http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003120754&slug=evergreen12n&date=20060712

Racer from B.C. on hot streak at Monroe track

By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times

Shane Harding has been nearly unbeatable at Evergreen Speedway for two seasons.

Harding hopes to make it six races in a row at the Monroe track Saturday when he tries to complete a rare double.

To complete it, first Harding would need to win his fifth straight superstock race at Evergreen. Then he'd need to follow it later in the evening in the even-tougher NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Northwest Series.

"It would be a dream come true to win both races," Harding said. "I know both my cars are going to work good at Evergreen, but if there is an advantage, it won't be much."

That's because so many of the elite-tour drivers in the Northwest began racing at Evergreen Speedway.

Gary Lewis of Bothell leads the elite points standings and will return to his home track along with former track champion John Bender of Snohomish.

"The biggest difference between the superstock and elite divisions are the amount of cars," Harding said.

"In the superstock division, there are usually only two or three drivers who really have a chance to win. In the elite division, there are 20. They're all awesome drivers with the best equipment."

Harding, who travels to Monroe from his home in Langley, B.C., has had mixed racing luck this season.

In the superstock division at Evergreen, he has won four in a row and is tied for third place in the points standings despite missing a race.

He experienced good fortune last weekend, when leaders Naima Lang and Doug Davidson got tangled up near the end of the race and Harding drove past them to pick up the win.

"I got lucky," Harding said. "That was a case of just inheriting the lead."

Harding has had almost no luck in a fast car in the elite touring division this season.

"In one race, I had a top-three car and blew a shock," he said. "In another, I had a top-five car and blew a tire and hit the wall. I also got dumped on a restart. I just don't have much to show for having a fast car most weeks."

Harding sits in 19th place in the elite division and is still looking for his first top-10 finish.

Everything could turn for him this weekend at Evergreen, where Harding has an advantage as the defending track champion.

Jason Fraser, who finished runner-up to Harding in the superstock points standings at Evergreen last season, will also be in the field. Fraser has a pair of top-five elite finishes and is 16th in the points standings.

"It would be awesome if it came down to the two of us again to battle at the end and have some fun," Harding said. "It will also be fun to race against my dad again."

The last time the tour ran at Evergreen, Pete Harding won the elite race and Shane won the superstock race.

For the first time since 2004, the race will be run on the smaller three-eighths-mile track, giving drivers who grew up at Evergreen more of an advantage.

Garrett Evans, who has won a record 13 of the 58 Northwest tour races at Evergreen, is also in the field.

Notes

• Main events at Evergreen Speedway will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday. Time trials are scheduled to start at 3:40 p.m. and heat races at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for general admission, $18.50 for ages 12-18 and 62 and up, and $10 for ages 6-11. Children under 6 are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at www.evergreenspeedway.net.

• Shane Harding plans to be among several drivers to try to run a tripleheader when the Washington 500 is held July 29 at Evergreen Speedway. Scheduled that day are a 250-lap Grand National Division West Series race, a 150-lap elite-division race and a 100-lap superstock event.

Jim Riley