http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003130312&slug=evergreen16&date=20060716

Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 12:00 AM

NW Auto Racing: Riehl holds on in caution-filled race

By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times

MONROE — Yellow was the color of the night as Brandon Riehl won the NASCAR AutoZone Elite tour division race Saturday at Evergreen Speedway.

After the seventh yellow flag of the evening on the slippery three-eighths-mile track, Riehl held on through a green-white-checkered finish to edge Travis Bennett of Ellensburg.

It was the second win of the season for Riehl and the fourth of his career.

"My buddy Jason Jefferson told me not to floor it and to run a clean race at half throttle and that's what I did," Riehl said. "I trusted that Travis would race me clean and he did. I just wanted to keep my nose out of trouble and run a clean race."

Bennett, who has yet to win a race in his career, admitted he thought this might be his night.

"I want to win one of these so bad," Bennett said. "I've come so close, but one of these races it's going to happen if we keep running up front."

Steven Howard of Roy was third, with Shane Harding fourth.

Season points leader Gary Lewis of Bothell was fifth late in the race, but suffered a flat tire and fell a lap behind.

There were four yellow flags in the first 27 laps as the field of 25 cars had trouble getting a grip on the small track.

Jason Fraser, who was runner-up to Harding for the superstock championship at Evergreen last season, had the fastest car in qualifying, but fell a lap behind when he and Harding bumped on the ninth lap.

In the 75-lap NASCAR superstock race, Harding came from the back of the pack to pick up the win.

"I knew it was 75 laps and I knew the other guys would wear their tires down," Harding said. "I just tried to save my tires and wait for my chance."

Harding, the defending track champion from Langley, B.C., moved his way through the 17-car field to win for the fifth time in six superstock starts this season. He benefited when Naima Lang was spun out by Tom Moriarty on the 45th lap. Lang returned the favor a few laps later and was finished for the night.

"Those are two guys who both want to win," Harding said. "They were just racing hard for the lead. It's hard to get a win here and they weren't going to give an inch."

Jim Riley