2008 News

You are here: Home

2008 News

Hargraves to Defend Fall Classic Victory

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (September 30, 2008) – The defending champion of Yakima Speedway’s Fall Classic has had quite a ride since that fateful day back in the fall of 2007. Former track champion Erick Hargraves has moved from his Toppenish, Wash. home to attend North Idaho College, earned a win on the prestigious ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series and gotten engaged to be married.

Still strong on the 25-year old’s mind is a chance to make history and repeat as Fall Classic champion. While most race teams face the pressure of performing in the region’s biggest late model event–Hargraves finds this year’s race carrying less pressure when coupled with the last 12 months worth of success.
Erick Hargraves

“Going into the Fall Classic is more fun because we’ve won it last year. I am not saying that I won’t put anymore pressure on myself but having won it makes this weekend a little more relaxing,” Hargraves said. “Fans in the stands, sponsors at the race and Yakima being my home track all make the Fall Classic a big race. Heck, anyone who’s won a race like this wants to repeat but I know you have to be in the right place at the right time and have a little luck to win races but I wouldn’t say there’s anymore pressure this year than last.”

With a strong 2008 season under their belt Hargraves sees his team positioned well for a continued breakout year. Already winners at Yakima in a June late model race, the Magic Metals race team has a baseline to work from for the three-day Fall Classic weekend, he noted.

ASA Northwest Tour Championship Race Rained Out

September 20, 2008 Marysville, WA – The 2008 championship race for the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment was canceled due to a weather front that brought rain that would not let up. The season ended the same way it started with weather affecting both at Evergreen Speedway. Only difference is the temperature and the type of precipitation. It was snow in March and cool rain in September.

A large field of cars had gathered at the back gate early today with 24 cars on site for the ASANWT championship race on Evergreen Speedway’s .646-mile oval. The rain moved in overnight. It was predicted to let up and clear a bit. It stopped long enough for everyone to get excited about racing. The rain came back and the Speedway officials had no choice but to cancel. The event will not be made up with Evergreen’s docket full for the last two weeks of their season and the Fall Classic just two weeks away.

No one was more disappointed than Brad Stanwood the now 2008 ASANWT Champion. “I wanted to race. I really wanted a chance at a win and get an ECHO chain saw,” dejectedly Stanwood continued “I like this track and felt very confident that a win was possible. Don’t get me wrong I am as excited about the championship as anyone can be. To add my name to the long prestigious list of past champions of the 24-year old traveling series is fantastic and means so much.”

The now promoter of the ASANWT Scott Ellsworth said, “I am disappointed, but Evergreen made the right call. I am here at the track at 5:00pm and it is still raining. Oh well, that is racing in the Northwest. We will look forward to 2009 at Evergreen Speedway. It was great to know the series has so much support with the long line of haulers sitting in the rain wanting to race. All of the series’ top 10 in points were here and a few other surprises. There were many drivers from the local Super Stock division that were going to run our race after their season ending race was done. That would have given us our largest car count of the year and the 19 car average would have raised to over 22 for the season.”

Ellsworth went on to say, “As we close one season the next is already being formulated with race tracks agreeing to races and sponsor interest high. The 2009 season is already shaping up to be a record breaker. It was heart warming to discover how much support the series has. Everyone agrees that the great history should not die and it is of great importance that the name of ‘Northwest Tour’ stays. I am excited at the number of teams that are committing to the tour in 2009.”

Next up for most of the 2008 ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment teams is the Fall Classic at Yakima Speedway October 3,4 & 5. For Evergreen Speedway the season continues next weekend with the Super Stocks moving their great point’s battle a week for 75-laps on the .646-mile and the Bomber, Mini-Stock, Figure Eight, Stinger Eight and Crash Car Championships in one night on September 27.

ASANWT Season Finale At Evergreen Speedway

Marysville, WA (September 17, 2008): The 2008 American Speed Association Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment season concludes at the speedway where the 24-year old series got its start in 1985. Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington has hosted more Northwest Tour races than any other track in the region. It is fitting that season’s champion will crowned at the Super Speedway of the West.

Saturday September 20, 2008 the ASANWT will take to the longest track that the series races on bringing a strong season to a close. All that is needed for Brad Stanwood (Portland, OR) to win his first championship is to take the green flag for the start of the 125-lap main. Stanwood, making every race this season, will also be the rookie of the year. His name will stand along with many of the greats in the northwest that have won NWT championships.

Evergreen Speedway’s Dino Rossi for Governor Big Track Championship has the NASCAR Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks and the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment each with separate 125-lap mains to decide their respective champions. Fans will see the best late model racers from the Northwest challenge the big .667 mile oval.

The 2008 season, the second under the American Speed Association umbrella, has been a success with an average of 18 cars. There has been one repeat winner in the six previous stops for the traveling series. Gary Lewis of Bothell, WA won on the road course of Pacific Raceway in Kent, WA and the last time the series stopped at Evergreen in July. Lewis started his racing career at Evergreen and knows the track well.

