By Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media
Washington State driving star Brea Lopez and her team made a big decision together towards the latter stages of the 2008 racing season. Despite enjoying great success while competing with the Washington Midget Racing Assciation for the past four years, collectively Brea and the Team decided it was time to make a big change for 2009 and that decision led to the disposal of all of the Midget racing equipment and to make the transition into the Late Model divisions of racing. The spirited Lopez has been quick all season with her race car but has at times found making the transition into the full-fendered divisions of racing to be sometimes frustrating. After a third place finish a few weeks ago, Lopez was confident she could put her race car into victory lane before the season ended. Little did she know, the victory would be forthcoming at her very next race at the South Sound Speedway..

Polson, MT (May 23, 2009): The iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour day one of the two day Big Sky 150 Cory Wolfe Challenge at Mission Valley Speedway is history. The starting lineup for the 150 lap feature on Sunday May 24 is set. Gary Lewis the 2008 winner of the $10,000.00 winner’s check will start on the pole after winning his qualifying 35-lap heat race. On the outside of the front row will be Brent Harris winner of his heat race.

Row two will have Shelby Thompson inside of Joey Tanner. Owen Riddle will be inside row three and Dan Rhodes outside.

The day started with time trials for starting position in the twin 35-lap qualifying heat races. Fast qualifier Mike Longton rolled a six for the invert. Longton will start fifth. Second quick Joey Tanner has acclimated to the tricky track and is looking for his best finish of the season.

Tanner helped his cause by easily winning the 100-lap Limited Late Model Main on Saturday.

Marysville, WA (May 15, 2009): On Saturday and Sunday May 23 & 24 the new ‘Thunder in the Northwest’ the iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour makes its only Montana visit in 2009. Host Mission Valley Speedway in Polson, Montana is bringing the best Super Late Model Stock Car teams from the U.S Northwest and Canada together for the season’s richest race. Over $40,000.00 in awards and bonuses has perked a lot of interest in the racing community for the 2nd annual ‘Corey Wolfe Challenge’.

Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA) winner of the 1st annual Cory Wolfe Challenge will be returning to defend the title and garner another $10,000.00 winner’s check. Lewis has been very successful in the last three seasons when he races in Montana. Along with the 2008 win at Mission Valley Lewis has put together back to back wins of the Montana 200.

Lewis is the current point’s leader for the 2009 iRacing.com ASA NWLMT. With a second and first in two races this season Lewis is on another strong roll heading into Montana.

Marysville, WA (May 6, 2009): A new series and a newly rejuvenated race facility meet up on Saturday May 9, 2009. Spokane County Raceway will host the iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour for the ‘Grand Opening 125’. The Northwest’s best Super Late Model Stock Car drivers are congregating to christen the newly purchased and operated multi use facility. Drawing drivers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia the super high banked .500-mile oval will be a test that the premier racers welcome.

Race #2 of the 10-race series for the iracing.com ASA Northwest Late Model Tour has formidable drivers registering. The ‘Grand Opening 125’ will field drivers that have some to no experience on the tricky oval. As in the past these highly experienced teams will figure it out and by race time the competition will be tense.

Wenatchee, WA (May 3, 2009): Garrett Evans (E.Wenatchee, WA) waited until the final green flag lap to win the first ever iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour feature. In 1985 Evans won the first ever Northwest Tour race. Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA) a close 2nd and Brent Harris (E. Wenatchee, WA) was third. Twenty cars started the ‘Apple Blossom 125’ at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval in E. Wenatchee, WA.

Evans took advantage of the new commitment cone restarts. With first place Lewis and second place Harris choosing to go to the inside Evans went to the outside putting himself along side of Lewis at lap 119. When they got back to the finish line under green Evans beat Lewis by less than .200 of a second. Another caution came out as Evans and Lewis crossed the line. While getting the field lined for the restart the track got too wet forcing an early end to the 125-lap feature.

Marysville, WA (April 29, 2009): With pre-race registration now closed for the iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour the list is a virtual who’s who in Super Late Model Stock Car racing headed to Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval in East Wenatchee, Washington on Saturday May 2.

