EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. — Jason Jefferson earned his first victory in the ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval in the WVSO Invitational 125 presented by Bay Cities Motorsports.
Wes Rhodes tried to chase down Jefferson, but instead settled for second place. Jared Vorse, Erick Hargraves and Josh Roberts rounded out the top-five.
The race was slowed by just two caution periods including a lap 1 incident that forced Mechanix Wear Pole Award winner Garrett Evans to the pits with right-front suspension damage.
Local hero Todd Walters led the field to the green flag with Roberts to his right. Each battled side-by-side around the tight quarter-mile oval and as lap 2 began made contact on the frontstretch. Both drivers checked up but the field bunched tightly behind them heading into turn No. 1. Roberts cleared Walters on the backstretch as the top six drivers ran door to door for the first eight circuits.
Action picked up on lap 8 as Jefferson pressured Roberts entering turn 3 and made a bold pass for the lead on the inside of the frontstretch. By lap 16 Rhodes and his teammate Vorse had cleared Roberts and settled in as they tried to chase down Jefferson.
Roberts held fourth place through lap 25, as Hargraves was able to finally clear for the position with 100 laps to go.
Over the final 100 laps of the race Jefferson moved through traffic without issue while Rhodes managed to stay close to the former NASCAR Northwest Series Rookie of the Year. As the race entered the final 30 laps, Rhodes stepped up the pressure and was able to close on Jefferson’s bumper in lapped traffic.
Once Jefferson cleared the slower cars he extended his lead over Rhodes to three car-lengths on Rhodes for the final 15 laps en route to his first ARCA West LMCS victory.
While Jefferson and Rhodes thrilled the Wenatchee Valley crowd with their close racing, Vorse and Hargraves also showed their talents in close competition.
Vorse built a sizable lead on Hargraves over the first 100 laps of the event but by lap 101 had a mirror full of the driver who had won the series’ last stop at Wenatchee Valley in July.
Hargraves looked to Vorse’s inside on several occasions exiting the corners but could never get past the door numbers and was forced to settle back in behind the 2008 rookie’s back bumper. Using patience in an effort to keep his tires cool, Hargraves made one final run at Vorse with 15 laps to go but spun exiting turn 2 and was forced to re-start at the tail end of the field.
The 2007 Port City Racecars Rookie of the Year managed to drive his Pontiac back up to within a second of Vorse but was unable to close the gap at the checkered flag.
Rhodes used his consistency and added to his series points lead with his runner-up finish as Vorse has just two events left in the season to move back atop the championship standings after leading for much of the season.
The WVSO 125 marks the sixth consecutive top-five finish for Rhodes this season including back-to-back second place finishes at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval.
The ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series returns to action on Aug. 31 at Yakima Speedway for its annual Labor Day Spectacular. Drivers expected to challenge local stars Mike Longton and Owen Riddle include Wes Rhodes, Jared Vorse, Gary Lewis, Jason Jefferson and former track champion Erick Hargraves.
For more information visit www.latemodelchallenge.com.
ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series Wenatchee Valley Super Oval Invitational 125 presented by Bay Cities Motorsports
Saturday, Aug. 16 at Wenatchee Valley Super Oval, East Wenatchee, Wash. (.250 mile paved oval)
Finish/Start/Car No./Name/Hometown/Manufacturer/Laps
1) (4) 97 Jason Jefferson, Naches, WA, Chevrolet 125 Running
2) (6) 6 Wes Rhodes, Yelm, WA, Chevrolet 125 Running
3) (5) 21 Jared Vorse, Olympia, WA, Chevrolet 125 Running
4) (7) 51 Erick Hargraves, Toppenish, WA, Chevrolet 125 Running
5) (2) 9 Josh Roberts, Ephrata, WA Chevrolet 124 Running
6) (1) 4 Todd Walters, Wenatchee, WA, Chevrolet 122 Running
7) (9) 7 Brad Tidrick Sr., Yakima, WA, Chevrolet 111 Running
8) (11) 04 Paul Buttkus, Kelowna, BC, Pontiac 106 Running
9) (8) 64 Garrett Evans, Ardenvoir, BC, Chevrolet 1 Accident
10) (3) 0 Brent Harris, Wenatchee, WA, Chevrolet 1 Mechanical
11) (10) 37 Marty Wason, Chelan, WA, Chevrolet 1 Mechanical
Lap Leaders: Roberts 0-8, Jefferson 9-125
Fast Time: Garrett Evans, Evans Car Credit Chevrolet, 12.652-sec., 71.135 mph
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