lead changes among six drivers over the course of 125 laps.

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