BIG GUY, TOM SWEATMAN WINS IN THE BIG SKY STATE

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 08/07/1999

KALISPELL, Montana -- Tom Sweatman of Cosmopolis, Wash., is the man to beat when it comes to racing at the .250-mile Kalispell (Mont.) Raceway Park. Sweatman took the lead after pole-sitter Wes Rhodes and Kevin Quesenell came together on the original start of the Parts Plus, Rumble in the Rockies 125, Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring event this past Saturday night. Sweatman lead from start to finish in the event, which was Sweatman's second consecutive event championship and third series win of the season.

"I just love racing here at Kalispell," beamed Sweatman from victory lane. "The car was just a little too tight in the middle of the corner and that gave Mark (Groskreutz) a real shot at us. It was great to race with him, we've raced many times in the past and it has always been clean and fun. Kalispell has become a special place for me. We've won several races here and it's always exciting to come here and perform as well as we have."

Mark Groskreutz charged from seventh position to second to challenge Sweatman for the win. Joe Constance of Everett, Wash., Kevin Hamlin of Stanwood, Wash., and Shane Biles of Woodinville, Wash., rounded out the top five. Garrett Evans, Joe Benedetti, Tom Pinkowsky, Ray Wallace and Bill Lawrence rounded out the top ten.

Point-leader, Pete Harding of Surrey, B.C., suffered early race troubles and finished 19th, after completing 66 of the 125 laps. Sweatman, who remained second in the point standings, but closed the gap to just 12 behind Harding (Harding 1,665 - Sweatman 1653).

The next Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring event is this Saturday night at the newly rennovated, Wenacthee Speedway in Wenacthee, Washington.

Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series NASCAR Touring
Parts Plus 125
Kalispell raceway Park, August 7, 1999
125 Laps, 31.25 Miles on .250-mile Paved Oval, Purse: $28,445
Finishing position, starting position, driver, car, laps completed, reason out, money won.

1. (3) Tom Sweatman, Pontiac, 125, Running, $4,615;

2. (7) Marc Groskreutz, Pontiac, 125, Running, $2,540;

3. (10) Joe Constance, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $2,090;

4. (15) Kevin Hamlin, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $1,615;

5. (19) Shane Biles, Ford, 125, Running, $1,465;

6. (20) Garrett Evans, Ford, 125, Running, $1,215;

7. (13) Joe Benedetti, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $1,140;

8. (16) Tom Pinkowsky, Pontiac, 125, Running, $1,040;

9. (21) Ray Wallace, Chevrolet, 125, Running, $990;

10. (11) Bill Lawrence, Chevrolet, 124, Running, $815;

11. (12) Ken Kaltschmidt, Chevrolet, 124, Running, $585;

12. (17) Rick Suran, Pontiac, 122, Running, $565;

13. (18) Kenny Rich, Chevrolet, 116, Running, $720;

14. (5) Chris Hart, Chevrolet, 94, Running, $785;

15. (1) Wes Rhodes, Chevrolet, 87, Oil Pump, $750;

16. (22) Zach Niessner, Chevrolet, 85, Over Heating, $565;

17. (4) Rick Allison, Chevrolet, 81, Accident, $505;

18. (2) Kevin Quesnell , Chevrolet, 79, Running, $675;

19. (9) Pete Harding, Chevrolet, 66, Running, $850;

20. (8) Gary Lewis, Pontiac, 55, Accident, $500;

21. (6) Wilbur Bruce, Chevrolet, 41, Engine, $850;

22. (14) Mark Owens, Chevrolet, 24, Oil Pump, $500;

Failed to Qualify: Harold Raczynski, Ed Watson, Greg Bennett, and Jerry Fink.

TIME OF RACE: 37 Minutes, 9 Seconds (Record)

AVERAGE SPEED: 50.471 MPH (Record)

MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.25 second

BUD POLE AWARD: Wilbur Bruce, Quality Rentals/Walrath Trucking Chevrolet (12.857 seconds/ 70.001 MPH) (Record)

GATORADE FRONT RUNNER AWARD: Tom Sweatman, Riverside Cedar/DIX Motorsports Pontiac

TOTEM TRAVEL ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD: Joe Benedetti, Country Stoves Pontiac

CAUTION FLAGS: 3 for 24 laps (43-50), (56-66), (86-90).

LAP LEADERS: Sweatman (1-125). There was no lead changs among one drivers.

RAYBESTOS NORTHWEST SERIES TOP 20 POINTS
1 - Pete Harding 1665
2 - Tom Sweatman 1653
3 - Joe Constance 1574
4 - Chris Hart 1556
5 - Kevin Hamlin 1479
6 - Joe Benedetti 1437
7 - Kevin Quesnell 1423
8 - Shane Biles 1408
9 - Garrett Evans 1383
10 - Kenny Rich 1380
11 - Bill Lawrence 1380
12 - Tom Pinkowsky 1372
13 - Ray Wallace 1318
14 - Wes Rhodes 1313
15 - Jerry Fink 1291
16 - Rick Suran 1218
17 - Wilbur Bruce 1214
18 - Ken Kaltschmidt 1187
19 - Rick Allison 1126
20 - Harold Raczynski 1082

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