Washington 500 notes: Holmes sets new track record

MONROE, Wash. — It’s old and worn out, with no grip.

They said it was worse than last year, that the bump in turn 2 was higher and the hole in turn 4 was deeper.

And yet, for the second year in a row, a new track record was set by one of the drivers of the NASCAR Camping World Series West during their annual visit to Evergreen Speedway.

Current series leader Eric Holmes of Escalon, Calif., won the pole with a lap of 23.191 seconds — 100.280 mph — while qualifying for the Toyota/Concept Race Cars &Parts 150 on Saturday.

Holmes’ fast lap eclipsed the mark of 23.328 set by Mike Duncan at the 2007 West series race at Evergreen Speedway.

The West series was at Monroe to take part in the Washington 500, four separate races totaling 500 laps. Also racing on Saturday were the American Speed Association Northwest Tour, and Evergreen’s own Whelen All-American Series Super Stocks and Bombers.

In fact, the track record was broken more than once during the West series qualifying period, and by a pair of driver with local connections.

The qualifying runs of Jeff Jefferson of Naches, Wash., and Jeff Barkshire of Auburn, Wash., were also better than the previous best lap at Evergreen.

Jefferson recorded a circuit of 23.257 (99.996) and Barkshire turned a lap of 23.295 (99.833 mph) — holding the pole for more than half the qualifying period.

David Mayhew (23.359, 99.559) of Atascadero, Calif., qualified fourth and Jason Bowles (23.399, 99.389) of Ontario, Calif., rounded out the top five.

To pit or not to pit: As they do for many races on the schedule, the Camping World Series West had a competition yellow scheduled for the midway point of its race.

NASCAR instituted this policy to save teams the money it would cost for extra crewmembers needed for pit stops.

In the West pit area, there were two schools of thought on the competition yellows.

The larger teams, with the financial backing to support crew expenses and training, expressed a desire to have pit stops.

“It takes away the strategy,” said Jeff Jefferson, one of two drivers for MJ2 Motorsports out of Aurora, Ore.

Going the opposite direction were smaller teams, like Jeff Barkshire’s family-owned operation. Barkshire said his crew was “patchwork” and that he had lost positions from slow pit stops in races where the competition yellow period was not used.

As both the car owner and driver, Jim Inglebright of Vacaville, Calif., saw the merits of both sides of the argument.

“As a car owner, saving money, I’m all for it,” Inglebright said. “As a driver, I would rather see pit stops … with a good stop you can make up time.”

Double-duty drivers: Several drivers were scheduled to pull double duty on Saturday.

Jason Fraser was set to go 300 laps on Saturday. He won the pole — and the ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment chainsaw — for the 150-lap ASA Northwest Tour race, and he was going to race an equal distance in the Super Stock event.

Defending track and Washington state NASCAR champion John Zaretzke was also set to run both the Northwest Tour and Super Stock races, as were Canadians Tom Berrow and Chris Preston.

Kelly Mann planned on racing in the Bomber and Northwest Tour races, and Steve Ptacek was set to race in the Bomber and Super Stock events.

Slight rain delay: An early-afternoon rain shower, lasting just a few minutes, put a 15-minute dent in the day’s schedule.

By the time the Northwest Tour’s 150-lap race kicked off, those 15 minutes had grown to half an hour.

The final checkered flag, ending the Camping World Series West event and the evening’s racing program, flew at 11:45 p.m.

Johnson races: Evergreen Speedway promoter Lex Johnson returned to action at the Monroe speedway, running a car in the ASA Northwest Tour race.

Prior to becoming the promoter earlier this year, Johnson had raced at the track on and off for the past 12 years. Upon taking over as promoter, Johnson ruled out competing in the weekly racing series at Evergreen, but said he may try to compete in a Tour race.

Johnson worked feverishly to get ready for Saturday’s Tour race — while at the same time getting ready to host the Washington 500 — and didn’t arrive at the speedway with his racecar until after qualifying.

He started from the rear of the field, but didn’t get to see the race through to the end.

Contact with another car sent Johnson into the wall in turn 1 on lap 67 of the Northwest Tour race.

Several laps later he was black-flagged as pieces of his car were coming off, potentially endangering the other drivers.

Anniversary time: Saturday’s event was significant for more than one reason.

It was the 50th visit to Evergreen Speedway by the NASCAR Camping World Series West. The first race, on April 19, 1964 was won by Dick Bown. Since then 29 different drivers have won West races at the Monroe speedway.

Saturday’s ASA Northwest Tour race, the Evergreen State Fair 150, had a competition yellow scheduled for lap 100, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the fair.