NWS: Yakima:

YAKIMA AREA DRIVERS FILL THE FIELD FOR THE NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, NORTHWEST SERIES OKANOGAN SEATTLE TRANSPORT 125

* Jefferson, Bennett and Other Area Stars Ready for Long-Awaited Season-Opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 25, 2005) -- The time has finally come for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series to get the 2005 season underway. The off-season was extended due to inclement weather in late March at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., which has done nothing but add to the anxiety and excitement for this weekend's event.

The field is stacked with over 30 entries for the Okanogan Seattle Transport 125 to be held at Yakima (Wash.) Speedway this Saturday, May 28 where local Yakima drivers will make up nearly one-fifth of the field. Among all drivers entered in the race, they account for over 150 series victories, 12 Northwest Series championships (Garrett Evans -- 4, Ron Eaton -- 3, Jeff Jefferson -- 2, John Dillon, Pete Harding and Gary Lewis) and six series Rookie-of-the-Year Awards (John Bender, Joe Benedetti, Travis Bennett, Wilbur Bruce and Jason Jefferson).

To say that everyone is ready is a fairly big understatement. After the long off-season, the drivers, crews, officials and track personnel all are chomping at the bit to get on the track for exciting Northwest Series action, which, a season ago, saw the season championship decided by a single point.

"It's time to go. I've done some racing already this year, but this is home. I can't wait," said defending two-time Northwest Series champion and Naches, Washington native Jeff Jefferson.

Bennett, last season's championship runner-up from Ellensburg, Wash., expressed similar thoughts, but his level of anticipation is heightened. He will be debuting a new racecar for the DS Racing team in the event. "There is always some doubt when you take a new car onto the track, but I'm excited. I've never had a new racecar," said Bennett. "We've also added a new sponsor, J.T.'s Home Insulation, to go along with Zeb's Truck Stop and Knudson Lumber."

Also debuting a new car is Yakima's Jason Jefferson, who has finished third and second in the championship points race the last two years, respectively. He will be looking to visit victory lane for the first time in a Northwest Series ride after fourth-place finishes in four of the last five events at Yakima Speedway.

Other Yakima-based drivers competing in the event will be Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year candidates Erick Hargraves and Troy Tramell. Also, Mike Longton, a standout in Late Model competition at Yakima Speedway, is expected to join the field.

FAST FACTS

What: Okanogan Seattle Transport 125 (Race No. 1 of 10 in the NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series).

Where:  Yakima Speedway, Yakima, Wash.

When:  8:45 p.m. PDT (approx.), Saturday, May 28, 2005.

Track layout:  1/2-mile oval.

Race length:  125 laps/62.5 miles.

Posted awards: $50,165.

2004 winner: Jeff Jefferson.

2004 polesitter: Garrett Evans.

Top 10 in points (2004): 1. Jeff Jefferson 1,687, 2. Travis Bennett 1,686, 3. Jason Jefferson 1,646, 4. Garrett Evans 1,635, 5. Gary Lewis 1,628, 6. Pete Harding 1,622, 7. Brandon Riehl 1,589, 8. Wes Rhodes 1,575, 9. Joe Benedetti 1,546, 10. Steven Howard 1,538.

Pre-race schedule (all times local): 11:00 a.m. Registration opens, 2:30-5:00 p.m. Practice, 2:30-3:00 p.m. Practice, 6:00 p.m. Bud Pole Qualifying.

-nascar-