Bennett wins Northwest Tour race in Idaho

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.

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

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