JASON JEFFERSON FOLLOWS THE SIGNS BACK TO VICTORY LANE

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 08/09/2004

KALISPELL, Montana -- There seems to be constant in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series in 2004. If Gary Lewis is the fastest car in qualifying, then Jason Jefferson has the best car once the race begins. In the season’s first two events Lewis posted the fastest lap in qualifying and Jefferson visited victory lane, but neither had since duplicated those efforts until last Saturday night in the 6th Annual Rumble in the Rockies Miller Lite 125 at Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, Mont.

Jefferson drove his #97 Mike Olson Dodge/Simmonson Automotive Dodge around John Bender during the race’s 16th lap and led the rest of the way for his series-best third win of the season. Jefferson, however, was not on cruise control for the final 112 laps as older brother Jeff and season points leader Garrett Evans were in hot pursuit. “It’s an honor to race with Jeff and Garrett. They and their teams are the class of the field, but I’ll take my guys anytime,” said the race champion hailing from Yakima, Wash. “They did a super job with the car.”

The race winner displayed great patience and solid driving skill for the full house at Montana Raceway Park with his brother Jeff all over his rear deck lid for over 80 laps. In fact, Jason had to hold off Jeff for more than the advertised 125 laps. A late caution flag waved and it took NASCAR and track officials until lap 125 to get everything back in order, but Northwest Series rules call for a “green-white-checkered” finish in every instance except for a yellow flag being displayed on the white flag lap.

“(Jeff) was all over me, but he kept it clean. He could have easily turned me around and gone on,” said Jason. “I was able to keep him behind me and it was a great win for us and a great race for the tremendous fans up here.”

Jason Jefferson did not recognize the good karma of Lewis winning the pole until after the race. “I guess it’s a sign,” said the younger Jefferson. “If this is how it’s going to be, then I hope he wins the rest of the poles.”

Lewis, out of Bothell, Wash., logged a lap speed of 68.389 mph on the high-banked 1/4-mile track nestled in the Rocky Mountains in northwest Montana. It was Lewis’ third Bud Pole Award of the season in his Sign Factory USA/Sandblasters Pontiac tying him with Jeff Jefferson for the series lead.

However, Lewis’ good feeling was short-lived since that for the third time this season and for the second consecutive race the pole winner drew a 10 for the invert to begin the race. Series rules mandate a six,

eight or 10-car invert for the race start. “No, it’s not the best deal, but those are the chances you take,” said Lewis.

The elder Jefferson crossed the finish line in the Sunfair Chevrolet/LeMay Car Museum Chevy virtually nose to tail with his younger brother, but the defending series champion out of Naches, Wash. could not help but be a little disappointed with the finish. “I think we had the fastest car,” said Jeff. “But catching Jason and getting around him are two different things.”

With his second-place finish Jeff Jefferson captured the Featherlite “Most Improved Driver” Award given to the driver who improves his position the most from the previous event. Jefferson was the first car out of the race at Yakima (Wash.) Speedway on July 24 due to a mechanical problem, but the #42 team rebounded nicely in this event just as championship-caliber teams are expected to do.

Four-time series champion and a rejuvenated Garrett Evans, who would like nothing more than to add a fifth title to his resume’, finished third and posted his sixth top-five finish of the season. The East Wenatchee, Wash. driver has placed the Leonard Evans Hyundai/Signature Financing Chevrolet in the top 10 in all eight events this year making it very difficult for the rest of the field to take a run at the points lead.

Wes Rhodes, who hails from Lacey, Wash., has quietly put together a strong season in 2004 which includes a fourth-place finish in The Rumble in the Rockies. Rhodes benefited from the 10-car invert and started on the pole for the event. While he was not able to lead a lap he did prove that he had enough car to run up front and be a force to be reckoned with before the evening was over in the Knight Fire Protection Chevrolet.

Finishing fifth was the leading Auto Meter Rookie of the Year contender Travis Bennett and his Bowman’s Electro Painting/Zeb’s Truck Stop/Knudson Lumber Chevrolet. Bennett, like Evans, has been able to log a top-10 finish in every race this season. The Ellensburg, Washington-based driver is undoubtedly pleased with his current points ranking of second in his first full season in the Northwest Series, but frustration at not being able to make up any ground on Evans’ lead is not all that deep in his mind as the season winds to a close. However, this week, despite dropping a little farther behind Evans, Bennett’s #33 team earned every single point by virtue of having to change the motor in the car between practice and the main event.

Rounding out the top 10 were Pete Harding, Joe Benedetti, Tom Sweatman, Jody Tanner and Brandon Riehl.

Joe Benedetti collected the POWERade “Power Move of the Race” Award in the Bret Chevrolet/RaceCals Chevy by starting in the 14th position and finishing seventh. This award is given to the driver who improves his position the most over the course of the event. This was the second time this year that the Auburn, Wash. driver earned the $750 bonus.

The Northwest Series has just four races remaining in the 2004 season and there are battles for points in every position. There are two key spots for battles as the season comes to a close. The first, obviously, is the top spot for the championship while the other is for 10th, which is important since the top 10 drivers get an invitation to participate in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway in November to go up against the top 10 drivers from the other three NASCAR Elite Division series.

Evans stretched his lead on Bennett to 57 points, but Jason Jefferson and Pete Harding also hover at third and fourth, respectively, within 100 points of the leader.

The more compelling battle, however, is for that 10th and final spot in the Showdown. At the moment, it’s Benedetti’s spot to lose. Like Evans, who has three drivers within 100 points, Benedetti also has three teams nipping at his heels. Bender is just 43 points behind while Tom Sweatman is 76 points behind and Jeff Bailey is 88 points off Benedetti’s pace.

The Northwest Series has a quick turn around this time as the teams will make their final visit to Yakima Speedway next Saturday, August 14 for the Frank’s Chevrolet 125.

See Also .:

• Harry Jefferson Driver Card
• Montana Raceway Park Track Page

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