By John Sleeper
Herald Writer
Chris Hart hopes the way to slow down Kevin Hamlin is the ol’ home field advantage.
Hamlin, of Snohomish and the defending Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series champion, has won three of the season’s four races, including the last two. He also has 11 straight top-five finishes dating back to last season.
So Hart, in second place in the points standings behind Hamlin, has to hope that the Frank’s Chevrolet at his home Yakima Speedway has some good fortune to it Saturday.
“I don’t know what (Hamlin’s crew) do to that thing, but it’s staying under him all night long,” said Hart, who finished second to Hamlin in the last two races. “We have to keep working hard on our own car and get the thing to stay under us a few more laps and we should be able to run with him.”
Hart is rebounding from a disappointing 2001 season in which he finished out of the top five in the points standings for the first time in his career. Part of the reason is a return to an older, more proven car, he said.
For his part, Hamlin simply wants to continue the momentum that’s carried him for the last two seasons.
“We have a few more races to go, but we’re going to try and keep it up and see what we can do with it,” he said. “We have to take it one race at a time and enjoy it. We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Hamlin leads the series with 705 points, followed by Hart (635), Pete Harding (600) and Troy Conrad (562).
Evergreen Speedway: It will be Ladies Night at the Monroe track Saturday night, part of a celebration of Craftsman’s 75th anniversary. Women who bring a coupon from the Everett Mall Sears store or various Monroe merchants will be admitted for half price.
Super stocks, mini stocks, bombers, super figure eights and extreme-contact figure eights will fill Saturday night’s card.
John Bender leads the super stocks points race at 232, followed by John Zaretzke (224), Tom Moriarity (218) and Robb Touchette (208).
Bobby DeYoung (270) leads the mini stocks, followed by Scott LaCross (248) and Chuck Richard (248).
Dave Lund leads the bomber class at 383 points, followed by Frank Cowgill (340).
In the super figure eights, Steve Cox leads with 296, followed by Malcom Lindberg (177). Merlin Cook leads the extreme-contact figure eights at 306, followed by Jody Brooks (234).
Winston West: Austin Cameron hopes to add to his sizable points lead going into Saturday’s Kansas Speedway.com 150 Winston West race. Cameron’s 174 points outdistances runnerup Eric Norris’ 99 going into the fourth race of the season.
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