Tue., June 9, 2009

Longton Heads To Stateline Speedway Holding Two Straight ASA Tour Wins

(The Spokesman-Review)

The chase for the first ever ASA NWLMT championship is a battle by the top 10. Only 90-points separate first through tenth. Current point leader Brent Harris (E. Wenatchee, WA) has a slim 6-point edge on Gary Lewis.

Courtesy: Scott Ellsworth, ASA NWLMT Media Relations

Marysville, WA (June 9, 2009): The iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour makes its only trip to Idaho in 2009 this Saturday June 13. Stateline Stadium Speedway in Post Falls, ID hosts the tour. The high banked .250-mile oval has the best northwest super late model stock car racers geared up for the trek. The 125-lap feature will be the mid-season race for the premier traveling series.

The last two stops for the tour have been successful for Mike Longton (Moxee, WA) with back to back wins. Longton has moved to within 18-points for the championship. Erick Hargraves (Toppenish, WA) is fifth in the running just 45-points out.

Of the top five in the points chase only one has had his way with the high speed oval of Stateline Stadium Speedway. Lewis has won back to back Idaho 200’s. Lewis would like to make his third trip to the Inland Northwest as productive as the last two.

Before any of the current field of regulars on the tour can look for a victory they are going to have to deal with the best locally based drivers. Kevin Richards (Newman Lake, WA) has had many a win at Stateline. Another driver that has experience on the testy race surface is Shelby Thompson (Spokane, WA).

When you mention Stateline success stories Dave Garber’s (Spokane, WA) name is the first to be brought up. Garber will be fresh off a win in the INSSA series at Stateline a few weeks ago.

Another large group of racers are registering for the mid-season race. The series has had the fans at its first four stops buzzing about the new series and its double file commit cone restarts. Fans do not dare to leave early because a late race caution could change the outcome in a hurry. Besides the double file restarts the new ‘Thunder in the Northwest’ the ASA NWLMT has instituted a free pass for the car that is the first a lap down. This keeps drivers fighting to get the pass.

In addition to the iRacing.com ASA Northwest Late Model Tour there will be two local divisions on the docket. The Late Model 4’s and Early Stocks will show their stuff to the large fan base following the tour.

Racing gets underway at Stateline Stadium Speedway on June 13 at 7:00pm. For more information and tickets call 208-773-5019. This will be the best ticket value night at the races of the season.

Posted June 9, 2009, 6:30 a.m.