The season opening race for the new traveling series has drawn the top teams for the start of the chase to the championship.

Former champions Wes Rhodes (Yelm, WA) Late Model Challenge Series 2008, Brad Stanwood (Portland, OR) ASA Northwest Tour 2008 and Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA) LMCS and NWT are registered and set to garner another crown.

With the most wins and championships with the former Northwest Tour, Garrett Evans (E. Wenatchee, WA) has entered. Always a favorite at his home track Evans will be the one to watch. Evans won the first ever Northwest Tour race in 1985 and will be vying to become the first winner of the new iRacing.com ASA NWLMT.

Others that have local ties to WVSO are Shane Mitchell (E. Wenatchee, WA), Brent Harris (E. Wenatchee, WA), Josh Roberts (Ephrata, WA) and rookie contender Amanda MacDonald (Ephrata, WA).

Marysville, WA (April 28, 2009): This Saturday May 2 the iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour starts a new era in Super Late Model Stock Car racing. Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval, East Wenatchee, Wash. will host the first race of the season for the new traveling series. The superstars of northwest racing are set for the debut.

Two series have merged to become the one and only premier racing series in the northwest. Race one for the series had been delayed with a rain-out of the original scheduled opener at Evergreen Speedway in March. Drivers, teams and officials are more than eager to get the 10-race season started. Many of the teams will start their chase for the distinction of being the first ever champion of the new series.

WVSO has always proven to be a challenge over the years. Both the former Late Model Challenge Series and Northwest Tour have held many races at the super fast high banked .25-mile oval. Most iRacing ASA Northwest Late Model Tour drivers and teams are familiar with the complexities of this fine facility.

Marysville, WA (April 28, 2009): This Saturday May 2 the iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour starts a new era in Super Late Model Stock Car racing. Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval, East Wenatchee, Wash. will host the first race of the season for the new traveling series. The superstars of northwest racing are set for the debut.

Two series have merged to become the one and only premier racing series in the northwest. Race one for the series had been delayed with a rain-out of the original scheduled opener at Evergreen Speedway in March. Drivers, teams and officials are more than eager to get the 10-race season started. Many of the teams will start their chase for the distinction of being the first ever champion of the new series.

WVSO has always proven to be a challenge over the years. Both the former Late Model Challenge Series and Northwest Tour have held many races at the super fast high banked .25-mile oval. Most iRacing ASA Northwest Late Model Tour drivers and teams are familiar with the complexities of this fine facility.

Marysville, WA (April 27, 2009): The newly formed iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour is geared up for the grand opening of the newly purchased Spokane County Raceway. On May 9, 2009 history will be made. It will be the first visit for the series to the fabled facility. Locally known as ‘on the hill’, the multi use facility has been in operation for many years until recently. Financial trouble forced a receivership auction. The county was the winning bidder. Spokane County knew what racing brought to the area and vowed to save the multi use facility.

By bringing a major Northwest Super Late Model Stock Car Series to the .500-mile, is a start to bringing the multi use facility back to life. The iRacing ASA NWLMT is also in the process of bringing premier touring racing back to life in the Northwest.

The tour is a formulation of two former traveling series. The 10-year old ARCA West Late Model Challenge Series and 25-year old former NASCAR Northwest Tour have come together to be the only Super Late Model touring series in the Northwest.

Marysville, WA (April 19, 2009): The new iRacing.com American Speed Association Northwest Late Model Tour will be at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval on Saturday night May 2, 2009. This major event at WVSO is the first race for the merged Northwest Tour and Late Model Challenge Series forming the Northwest’s only premier touring division. A new era in Super Late Model Stock Car Racing is set to begin at a track that is steep in history for both former series’.

The combining of these two series is proving to be a strong catalyst in rejuvenating touring division racing in the Northwest. The 10 year old Late Model Challenge Series has been the staple of Late Model racing at WVSO over the last few years. The former Northwest Tour has visited WVSO many times throughout its 26 year history.