August 30, 2003 Rocky Mountain Raceways NWWS News Recap For Immediate Release LYNCH FIRST REPEAT WINNER IN ‘03 WITH VICTORY AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN RACEWAYS WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (Aug. 30, 2003) – Scott Lynch became the first repeat winner in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series in 2003 by taking the victory in the NAPA 200 at Rocky Mountain Raceways on Aug. 30. It ended a string of eight different winners in the first eight races in the series this season. With his ties to the local area, Lynch’s win in the Yerf-Dog/The Orleans Dodge was a popular one with fans at the 3/8-mile track in West Valley City, Utah. The 23-year-old series rookie is from Burley, Idaho, and graduated from the University of Utah a month ago. Although he qualified on the outside of the front row, Lynch did not appear as a serious threat until late in the event. The early leader was Austin Cameron, who had notched his second consecutive Bud Pole Award this season in time trials with a lap of 88.149 mph in the NAPA/NAPA Belts & Hose Chevrolet. Cameron set the pace through the first 69 laps, before heading for pit lane for fresh tires and fuel during a caution. Scott Gaylord, who opted to remain on track, assumed the lead. He remained out front for nearly 100 laps of green-flag racing, until giving up the lead to stop for fresh tires and fuel during a caution on lap 169. C.T. Hellmund, who had yet to pit, stunned many by remaining on track and assuming the lead. Lynch, meanwhile, had faded as far back as seventh in the first half of the event and then steadily worked his way through the field. After pitting with Gaylord and several other front-runners on lap 169, he began a strong charge to the front. Lynch slipped to the inside of Hellmund and took over the top spot just 12 laps from the finish. Lynch held on, despite a late caution, to win by a margin of .503 of a second at an average speed of 67.433 mph. The win netted him $7,744 in prize money and posted awards – including the Raybestos Brakes Rookie of the Race Award. Hellmund stretched his fuel mileage to the end – running the entire 200-lap event without a pit stop. The Austin, Texas, driver finished second in the Suzuki Motorcycle & ATV Pontiac. Mark Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., was third in the Royal Bath & Body Products Pontiac. Finishing fourth was Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev., in the Albertsons/King Taco Ford – followed by Gaylord in the Oliver Gravity Separators/Denver Seminary Chevrolet. Mike Duncan and Tim Woods finished on the lead lap in sixth and seventh, respectively. Completing the top 10 were Brett Thompson, Austin Cameron and Jim Inglebright. The race featured three lead changes among four drivers – Cameron, Gaylord, Hellmund and Lynch. The pace of the event was slowed by five cautions for 34 laps. Portenga retained the top spot in the championship standings, leading Lynch by just 13 points – 1,398 to 1,385 – with four races remaining this season. Duncan is close behind with 1,351 – followed by Gaylord with 1,338. Kevin Richards is fifth in the point standings with 1,280. The top 10 include Johnny Borneman at 1,253, Reed at 1,251, Thompson at 1,238, Inglebright at 1,227 and Gene Woods at 1,100. Lynch continues to dominate the Raybestos Brakes Rookie of the Year battle, having finished as the top rookie in eight of the nine races so far this year. In addition to this being his second win this season, the victory marked Lynch’s third career win in the series. The next event on the Winston West Series schedule is the NAPA 200 presented by NAPA Belts & Hose at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore., on Sept. 20. For Further Information Contact: Kevin W. Green, NASCAR Winston West Series Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations