Lewis defends title

Gary Lewis made history with back-to-back NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200 victories. Coupled with a repeat win in last month’s Montana 200, the Snohomish, Wash., driver became the first racer in Northwest late model history to win each event two straight years.

Erick Hargraves was second followed by Craig Bell, David Garber and Tom Hill.

Lewis’ grabbed the lead in the Sunbelt Rentals Chevrolet on lap 66 and stayed there 34 laps to the midway break. In the second half the three-time late model champion was not touched while a spirited battle behind him delighted the capacity Stateline Speedway crowd on Sunday.

Boise’s Dave Minegar led the field to the green flag for the start of the first 100-lap segment. Over the next 35 laps Minegar and Kalispell native Bodie Morton raced door to door for the lead with Morton clearing the Idaho driver by lap 36.

Spokane’s Shelby Thompson, who had one of the strongest cars in the early portions of the race, was caught in an incident exiting turn No. 2 that involved his Valley Bowl Chevrolet, the Ford of Portland’s Mike Obrist and Jay Sauls of Puyallup. Each driver had moved from their mid-pack starting positions based on the invert and were challenging for the lead.

All three drivers escaped without injury but their cars were damaged beyond repair for the final 165 laps.

Garber, a crowd favorite and current points leader of the Inland Northwest Super Stock Association, won the pole for Friday’s 100-lap duel and Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Challenge Series event.

Erick Hargraves, the last qualifier to make the starting field, sitting fourth on the grid with a 12-car invert, used a patient approach in the second-half.

Morton led for 30 laps before Lewis passed him entering turn No. 1. Hargraves jumped up to third by lap 80, stalking Morton for the final 20 laps of the first segment.

Entering the second 100-lap run, Hargraves’ Magic Metals Pontiac was the cleanest of the front runners with none of the battle damage that Morton or Lewis had from the first half.

Hargraves moved by Morton on lap 103 as Lewis began to build a two-second lead on the field. Morton’s Bojangles Chevrolet began to fade over the final 50 laps, giving Garber and Bell a chance to advance toward the front.

Bell pressured Hargraves for over 20 laps while Garber kept the leaders in his sights but all three had no answer for Lewis’ ultra-quick restarts and steady passing techniques in lapped traffic.

The Idaho 200 victory is Lewis’ 20th since the start of the 2006 season, making him one of the hottest late model drivers on the West Coast. With his sixth win this season he has surpassed his 2007 victory total with six races to go in his schedule.

“This was such a tight field and I really thought that Garber and Hargraves might have me there at the end,” Lewis said from victory lane. “To win this race and what we’ve been able to do over the last couple of seasons is crazy. The drivers in this field were some of the best (on the West Coast) and it is a privilege to have won this race over such a great group.”

Hargraves said he knew that once Lewis was out front it would take a spectacular effort, but in the end he had a mirror full of Bell to contend with.

“Lewis is the hottest driver there is in the Northwest if not the entire West Coast. To finish second to him is just fine. We drove the wheels off the thing to stay ahead of Bell there at the end and I was losing the bite off the corners to keep my car settled which let him get up to our bumper.”

Bell, who made his first appearance ever at Stateline, was grateful for a chance to race with Lewis, Hargraves and Garber for the podium.

“We made a change there at the break that didn’t agree with our car and I know it took it the wrong way. Those two guys (Lewis and Hargraves) are the best in the Northwest and the 93 (Garber) showed he knows how to get around his home track, so for our first time here I’m pretty proud.”

In other weekend action, Obrist won the INSSA 100-lap main event on Friday night followed by Morton and Thompson.

Thane Alderman won the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series 100-lap main event Saturday evening followed by Hill and Garber.