James Mugge, Pete Harding, Jeff Knight
Images Courtesy Jim Hausske Photography

PETE HARDING WINS ASANWT BURROWS TRACTOR 125 AT YAKIMA SPEEDWAY

Yakima, WA (May 24. 2008): Pete Harding of Surrey, B.C. won the first, ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment, race of the season. Harding outclassed the field in the Yakima Grinding/Federated Auto Parts/Wix Filters 125 presented by Burrows Tractor at Yakima Speedway. Two rookies finished a career best with James Mugge from Everett, WA second and Jeff Knight of Monroe, WA third.

Finally pleasant weather graced the ASANWT series. What was scheduled to be the third race of the season the race ended up being the first of 2008. Foul weather and economic conditions forced cancellation of the first two events.

Harding started the race day with a fast time of :19.180 on the .500-mile oval. It earned him the ‘Cutting Through the Competition’ quick time award. ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment is awarding the fastest qualifier with a new ECHO chain saw. After the presentation of the saw Harding told everyone, “I was about ready to borrow a saw. We had a tree go down in the backyard. Now I have my own saw.”

Drawing the number four for the starting invert, Harding did not take long to reach the front of the 125-lap main. On each of the four restarts after cautions, Harding easily pulled away from the field. Upon exiting his car in victory lane a smiling Harding stated, “This is a relief to get back to winning races. We were here (Yakima Speedway) for the Apple Cup and we learned a few things that we tried tonight.” Harding missed the last year of racing as he successfully battled prostrate cancer said “All men need to get a PSA test so they can discover it early.”

Besides Harding’s triumph two other drivers had a career finish as late model stock car drivers. Mugge a former Bomber driver at Evergreen Speedway turned to racing a late model this season. In his first attempt at an ASANWT event he qualified eighth. Running mid pack during the first 100-laps, Mugge started his run to the front. By lap 120 he had made it to second. Even though he was closing on winner Harding, there were not enough laps remaining. During the post race interview a subdued Mugge thanked his team and sponsors for all they have done.

It was just the opposite in the post race interview for third place finisher Jeff Knight. “I have never received a trophy; this is my fist as a late model driver.” In only his second year racing full time Knight went on to say, “I want to thank everyone. My dad would take me to Evergreen Speedway’s 500’s and look what has happened.”

Knight’s first ever podium finish has a side bar. The head pastor of the ‘Rock of Ages’ church in Monroe, WA said, “They will sure have something to talk about at church tomorrow.” The church was a dream of his mom and dad before their untimely death in an airliner crash. Jeff went on to fulfill their dream and now is living his dream.

Next up for the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment will be the $35,000.00 race on the road course of Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA on Friday and Saturday June 6 & 7. The $5,000.00 to win and $800.00 to start the 40-lap ‘BlueWater Wireless’ Road Course Challenge has drawn a lot of interest including some drivers that were somewhat retired. On Friday June 6 the gates will open at 10:00am with practice beginning at 1:00pm ending at 7:00pm. Saturday June 7 kicks off with gates opening at 8:00am; practice from 9:00am until 11:45am. Qualifying begins at 12:15 and the main event scheduled for a 2:00pm start. Joining the late model stock cars of the ASANWT will be the Northwest Legend Series.

Official Finish:

Yakima Speedway, Yakima, WA May 24, 2008 (.500-mile Oval)

ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment

Yakima Grinding/Federated Auto Parts/Wix Filters 125 presented by Burrows Tractor

ECHO ‘Cutting Through the Competition’ Fast Time: Pete Harding (Surrey, B.C.) :19.180

125-Lap Main:

Harding; James Mugge (Everett, WA); Jeff Knight (Monroe, WA); Darin Stordahl (Marysville, WA); Darrell Midgley (Sidney, B.C.); Brad Stanwood (Portland, OR); Kelly Mann (Monroe, WA); Rick Hager (Mt Lake Terrace, WA); Chad Bennett (Ellensburg, WA); Harold Racynski (Duvall, WA); Eric Richardson (Bakersfield, CA); Ron Eaton (Lakewood, WA); Korbin Thomas (Williams Lake, B.C.); Allan Jewett (Longview, WA); Dan Obrist (Portland, OR); Joey Decker (Duvall, WA)