LONGTON WINS RACE OF CHAMPIONS AT YAKIMA SPEEDWAY

YAKIMA, Washington — Day one of the three day annual Fall Classic began with Moxee, Washington’s Mike Longton solidly winning the Gap Northwest Broadcasting Race of Champions at Yakima Speedway. Another local driver Yakima’s Erick Hargraves was a distant second with Portland, Oregon’s Brad Stanwood third.

The Race of Champions gives the winner bragging rites and $1000.00. Longton the 2008 speedway Late Model Champion moved up from his eighth starting position taking the lead on lap 8 of the 35-lap race on Yakima Speedway’s .500-mile oval. Longton was never headed the rest of the race. By virtue of the win Longton made a loud statement that he will be the one to beat for the Fall Classic 200-lap main on Sunday afternoon.

Hargraves last years winner of the Fall Classic has moved recently to Coeur d’ Alene, ID. Just a week away from getting married took Hargraves took too long to pass Stanwood for second position, leaving no time to catch the winner.

Stanwood the 2008 ASA Northwest Tour Champion hung onto an ill handling car to make it to the podium in third. Stanwood briefly had the lead until Longton took it away.

The fast time in the first day of qualifying for the Fall Classic Late Models was turned in by Jason Fraser of Snohomish, WA. The best of the Limited Late Model class was Longton. Second day qualifying for the remainder of the drivers is Saturday afternoon at 12:00p.m.

Besides the two large fields of Late Models the Hobby Stocks and Street Stocks will qualify for their respective mains on Saturday.

Drivers have traveled from their home towns for this season ending extravaganza. Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana and Canada are well represented by their best drivers.

Saturday’s schedule has the cars beginning practice at 9:00am with all classes qualifying beginning at 12:00pm. The Trophy Dashes & Heat Races follow. The Hobby Stocks will have a 60-lap main. The Limited Late Models close day two with a 125-lap main.

Sunday opens with practice at 10:00am. The festivities start at 1:00pm with a Street Stock 75-lap event. The annual Fall Classic 200-lap main will bring the biggest Northwest racing event to a dramatic end.

Friday October 10, 2008

Official Results:

The Gap Northwest Broadcasting Race of Champions:

Yakima Speedway (.500-mile oval) Yakima, WA

35-laps: Mike Longton (Moxee, WA); Erick Hargraves (Coeur d’ Alene, ID); Brad Stanwood (Portland, OR); Travis Bennett">Travis Bennett (Ellensburg, WA); Jason Fraser (Snohomish, WA); Owen Riddle (Naches, WA); Mark Owens (Kalispell, MT); Troy Ermish (Freemont, CA); Mike Obrist (Gresham, OR); Agni Howell (Kalispell, MT); Amanda McDonald (Ephrata, WA); Lane Sundholm (Snohomish, WA); Gary Lewis (Snohomish, WA)

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