MONROE — The more things change, the more they sometimes stay the same.
Weekly racing returns to Evergreen Speedway today, with a new track promoter, some different rules, a few new drivers and some veteran racers competing in new divisions.
But from the grandstands it will look like the same fender-to-fender, fast-paced racing fans have come to know and love at the Monroe speedway for the past 54 years — just more of it.
“It’s about fun and showing fans what short-track racing is all about,” speedway manager Terry Buell said. “The last 40 laps at Daytona were the best part of that race — well, we do that every weekend.”
The weekly racing season kicks off with all three divisions of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series — the top-tier super stocks, the bombers and the mini-stocks — and the super figure eight and stinger eight divisions.
Gates open at 5 p.m., the same time qualifying starts, followed by a drivers’ autograph session at 6:15 p.m. and the first heat races at 7 p.m.
Three-time and reigning super-stock champion John Zaretzke will open his title defense backed by a new team, Coleman Motorsports, and faced with some different competition, including former bomber division standouts Jill Lang, James Mugge and Steve Ptacek, and new drivers including Daniel Moore, who raced in the ARCA West truck series last year.
As the only NASCAR Home Track in Washington, Evergreen Speedway’s super stock drivers will compete for state and national titles in addition to earning the track championship.
For the second year in a row, late model drivers from NASCAR Home Tracks throughout the country will be ranked based on a common point system. Zaretzke won the inaugural state title and Evergreen will crown the second state champion on Sept. 13.
One driver Zaretzke won’t have to face this season is Lex Johnson, who became Evergreen’s new promoter when he purchased International Productions, Inc., from Mickey Beadle in early March. IPI, which was started in 1978 by Beadles’ father and one of his uncles, holds the contract for motorsports operations at the Snohomish-County owned track.
One change put in effect before the changeover of promoters was the addition of two 10-lap heat races for the super stock division at the beginning of the program — promptly at 7 p.m. — followed by a 40-lap main later on.
“Fans are going to get to see our feature series twice … that’s good for the drivers and their sponsors, too,” Buell said.
Both heats and mains count for season points.
Buell also said another change fans can expect to see this season is a more structured program of events. He emphasized the need to keep things moving on race nights.
“We’re going to put races in front of the fans left and right,” Buell said. “We’re going to create a more dramatic show. Race more, quicker, and that’s a good thing.”
Zaretzke won’t be the only champion defending a title this season. 2007 bomber division winner Lane Sundholm, Chuck Richard from the mini-stocks and John Carlson from the super figure eight division also will attempt to repeat as season points leaders.
Evergreen’s weekly racing season runs from April to September, with the midseason championships on June 28, and the big-track and short-track championships set for Sept. 20 and Sept. 27, respectively.
Two late-model touring series also will compete at the speedway this season.
NASCAR’s Camping World Series West will compete in a 200-lap race as part of the Washington 500 on July 26.
The ASA Northwest Tour, which saw its season opener at Evergreen rained out on March 29, will also take part in the Washington 500 with a 125-lap race. The Northwest Tour returns to Monroe for its season championship on Sept. 20.
Other highlights on the racing schedule include the Stinger 8 World Championship on Aug. 2, Figure Eight Nationals on Aug. 23 and the state drifting championship on Sept. 1.
Fan favorites, including demolition derbies, fireworks, monster trucks and boat races are sprinkled throughout the schedule as well.
For Scott Whitmore’s blog, Trackside, and national and local auto racing news, results and standings, visit www.heraldnet.com/autoracing.
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