Write ups by Scott Ellsworth

W. Richland, WA (August 18, 2003): If you were a point leader in one of the NASCAR Big 3 Divisions, you lost points. Steve Thompson who has led the Lithia Dodge Late Model points since the opening race of the year lost two points to winner BJ Tidrick. NASCAR Street Stock point leader David Gentzler lost his point lead to Steve O’Neill and now trails by two points. Mike Hill beat them both for the win. The third division of the NASCAR Big 3 the Mini-Stocks had Jade Williams beating the field back to the stripe for the win while point leader James Ewing lost a point to Tyler Thomas.

The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Lithia Dodge Late Model Division has the closest point race in many years. BJ Tidrick garnered his seventh win of the year while Steve Thompson finished second and his thirteenth top three finish of the season. Tidrick took a small bite out of Thompson’s eight-point lead by gaining two points with three races left. BJ started the 50-lap main in ninth and Thompson was along side in tenth. They both worked their way up through the field with Thompson gaining more ground. He got to fourth and seemed to lose some of the early momentum. Tidrick kept up the pressure and was able to pass Thompson and he went on to the front a few laps later. Thompson got to second but was unable to mount any kind of a challenge on Tidrick.  Jarrod Crum the early leader finished in third his second best of the year. BJ’s brother Darrell Tidrick hung on for fourth and Richard Worley grabbed a top five position.

With just three races in two nights left for the Lithia Dodge Late Models, it is going to go to the wire for the championship. Thompson holds a slim six-point advantage over BJ Tidrick. With full points to be awarded in each of the NAPA Twin 35-lap mains, on Saturday Night August 30^th, it will be an important night for both drivers. There is also a great battle in the fifth through eleventh positions in the points. There are only thirty points between them.

TCR’s NASCAR Mini-Stock 25-Lap Main saw plenty of action. Jade Williams (three wins) was able to beat both Charles McDonald and Tyler Thomas as the three of them came across the line three wide. Williams in getting his third win of the season moved to within twenty-nine points of Brenda Sanford in third. Point leader James Ewing (fourth) had one of his twenty-eight points taken away by Tyler Thomas (third). With two races to go in the 2003 race season, Ewing cannot celebrate a championship yet.

Mike Hill, in his second start since the opening night on April 12 in the NASCAR Street Stock Division, got his second win. Hill methodically worked his way to the front and no one was able to catch him. Steve O’Neill (second) started the night six points behind the point leader David Gentzler. Gentzler suffered mechanical problems and had to settle for fifth. O’Neill takes over the point lead with just two races remaining and a slim two-point cushion.  

The State Transmissions Hornets winner Matt Watkins had to battle twenty-two other cars and Doug LeClair for the win. The 30-lap main was not absent of action with all the cars on the tight ¼-mile. Watkins took the lead with five to go only to lose it to LeClair. LeClair chose the wrong line on the next lap in traffic and Watkins regained his lead. Mike Riddell who has not raced in this division since early in the season finished third.

Up Next: August 23 TCR is closed for the Benton County Fair.

TCR returns to action with a Labor Day Weekend Doubleheader on Saturday and Sunday Nights August 30 & 31. On August 30, NAPA Night at The Races the NASCAR BIG 3 returns to for their next to last night of racing this season. Twin 35-lap mains for the Lithia Dodge Late Models will highlight the night of racing. The NASCAR Street Stocks, Mini-Stocks and State Transmissions Hornets will round out an important night in the race to the championship.

On the second night of the weekend’s double-header, NASCAR’s Elite Division Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series returns to the ½-mile tri-oval for the Home & Ranch 125. Yakima’s Chris Hart the current point leader is chasing his dream of a tour championship. Defending TCR Late Model champion Jason Jefferson is second in the points and is undefeated at TCR in three starts this season. Jason won the Super Late Model Budweiser 100, the Speck & Moore 125 Tour Race and the NAPA 150 Winston West Series Event. The Washington Legends will bring a slew of cars to add to this exciting night at the Northwest Center of Excitement.

25-Lap Main: Jade Williams; Charles McDonald; Tyler Thomas; James Ewing; Brenda Sanford; Tony Delp; Jason Brinkley; Nicole Rice

20-lap Main: Mike Hill; Steve O’Neill; Bruce Hoffman; Lee Evans; David Gentzler; Owen Berglund

30-Lap Main: 24-cars took green; Matt Watkins; Doug LeClair; Mike Riddell