ROOKIE OF THE YEAR POINTS LEADER HAPPY WITH 2002 SEASON

 AT HALFWAY POINT OF RAYBESTOS BRAKES NORTHWEST SERIES

MONROE, Wash. (July 10, 2002) – Looking to survive his first Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring season was a goal Kelly Mann set back in March. After six races, he has already begun to reach for the title of Rookie of the Year and will look to pad his points lead this weekend at his home track of Evergreen Speedway.

above: The #9 of Kelly Mann Northwest Series rookie of the year points leader in front of Jeff Jefferson (photo courtesy of NASCAR)

The Monroe, Wash. native and the drivers of the Northwest Series roll into the Parts Plus 125, presented by Snap-Tools Saturday at the halfway point of was is developing into a very exciting season for the region’s elite NASCAR division

Mann is modest is his early season accounting of the Universal Land Chevrolet teams performance. “It’s about where we expected to be (running in the top-10 in season points),” he said. “I was hoping to be running near the front and we have. We just need to stay consistent.”

Running in several late model divisions across the region in 2001 taught Mann some valuable lessons for his run at the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series rookie crown this season. Motors and brakes have become bigger challenges in the NASCAR ranks he said.

“The motor is a big difference from last year. This year we’re running 9 to 1 compression motors and it’s made it a little tougher to brake with the compression of the engine instead of using up the brake pedal.”

“I do love the motor and its horsepower when we race of the corners because she picks right up, we just have to keep working with the right combination and try new things and we’ll get it right,” Mann said.

In the 2002 season opener for the Northwest Series, Mann did a decent job of qualifying and staying near the front of the field. Brake troubles slowed him down in the end and he finished ninth. This weekend Mann said he would like to improve on his best career finish on the .646-mile paved oval in Monroe.

“We ran pretty good there last time and then had to ride around at the end. This time I’m hoping for a top-10 qualifying effort and maybe a top-5 finish but I don’t want to ask for to much.”

Looking to each race one at a time has been the focus of his team all year Mann said. You cannot win races without finishing first is a philosophy he has applied for the 2002 season. With the second half of the season ready to get underway, that focus will remain he added.

“I know we need to learn more. We have to finish on the lead lap and get some overall finishes in races to prepare to challenge the series drivers for wins,” Mann said.

Learning from the talent pool of the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series has been like going back to school for the 36-year old Mann.

“There are always going to be a few good guys at the local tracks that run good when you show up on the tracks we ran last year,” Mann said. “I knew when I got here to the Northwest Series that there would be 15 guys that would be tough and very competitive. I want to race the best drivers around and that’s the reason I chose to run the series, the best drivers are here.”

The Parts Plus 125, presented by Snap-On Tools takes the green flag on Saturday, July 13 at 8:30 p.m. For ticket information call (360) 805-6100 or, visit the track online at www.evergreenspeedway.com.