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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 7, 2008 Bennett wins Northwest Tour race in Idaho Herald staff MERIDIAN, Idaho — The second time proved lucky for Travis Bennett. In just his second visit to Meridian Speedway, the Ellensburg, Wash., native won the inaugural Project Filter 150 on Saturday, July 6. Chris Ratteree of Nampa, Idaho, finished second in the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment race, and John Newhouse of Twin Falls, Idaho, was third. The heat of the day concerned Bennett who had only been on the tight quarter-mile oval once prior. “I am having trouble getting a handle on this track’, Bennett said prior to qualifying for the 150-lap main event. That showed during the ensuing time-ins. Local track Late Model points leader John Nesmith was the quickest and won the “Cutting Through the Competition’ award of a new ECHO chainsaw and maintenance kit from Oregon Saw. Bennett was third behind Dan Kayle of Filer, Idaho. Sixteen of the 19 cars in attendance qualified within four-tenths of a second of the fast time. Nesmith drew for a six car invert to start the main. That put Bennett in the fourth starting position. Polesitter Brad Stanwood of Portland, Ore., led the first 21 laps before Bennett was able to get past, bringing Nesmith and Ratteree along in the process. Nesmith challenged Bennett for the lead several times, racing side by side with him, before the top three hit lapped traffic. On lap 79 Ratteree bumped Nesmith, sending him into the turn 1 wall and ending his race. Ratteree stayed with Bennett the remaining laps but was unable find a way to get around the leader. “I had a clutch slipping and I am surprised it held up.” Bennett said after the race, which was his fourth ASA Northwest Tour victory. The ASA Northwest Tour 2008 rules package enabled late-model stock cars from the local Meridian Speedway division and Rocky Mountain Challenge Series (RMCS) the opportunity to be competitive. The finishing order reflected that, with a Northwest Tour regular winning followed by two RMCS regulars and Meridian Speedway racer 16-year old Travis Milburn of Eagle, Idaho, coming in fourth. Next up for the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment is the Washington 500 on Saturday, July 26 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. The Northwest Tour’s 125 lap feature on the five-eighths mile oval will be part of the largest day of late-model racing in the Northwest, with the NASCAR Camping World Series West and Evergreen’s own NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racers also taking part. Project Filter 150 results ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment Saturday July 5 at Meridian Speedway quarter-mile oval), Meridian, Idaho (Finish-start position-name-hometown-laps completed): 1. (4) Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, Wash.) 159; 2. (8) Chris Ratteree (Nampa, Idaho) 159; 3. (9) John Newhouse (Twin Falls, Idaho) 159; 4. (7) Travis Milburn (Eagle, Idaho) 159; 5. (12) Dennis Wurtz (Kuna, Idaho) 159; 6. (16) Quint Whitman (Meridian, Idaho) 159; 7. (15) Nick Gibson (Nampa, Idaho) 158; 8. (14) Dan Lowther (Boise, Idaho) 158; 9. (2) Brad Stanwood (Portland, Ore.) 158; 10. (10) Phil Dugan (Meridian, Idaho) 158; 11. (3) Tyler Monroe (Star, Idaho) 158; 12. (13) Justin Ellis (Reno, Nev.) 158; 13. (5) Dan Kayle (Filer, Idaho) 156; 14. (17) Rob Powers (Meridian, Idaho) 156; 15. (1) Charlie Ham Jr. (Kuna, Idaho) 153; 16. (11) Matt Wolfkeil (Meridian, Idaho) 125; 17. (6) John Nesmith (Meridian, Idaho) 78; 18. (19) Allan Jewett (Longview, Wash.) 14; 19. (18) Troy Evans (Kuna, Idaho) 14. Lead Changes (2): Stanwood (1-21) – Bennett (22-158) Yellow Flag Laps (16): 30-32; 51-52; 79-80; 147-155 Red Flags (1): 80 ‘Cutting Through the Competition’ fast time Award (New ECHO chainsaw with maintenance kit presented by Oregon Saw): John Nesmith (Meridian, ID) 0:13.759 2008 ASA Northwest Tour point standings (after 3 events): Pos Driver Name Total 1 Brad Stanwood 394 2 Travis Bennett 345 3 Pete Harding 335 4 Allan Jewett 330 5 Harold Racynzki 272 6 Ron Eaton 230 7 Gary Lewis 180 8 James Mugge 170 9 Jason Fraser 170 10 Chris Ratteree 170 11 Jeff Knight 165 12 John Newhouse 165 13 Darin Stordahl 160 14 Brad Tidrick 160 15 Travis Milburn 160 16 Darrell Midgley 155 17 Dennis Wurtz II 155 18 Kelly Tanner 150 19 Quint Whitman 150 20 Kelly Mann 146 21 Mark Sundberg 146 22 Nick Gibson 146 23 Rick Hager 142 24 Joe McNeil 142 25 Dan Lowther 142 26 Chad Bennett 138 27 Troy Eaton 134 28 Phil Dugan 134 29 Eric Richardson 130 30 Jason Fiorito 130 31 Tyler Monroe 130 32 Ken Sleveland 127 33 Justin Ellis 127 34 Korbin Thomas 124 35 Rick Suran 124 36 Dan Kayle 124 37 Kurt Meyer 121 38 Rob Powers 121 39 Dan Obrist 118 40 Joe Benedetti 118 41 Charlie Ham Jr. 118 42 Joe Decker 115 43 Chuck Pickens 115 44 Matt Wolfkeil 115 45 Richard Worley 112 46 John Nesmith 112 47 Shane Biles 109 48 Troy Evans 106

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