Three other winners this season will be vying to repeat, Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, WA) winner at Meridian Speedway in Meridian, ID, Kelly Mann (Monroe, WA) at South Sound Speedway in Rochester, WA and Jason Fraser (Snohomish, WA) winner at the series last stop at Yakima Speedway, Yakima, WA.

Former champions of Evergreen’s NASCAR Super Stock Division Shane Harding (Langley, B.C. Canada) will make his second appearance with the ASANWT in 2008. His previous race was at Evergreen in July with a disappointing 16th falling out of the 150-lap main with mechanical trouble. Also having an early exit in July John Zaretzke (Monroe, WA) will be racing for the track championship and then the ASANWT win.

Nine of the top ten in the point standings are expected. In order of point standings Stanwood, Harold Racynski (Duvall, WA), Lewis, Allen Jewett (Longview, WA), Fraser, Bennett, Darin Stordahl (Marysville, WA), Mann and Ron Eaton (Lakewood, WA).

Being the fastest qualifier for the 2008 tour races has become highly coveted by the competitors. ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment presents the fastest with a new chain saw and a kit from Oregon Saw.

With 19-cars already expected and more to show on race day this could be the biggest showing of racers in 2008 for the ASANWT. In addition with a large field expected for the NASCAR Super Stock Championship race the night has become the place to be if you are a late model stock car racing aficionado.

Who: ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment and NASCAR Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks

What: Dino Rossi for Governor Big Track Championships

Where: Evergreen Speedway – Monroe, WA (.667-mile oval) 125-laps for each series’ championship

When: Saturday September 20, 2008. Back gates open at 12:00pm. Front gates open at 5:00pm. Alternating practices start at 2:30pm. Qualifying ay 5:30. The super Stock 125-lap championship main starts at 7:00pm followed by the NWT 125-lap championship main.

Early expected driver list:

Ron Eaton
Garrett Evans
Gary Lewis
Shane Harding
Brad Stanwood
Harold Racynski
Allen Jewett
Kelly Mann
Jason Fraser
Jay Sauls
Darin Stordahl
John Zaretzke
Travis Bennett
Doug Davidson
Chris Preston
Korbin Thomas
Rick Hager
Don Cralle
James Spiering

Rhodes Grabs Win En Route to ARCA West Championship

EAST WENATCHEE, WA (September 13, 2008) - Wes Rhodes captured his first win of the 2008 season on the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Championship in the Wenatchee 200 held at Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval. Erick Hargraves was second followed by Brent Harris, Garrett Evans and Jason Jefferson. Rhodes victory, his first in a late model touring series since 2004, earned the Knight Fire Protection race team the 2008 ARCA West LMCS season championship

Evans picked up the Mechanix Wear Pole Award with a time of 12.734-seconds at a speed of 70.677 mph. Rolling the dice for an eight-car invert allowed Todd Walters to lead the 18-car field to the green flag with Jefferson to the outside on the front row.

Rhodes just missed the pole by .002-seconds and after qualifying found an issue in their fuel system that had caused the team's motor to smoke in their qualfying laps. Draining the fuel cell and lines, Rhodes showed that their team would be fine as the 200 began.

Jefferson jumped to the lead with his Evans Car Credit Chevrolet exiting turn No. 2. Evans worked his way from eighth to fourth by lap 5 and brought Rhodes with him in the process. Evans moved his Leonard Evans Hyundai and Used Car Superstore Chevrolet to third place by lap 22.

Gary Lewis, who had started in the fourth postion, climbed to second by lap 25 and gave chase to Jefferson as the pair entered lapped traffic by lap 29.

Rhodes moved by Evans for third place at lap 36 and pressured Lewis for second by lap 47. Rhodes touched the rear bumper of Lewis's Nutter Racing Engines Chevrolet in turn No. 4 on lap 55. By lap 58 Rhodes had cleared Lewis for second and set his sights on Jefferson.

Jefferson and Rhodes raced nose to tail in lap traffic with Rhodes prevailing at lap 79 entering the backstretch. Jefferson fell back to second place and held the position. At lap 97 Christian Roeder's Brandt Law Firm Chevrolet spun in turn No. 4 collecting Lewis and bringing about the race's midway break.

Hargraves had moved from his 12th starting position to third place by the break and once racing resumed challenged Jefferson for second place in a spirited battle that lasted over ten laps of side-by-side action. Hargraves' shut the door on Jefferson on lap 110 for second place and turned up the power on his Magic Metals Pontiac in an effort to catch Rhodes in the closing laps.

By lap 170 Hargraves had moved his Pontiac to Rhodes' rear bumper and the pair raced for the win to the race's final caution of the night at lap 183. On the restart Rhodes jumped out to a three-car length lead and held the point for the final 17 laps en route to the victory.

#21 Jared Vorse - Port City Racecars Rookie of the Year (Photo: ME Wright)

Rhodes win cemented his hold on the championship with Jared Vorse, the series 2008 Port City Racecars Rookie of the Year, capturing second place overall. Hargraves finished third in the points standings with Todd Walters and Dan Rhodes rounding out the top-5.