YAKIMA, Wash. — At last.
After four years of trying, Jason Fraser won his first ever American Speed Association Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment main on Saturday, Aug. 30 at Yakima Speedway.
Gary Lewis made it a 1-2 finish for racers from Snohomish, Wash. Long-time tour driver Rick Suran of Estacada, Ore., also had a bid day, racing to a career-best third place finish.
Asked before the race how many second-place finishes he had at Yakima Speedway, Fraser said:“I have lost count but tonight will be the night I win.”
Eighteen of the Northwest’s best touring racers took the green on the half-mile oval for the NAPA of Yakima &Selah 125. Fraser started third after fast qualifier Lewis drew for a six car invert.
Pole sitter Travis Bennett of Ellensburg, Wash., led the first 34 laps, giving way to Shelby Thompson of Spokane, Wash., who took the lead from the outside after going four-wide entering turn 1.
Thompson held the lead until lap 83 when tire problems gave Fraser an opening. Fraser led the remainder of the 125-lap main en route to his first tour victory.
Lewis, who battled handling issues all night, struggled to the finish in second place. In four Norhtwest Tour starts this season, Lewis has two wins and one second. Overall in 2008 Lewis has six wins and two seconds in nine starts around the Northwest.
“I knew it would come but when has been so close. I can not thank my crew enough for giving me such a great car,” Fraser said. “When you beat Gary Lewis you know it is special night.”
Next up for the American Speed Association Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment will be the season championship race on Saturday Sept. 20 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., The Northwest Tour will join the Speedway Chevrolet Super Stocks on the five-eighths mile oval for Evergreen’s Big Track Championship.
Saturday, Aug. 30 at Yakima Speedway Yakima, Wash.
(.500-mile oval)
Finish(Started)/Name(Home)Laps Completed:
1(3) Jason Fraser (Snohomish, Wash.) 127
2(6) Gary Lewis (Snohomish, Wash.) 127
3(7) Rick Suran (Estacada, Ore.) 127
4(9) Chris Hart (Yakima, Wash.) 127
5(4) Shelby Thompson (Spokane, Wash.) 127
6(5) B.J. Tidrick (Yakima, Wash.) 127
7(8) Korbin Thomas (Williams Lake B.C.) 127
8(18) Darin Stordahl (Marysville, Wash.) 126
9(12) Christopher Kalsch (Hillsboro, Ore.) 126
10(14) Harold Racynski (Duvall, Wash.) 126
11(13) Brad Stanwood (Portland, Ore.) 126
12(16) Allan Jewett (Longview, Wash.) 117
13(1) Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, Wash. 115
14(2) Pete Harding (Surrey, B.C.) 81
15(11) Dan Obrist (Portland, Ore.) 40
16(15) Chris Walters (E. Wenatchee, Wash.) 22
17(17) Mike Knutson (Quincy, Wash.) 2
18(18) Jared Vorse (Olympia, Wash.) 0
Race Statistics
‘Cutting Through the Competition’ Fast Time: Gary Lewis (Snohomish, Wash.) presented with a new ECHO Chain Saw
Yellow Flag Laps (17-laps)
Time of Race: (:55:31.962)
Margin of Victory: (:0:0.667)
Weather at Race Time: (Temperature 50 Degrees / Wind Gusting 27mph)
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