ON RAYBESTOS BRAKES NORTHWEST SERIES

YAKIMA, Wash. (September 21, 2002) – Defending Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring champion Kevin Hamlin earned his second Frank’s Chevrolet 125 victory of the season to extend his points lead over Gary Lewis heading into the season finale on September 28 at Wenatchee Valley’s Super Oval.

above: Kevin Hamlin in the winners circle at Yakima Speedway with his fifth win on the 2002 season

(photo courtesy of NASCAR)

Shane Biles finished second followed by Ralph Hubbert with a career best third place effort. Joe Benedetti and Troy Conrad rounded out the top-5.

Hamlin’s day did not start out as planned. After running very well in the first two afternoon practice sessions, the American Dream Motorsports Chevrolet lost the rear end assembly. As luck would have it, Hamlin’s teammate Travis Bennett had been entered in the event and both crews worked feverishly to transition the No. 53 over to become Hamlin’s primary car for the evening.

Bennett had been racing the car for several events in 2002; Hamlin had not been in the race car since February at the opener for the Featherlite Southwest Series. The 23-year old Snohomish, Wash. native took his first laps behind the wheel of the car during qualifying and grabbed the second quickest lap on the field.

To add to an already dramatic evening of racing action, Benedetti was the driver that out qualified Hamlin in route to his first ever Bud Pole Award on the Northwest Series. Benedetti lined up fourth on the grid based on the invert.

In the early stages of the race Hamlin made it look relatively easy as he moved out to a five-car length lead as lap 15 came to a close. As the race moved into the middle portion’s, Hamlin built leads of up to ten-car lengths. Behind the front two race cars were several battles for positions beginning with Conrad’s run to the top-5.

Conrad qualified his Painter Logging Chevrolet in fourth place on the 25-car field. The Puyallup, Wash. native missed the driver’s meeting and was penalized to start at the back of the field. By lap 73, Conrad had worked his way up to sixth place, and grabbed fifth by lap 84.

Also rising through the field was Biles who began the night in seventh place. He moved his Angel Racing Ford to fourth place by lap 62, and then passed Benedetti for third place exiting turn No.4 on lap 105.

With the laps winding down, Biles passed Hubbert on lap 115 to take over second place and began to run down Hamlin.

Hamlin’s Chevrolet was able to extend a strong lead over the events final 10 laps in route to a fifth win on the season. With some many unknowns heading into the main event, Hamlin was never worried about the outcome he said.

“These guys on my pit crew are awesome. We smoked the rear-end here this afternoon. This fifth win has been hard to get the team has been working their tails off, this one is for American Dream Motorsports,” Hamlin said. “We’re just going to go and try and get one more now. It’s about time we got here to victory lane again. We won four in a row and it seems like it’s been forever.”

He also had a special dedication for his fifth win of the year Hamlin said. “I’m very blessed to be here. Ashley Bergman your thoughts are with us sweetie. You died just over a year ago and this one is for you.”

Hamlin indicated that while he and his teammate drive different styles behind the wheel of American Dream Motorsports machines, not much was needed to get the No. 53 ready for Hamlin’s run to victory.

“I just drive, we really did not have to change much,” he said. “We had to change some springs around, we worked on the throttle pedal a little bit, moved the third link angle, and switch the radio’s around.”

Biles continued to add to his late season run of top-5 finishes with the runner-up spot. While the lone Ford in the field, he was grateful for the evening’s sponsor he said in victory lane.

“I think this is the biggest trophy I’ve ever gotten,” Biles said. “Even though I drive a Ford I have to thank Frank’s Chevrolet and let you know we appreciate your support here at Yakima Speedway.”

Biles knew he had a top-flight car but was unsure if he had anything for Hamlin at the end of the night. “I don’t know if we had anything for him. He’s awfully darn good, we’ll just have to leave that one in our minds under the what if category.”

In racing circles, many times a driver can go from hero to zero in a hurry. For Hubbert is was just the opposite as he failed to qualify for the series last event but, one week later found himself with a career best finish on the Northwest Series.

“We had a great car here this weekend. We just missed it last week,” Hubbert said. “The guy’s gave me a great car, I tried to chase down Kevin then Shane came out of nowhere, I was just hanging on at the end, my hat’s off to them.”

source: NASCAR Public Relations

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