ASA NW Late Model Tour heading to Oregon

From ASA Northwest Late Model Tour (Aug. 18, 2009)

MARYSVILLE, Wash. — The iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour is ready for its only trip to Oregon.

The Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore., is bringing the Northwest’s only Super Late Model traveling series to town on Saturday Night August 22. The super fast 3/8-mile paved oval will play host to the best and fastest late model stock car drivers in the northwest.

A large field of drivers has pre-registered for the ‘K-DOCK Radio 125. The race is shaping up to pit the best series regular’s vs. North State Challenge Series and Local Big 5 Late Model racers. This event is the largest super late model race in the area in this season.

The points battle for the ASA NWLMT championship has three drivers headed south with a 19-point separation. The Northwest’s hottest driver Gary Lewis from Snohomish, WA currently leads the series by 5-points over E. Wenatchee, WA veteran Brent Harris. Kelly Mann of Monroe, WA is third 19-points in arrears.

Lewis has had a remarkable 4 year run in the northwest. Most recently the last 45 days are unmatchable. It started with a win at he Montana 200 (3 in a row) followed by a win of the Idaho 200 (3 in a row) and this past weekend the ARCA West MAC Series Can-Am 150 at Montana Raceway in Kalispell, MT. The Lewis team is ready for their final long journey of the season. “We’ve traveled a lot of miles this season and Roseburg is our final long distance event. I want to keep the streak going. The team is tired but dedicated to winning the ASA championship,” said a weary Lewis.

Both Harris and Mann have never made the trip to beautiful Southern Oregon. They each have a lot of experience on a 3/8-mile ovals and in a few laps of practice will have the tricky oval at DCS figured out. “With three races to go for the 2009 championship I do not have the luxury of having a bad race,” said a well rested Harris. “We took the last month off of racing in the special local events to get ready for the final three tour races.” Mann also sat out for the last month and has been slowly heading to the top of the points chart for the first ever iRacing.com ASA NWLMT championship.

Local driver that is in the running for the ASA NWLMT Port City Racecars ‘Rookie Challenge’ and in the top 10 in points is Alan Cress (Albany, OR). “I am really excited to run at my home track. We have traveled the furthest distance to all the ASA NWLMT races this season. DCS is a track that I have had success at.”

The new ASA Northwest Late Model Tour was formed during this past off season when the former Late Model Challenge Series and the Northwest Tour merged to form the Northwest’s only Super Late Model Touring Series.

Many of the top local Late Model racers are pre-entered including Dale Roth of Roseburg, OR who leads the Big 5 Late Model division at DCS. Chris Celorie is second in the Big 5 he is from Damascus, OR. Other locals entered are Wade Koens (Roseburg, OR), Paul Blake (Hillsboro, OR), Robert Hirschbock (Klamath Falls, OR) and Jeff Smith (West Linn, OR).

Many are making the trek north from California. Two former champions of the North State Challenge Series are entered. Mike Doss (Upper Lake, CA) and Howard Ford (Crescent City, CA) along with slew of others.

Three states and four series will be represented. The Big 5 series racers will have a race within the K-DOCK Radio 125. They will be running for their own points.

Who: iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour plus traveling series Outlaw Compacts/Mini Stock Invitational, Super Street Stocks, Hornets, and Lady/Jr Stingers.

What: K-DOCK Radio 125 (125-laps 3/8-mile oval) plus local classes

Where: Douglas County Speedway – Roseburg, OR at the Douglas County Fairgrounds

When: Saturday August 22, 2009 – Hot laps begin at 2:00pm with opening ceremonies scheduled for 6:30pm followed by dashes, heats last chance ASA NWLMT main if needed and mains culminating with the ASA NWLMT 125.

Registered drivers for the K-DOCK Radio 125 iRacing.com ASA Northwest Late Model Tour at Douglas County Speedway on Saturday August 22:

Brent Harris – E. Wenatchee, WA

Kelly Mann – Monroe, WA

Kyle Pope – Roseburg, OR

Jay Sauls – Puyallup, WA

Ricki Mackin – Eugene, OR

Chris Celorie – Damascus, OR

Martin Stanwood – Portland, OR

Amanda MacDonald* – Ephrata, WA

Brad Stanwood – Portland, OR

Doug Turner – Eugene, OR

Mike Doss – Upper Lake, CA