Local racers take charge and show drive

When big races are held for late model stock cars in the Northwest, many of the region’s best know that Spokane’s contingent of Shelby Thompson, Kevin Richards and Dave Garber will be tough to beat.

The ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series held its biggest purse-paying event in its nine-year history last weekend in Pablo, Mont. The event featured a $50,000 purse with $10,000 going to the winner of the Big Sky 150.

Richards is known to shine in the “money races.” He and his prodigy Thompson did not disappoint the capacity crowd at Mission Valley Speedway. Garber may not have had the strongest car in practice, but when it came time to pay out to the Top 10, the defending INSSA champion was right in the thick of things.

All three showed the strength of Inland Empire late model racing as each took charges toward the front of the field. Richards kicked things off by posting the second-fastest time at 14.660-seconds going 92.087 mph. The McClintock & Turk Chevrolet driver missed the pole by a mere .008-seconds and started fifth based on a six-car invert of the top six qualifiers.

Thompson had been strong in practice, but a subpar 12th-place qualifying effort meant the Mead High School product would have work to do to reach the front of the running order.

Garber had been running in the middle of the pack in practice, but he posted a 21st-place qualifying time out of 30 cars and appeared to be off the pace and facing a long afternoon.

Once the race began, each showed his talents and ability to navigate through the field.

Richards rode in third place during the early portion of the day behind defending ARCA West series champion Gary Lewis, who trailed Brent Harris. Lewis made a bold move for the lead on lap 43 past Harris, and Richards moved by the Wenatchee driver 10 laps later, setting his sights on first place.

By lap 75, Thompson moved from 12th to fifth place and patiently waited for his chance to continue his advance through the field.

Garber needed more than three-quarters of the race to make up ground as he moved into ninth place on lap 126 – an improvement of 12 positions.

Thompson jumped up to second place with five laps to go. He appeared to have enough car left to catch Lewis when he and Richards tangled for position coming off turn 4. The incident relegated both drivers to the tail end of the lead lap. Richards recovered for a seventh-place finish, and Thompson brought home 10th.

Garber continued his patient approach to the day and rode out a ninth-place finish, proving that what appears to be off in practice can be turned around once the race starts.

Lewis picked up the win for his fifth career ARCA West Circle K Late Model Challenge Series victory. The defending champion of the Idaho 200 led the final 107 laps on the day for the $10,000 payoff.

Garber and the rest of the INSSA teams return to action Saturday night at Stateline Speedway for race No. 3 in the chase for the 2008 championship. A solid group of late model cars will be out to dethrone Garber, who is going for his third consecutive series victory in as many races.

Also expected to compete in this weekend’s event will be Andy Brown, Rusty Webb, Cory Allard and others aiming for 22 starting positions.

The Northwest Modified Series ventures away from the Inland Empire this weekend in a challenge race versus Wenatchee’s modified racers.

In the only other race of this type in 2008, Shane Mitchell of Orondo, Wash., proved to have the strongest open-wheel machine of the day as he cruised to an easy victory over Blaine Sneva and Frankie Volz Jr. in April’s Yakima Speedway Apple Cup.

Mitchell ranks third overall in the Wenatchee points standings after their first race of the season.

Sneva paces the Northwest Modified points standings with a win in early May and will be out for a bit of revenge in Saturday’s main event at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval.