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| Nov 23, 2008 |  |
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PETE HARDING LOOKING TO GAIN LOST GROUND AT YAKIMA SPEEDWAYNASCAR ELITE DIVISION, NORTHWEST SERIES
Source: NASCAR Public Relations
 DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Pete Harding had been on a tear in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series. He went into the last race at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval having posted four consecutive top-five finishes and stood at third in the championship point standings. However, after sustaining damage in the race’s early going, that streak would come to an end winding up with 15th place and sliding to 8th in points.
He is very anxious to get back to business at the next race, the Frank’s Chevrolet 125 at Yakima (Wash.) Speedway. Why is that? “Yakima is the track that I have had the most success at (in the Northwest Series),” said the product of Surrey, B.C. Canada. “Two of the next three races are there and we hope to have some good finishes and get back some of the ground we lost at Wenatchee.
“I really can’t explain my success there other than my driving style fits the flatter racetracks. Places like Magic Valley (Twin Falls, Idaho) and Yakima have been good places for us.”
Harding is 53 years old and is in his 38th year of driving a stock car, as well as, his 18th season in the Northwest Series. That coupled with the fact that his son, Shane, is coming into his own in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series begs the question of how much longer he is going to continue to race. “A lot of people have been asking me that question,” said the 1999 series champion. “As long as I am competitive and can run up front and race for wins I can’t see a reason to stop, but as soon as I can’t do that anymore, then I’ll get out.”
Harding had to wonder after being knocked out of the season opening race before completing even one lap. But then he reeled off the string of top fives, which had to put his mind at ease.
“I like how our season is going this year. We’ve been competitive and are in a position to get into the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown,” he said. “I didn’t know how big a deal that thing was last year, but I told the guys prior to the season starting that I wanted to take a shot at that race before I hang up my helmet, so to speak.”
It should be noted that Harding feels that there are no real disadvantages of racing in NASCAR events being a resident of Canada. “Other than being a little farther away from most of the tracks that we race at and factoring in time to get across the border, it’s really no different,” he says.
When it does come time for Harding to stop racing, he will not be far from the track. He will continue to work with Shane, a budding star in weekly racing at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. And as with most fathers, he gets more uptight for those races than his own. “I find that his races are very nerve racking for me and he just about ready to break through and win a bunch of races,” said the elder Harding. “Actually, though, right now the help goes both ways. I let him drive my car and give me his thoughts while I can help him with my experience.”
Harding’s home is on the racetrack and will be for a long time as he monitors Shane’s career, but for the time being Pete has some racing left in his tank and is looking to make a push toward the top of the point standings as the Northwest Series heads into the second half of the season at Yakima Speedway on July 24.
Fast Facts
 See Also .: News Index | E-mail to a Friend Article posted by RacingWest.com staff on 07/21/2004. http://www.racingwest.com
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