Richards Returns To Racing As Rookie

Motor sports

A year ago, Kevin Richards wore the hat of a NASCAR Northwest Tour crew chief of the defending series champion.

Then, his goal was to put his technical expertise to work on the right car.

A year later, Richards wears a different hat, the helmet of the NWT’s leading rookie driver.

Richards will put his lead in the rookie standings on the line Saturday night at Portland Speedway in the second race of the season.

So how does a guy go from helping make horsepower to using it?

Richards was the longtime mechanical brains behind Spokane’s Kirk Rogers and helped wrench Rogers to the 1994 Northwest Tour championship.

When Rogers opted for an ill-fated venture into the midwest-based American Speed Association, Richards found himself on the outside - but not for long.

“Gene Monaco asked me if I’d go to work for him working on the car,” Richards said.

Monaco, Richards’ sponsor in the Monaco Enterprises Monte Carlo, was going to drive, but had an accident during testing.

“After that he just didn’t seem like he enjoyed it,” Richards said of Monaco.

Richards, who last drove dirt cars in the late 1970s, returned to the driver’s seat after a 10-year layoff in last July’s Montana 200 at Kalispell’s Raceway Park.

“On the way home, Gene asked me if I’d like to drive the Tour car in the next race at Monroe,” Richards said. “The rest is history.”

Richards first venture in the the Northwest Tour came in the series longest race, the Northwest 250. Richards responded with a top-10 finish in his first outing.

“I have to admit, I was scared to death,” Richards said.

Richards ran four series races in 1995, but was most impressive in Phoenix for the Southwest Tour Featherlight 300, at which he finished fifth.

With limited Tour duty last year, Richards qualifies to run for the rookie-of-the-Year award which sends its winner on an all-expense paid trip to next year’s Daytona 500.

The team has two goals for 1996.

“We’re going for the rookie title, but we’re also after the points championship, too,” said car owner Monaco.

Pit stops

Spokane Raceway Park will be into the second week of its schedule with a drag and stock car doubleheader Sunday. Gates open at 10 a.m. with racing at 1:30. . .. Stateline Speedway is still a week away from its first racing activity, when it presents a Racer’s Jamboree on April 21. … Motocross racing kicks off Sunday at the Fossil Bowl in Clarkia, Idaho. That track is celebrating its 25th season of racing… . Kevin Richards will not be the lone Spokane driver running in Saturday night’s Northwest Tour race in Portland. Rick Schultz, the pole winner in the season opener at Monroe, Mark Groskreutz, a 15th-place finisher, and Monte English, who drives for Spokane car owner Ron Hall, are also expected in the field… . English was the highest local finisher at Monroe, placing seventh in a race won by Garrett Evans… . The first of six NHRA Division Six points races will take place this weekend at Firebird Raceway in Boise.

Northport prepares

Northport International Raceway continues to prepare for its season opener on April 21 by holding a work day and racer’s playday this Sunday morning, beginning at 10.

The morning will be spent getting the track and ground ready for next Sunday’s Carey’s Auto Body season opener.

“We’ve been real busy over the off-season,” said spokesperson Carleen Wells of Colville.

Improvements include a new flagstand for one of the state’s oldest racetracks.

The track will host 12 race dates featuring superstocks, modifieds and Volkswagens. Also on the schedule are appearances (June 16 and Aug. 25) by the Northern Light Sprint Cars.

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