Bennett tour season finale; Tidrick champ

Yakima, WA (September 4, 2007): Travis Bennett won three of the of the last four ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour races in 2007. After breaking into the winners circle for the first time in his NWT career at Yakima on July 7, 2007, Bennett made a strong season ending statement “that is where he belongs.”

 Sunday September 2, Aero Exhaust 150 at Yakima Speedway ended the season for the traveling circuit. Second place went to Jason Fraser (his best NWT finish of his career). Another late race pass by Kelly Tanner put him on the podium for the fourth time this season, all third place-finishes.

Bennett grabbed the lead from Garrett Evans (finished fourth) on lap 54 of the 150-lap main on Yakima Speedway’s .500-mile oval. Starting in the sixth position after qualifying with the best time and drawing that position for the invert it was not an easy road to the point. A spirited battle with Brandon Riehl for third had the two bouncing off each other for 8-laps. It was a testament to the ability of both drivers to stay on the race track.

 

The excited Bennett said as he climbed from the #33 Chevrolet, “I can not believe the second half of this season.” When asked, did he feel once the first win came would others be soon to follow, “I have always known that I had the ability it just took more time than I figured.”

 

Being the final race of 2007 the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour crowned its first champion. This being the inaugural season under the ASA banner, BJ Tidrick will always be known as the first. Not the race finish he wanted he said, “I really wanted to win but the championship is sweet.” Tidrick overtook Jay Sauls for the point lead after the Roseburg race on July 28. Holding a 1-point lead going into the next race, Tidrick finished second expanding the lead to 32-points. Kelly Tanner’s podium finish at the final race was not enough to overtake Tidrick. The final point difference is 14-points. 

 

A season high 22 cars took the green for the start of the main. The ASANWT in a rebuilding year ended on a high note. During the pre-race drivers meeting it was announce that the traveling series would be using an electronic transponder timing system in 2008 courtesy of Ron Eaton. It was also said the 2008 rules would be finalized by the Fall Classic (end of September). The race tracks the series would race at in 2008 would also be available by that time.

 

ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour Official Finish:

Aero Exhaust 150 (.500-mile oval)

Yakima Speedway, Yakima, WA

 

Pos      Name                             Laps   Hometown      Nat/State

1          Travis Bennett                 155      Ellensburg         WA

2          Jason Fraser                    155      Snohomish        WA

3          Kelly Tanner                    155      Auburn             WA

4          Garrett Evans                  155      E. Wenatchee   WA

5          Zach Niesner                   154      Royal City        WA

6          Pete Harding                   154      Surrey              BC

7          Rick Suran                      154      Estacada          OR

8          BJ Tidrick                       154      Yakima            WA

9          Mike Longton                  153      Moxee             WA

10        Jim Warn                         153      Aurora             OR

11        Gary Lewis                      153      Bothell              WA

12        Gaylon Stewart                152      Woodinville      WA

13        Jay Sauls                         152      Puyallup           WA

14        Matt Klaas                      150      Roseburg          WA

15        Ron Eaton                       117      Lakewood        WA

16        Darrell Tidrick                 104      Yakima            WA

17        Brandon Riehl                  88        Boring              OR

18        Rick Christopherson        78        Yakima            WA

19        Matt Hall                         71        Spokane           WA

20        Mark Sundberg               30        Seattle              WA

21        Troy Eaton                      28        Lakewood        WA

22        Wilbur Bruce                   21        Lakewood        WA

 

Fast Time: Travis Bennett (:19.369)

Time of Race: 57:36 minutes

Cautions: 2 (lap 21-27) (lap 149-153)

Margin of Victory: (:0.665 seconds)

Lead Changes: 2 (Evans 1-53) (Bennett 54-155)

 

Source: Scott Ellsworth ASA NWT PR