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ASA NORTHWEST TOUR
MID-SEASON AT YAKIMA SPEEDWAY
Jul 4, 2007 Yakima,
WA – As the mid-season
approaches on Saturday night July 7 at Yakima Speedway the ASA Aero
Exhaust Northwest Tour will have the largest gathering of cars this
season. Over twenty-cars will be on hand to help take this new series back
to its old prominence. Formerly known as the NASCAR Northwest Tour for
22-years the ASANWT has definitely held its own in the continuation of
this stalwart of northwest racing.
The car counts may have been a little lower than most had expected for the
first 3-races in 2007. Contrary to that, the racing has been great with no
repeat winner. The new edition of the Northwest Tour did not get a start
until well into the year. Many have been sitting back and waiting to see
what direction the tour would go. Ron Bennett (Tour Director) and his crew
have worked hard to make sure the tour survives and succeeds. Rules were
left intact with a few minor tweaks. These tweaks were taken to help the
teams save money. The cost of racing the Northwest Tour had skyrocketed.
When a group got together to resurrect the Tour all said the costs needed
to be lowered. ASA (American Speed Association) also played a major part
in keeping the tradition alive when NASCAR stepped back from the Northwest
Tour at the end of the 2006 season.
This history making event at Yakima Speedway, Yakima, Washington on July
7, 2007 will bring out the most cars this season and will be a turning
point in the continued success of the Northwest Tour. The 125-laps on the
fabled .500-mile oval will not only have the great car count but among
them will be five former champions. Garrett Evans (E, Wenatchee, WA) a
four time champ, Ron Eaton (Spanaway, WA) a three timer, Gary Lewis
(Bothell, WA) twice, one each for Kelly Tanner (Auburn, WA) and Pete
Harding (Surrey, B.C.).
Season point leader, young Jay Sauls (Puyallup, WA) will lead a contingent
of ASANWT regulars, including Tour veterans BJ Tidrick, Mike Longton and
Travis Bennett who call Yakima Speedway their home track. Brandon Riehl
(Boring, OR) winner of the series third race held at Stateline, Idaho and
Lewis winner of the second event held at Yakima Speedway are among those
that will be tested by the expected heat and the new tour tire.
Goodyear the long time supplier of racing tires in the Northwest has had
some significant production problems forcing many associations and tracks
to switch mid-season. The ASANWT is also forced to make a change. The
American Racer tire has been chosen by ASANWT officials to be the
replacement for the remainder of 2007. The tire has been used this season
by the SRL (former NASCAR Southwest Tour) with great success with many
saying it is the best they have ever raced on.
Add in the expected warm temperatures with the new tire and all
participating teams have their work cut out for them. The only
familiarities will be the cars and the track. Yakima has hosted the 2nd
most tour races in the previous 22-years.
Who: ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour, Foreign Stock Car Racing
Association, Super Stocks and H&H Hobby Stocks
What: The ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour 125 plus local division’s events
Where: Yakima Speedway, Yakima, WA (.500-mile oval)
When: Saturday July 7, 2007 with racing at 7:00pm (There will be a special
10:00am practice session for the ASANWT cars only, with a regular backgate
opening of 12:00pm for the other divisions)
Expected ASANWT Drivers: Jay Sauls (Puyallup, WA), Brandon Riehl (Boring,
OR) Jeff Barkshire (Auburn, WA), Ron Eaton (Spanaway, WA), Garrett Evans
(E. Wenatchee, WA), BJ Tidrick (Yakima, WA), Travis Bennett (Ellensburg,
WA), Mike Longton (Moxee, WA), Kelly Tanner (Auburn, WA), Matt Hall
(Spokane, WA), Gary Lewis (Bothell, WA), Pete Harding (Surrey, B.C.), Rick
Suran (Estacada, OR), Kevin Moland (Spokane, WA), Eric Richardson
(Bakersfield, CA), Jeff and Keith Marson (Portland, OR), Lon Werremeyer
(Yakima, WA), Jason Fraser (Snohomish, WA), Dan Obrist (Portland, OR), Jim
McVey (Seattle, WA) plus others.
Scott Ellsworth
ASANWT PR
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