Evergreen Speedway Super Speedway of the West! – Northwest's Destination for Motorsports!
The Tri-Track Super Late Model Series made their second appearance at Evergreen Speedway last Saturday night with the running of the Central Welding Supply 125 on the 3/8’s mile oval. A starting field of 16 cars took to the track, with Tumwater WA second generation driver Parker Stephens on the pole with Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Model driver Shane Sawin lined up outside Stephens. Fast time qualifier Shane Harding drew a 5 car invert earlier in the day.
At the drop of the green flag, Stephens maintained a 2-3 car length lead over Rookie of the Year contender Luke Selliken. The Portland OR based driver was fresh off his first career victory on the 3/8’s the last time the division ran on the track.
Stephens was able to hold off both Selliken and veteran Garett Evans through cautions on lap 39 and 46 using the bottom lane to get the grip he needed. On lap 56, Selliken took over the lead until a caution on lap 73 involving former Evergreen Super Late Model Champions Shane Harding and John Zaretzke in turn 3 bunched up the field for the ensuing restart. Selliken, as he has been doing all season long nailed the restart with Evans in second and Stephens in third.
Garrett Evans used a nice move going into turn 2 on lap 90 to take the lead until the caution flag flew once again on lap 96. Two laps later, Evans was forced into the pits with a cut left rear tire handing the lead back to the 3 car of Selliken. With the laps winding down, it appeared as if it was Sellikens race to lose. Last season’s division champion Mike Holden effectively worked his way into the top 3 with Andy Sole and Doni Wanat behind Holden.
Contact between leader Selliken and Stephens coming into turn 4 caused Selliken to spin, allowing Stephens to slip by and retake the lead with 4 laps to go. Tri-Track Super Late Model rules dictate that the race must finish under 5 consecutive laps of green flag racing, so off to overtime we go!
Stephens withstood a furious charge by Holden who tried to make a move on the outside on the white flag lap, but Stephens did a great job holding his line and took the checkered flag. Holden hung on for 2nd and Andy Sole finished 3rd. Finishing 4th on the night was Doni Wanat, who is in an interesting position with both the Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Model division and the Tri-Track Super Late Model Series. Wanat, who is driving both series in 2015 finds himself in 2nd place in each one. Doni is only 5 points back of Garrett Evans in the TTSLMS and coming into Saturdays race 20 points behind defending champion Mike Holden.
Parker Stephens commented after the race “ We fought a tight car most of the night and Holden made it tough there at the end but he raced me clean and I was able to hold the bottom groove (in the closing laps) to get the win.” Stephens is making occasional races at Evergreen this season, along with events at South Sound Speedway and the SRL Southwest Tour for NTS Motorsports.
The next event scheduled for the TTSLMS is July 31st at Stateline Speedway for the Idaho 200.
In other racing action Saturday at the Super Speedway of the West, Trenton Moriarty continues his dream season in the Foster Press Mini Stock division, keeping his undefeated streak intact with a 25 lap victory over Scott Burby and Devin Kessler. Moriarty set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 18.874. The race was stopped midway due to a vicious hit into the turn 4 wall by Brad Thomas. Thomas was understandably shaken up but walked to the ambulance under his own power. Moriarty nailed the restart and off to the checkered flag he went. Look for Trenton to get his first shot in a Super Late Model coming up soon!
The Monroe Grocery Outlet Super Stock Figure 8’s ran a main event typical of what they have been running all season long. An outstanding field of 14 cars qualified, with 12 starting the main. Fast time qualifier and season points leader Quenton Borreson took his rebuilt Dave Brandnenberg owned car from the back to the front for yet another win, with Steve Peters driving is V8 car to a 2nd place finish and Tony Hill piloted his #80 car to 3rd.
Chad Fitzpatrick continued his quest for the Championship in the Les Schwab Street Stock division with his 3rd main event win in 2015. Steve Woods placed second and Steve Ptacek finished 3rd. Fitzpatrick came into the event with a slim 2 point lead over defending champion Roger Drake, and helped his cause out immensely with Drake’s 5th place finish. Chad’s father Shawn Fitzpatrick mentioned that the time is getting closer and closer to move Chad up to a Super Late Model. The teams now have a very welcomed 2 weeks off until they return to the 5/8’s oval on August 2nd as part of day 2 of the King of the Wing Weekend August 1st and 2nd.
The Interstate Battery Hornets put 19 cars to the track for their road course 25 lap main event. Cody Hoopes in the 10X PMS Power car takes the win over season points leader Mike Ridley with Cullen Hubbard finishing 3rd.
Coming up this weekend is Chamber of Commerce Night Presented by Foster Press. Join a fun and action packed night of business networking and racing at the Whelen NASCAR Night & Foster Press Chamber Night at the Races. The Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models return to the 3/8’s, along with the Foster Press Mayors Cup Race of City Officials, Outlaw Figure 8 Racing, Foster Press NASCAR Mini Stocks, Buzz Inn Stinger 8s, and the Northwest Pro 4 Trucks. Puget Sound area Chamber of Commerce member can receive 2 complimentary tickets by using this link onwww.evergreenspeedway.com to RSVP: http://www.evergreenspeedway.com/schedule-2/chambernight/.
Tickets for this event are available at www.evergreenspeedway.com, or call the Speedway Office at 360-805-6100. Make sure and check out Evergreen Speedway on social media. Like us on Facebook and use the Twitter handle #WAstateNASCAR to get the latest info on all that is happening at Evergreen. See you at the races!