June 29, 2003 Evergreen Speedway NWWS News Recap For Immediate Release REED ROARS TO VICTORY LANE IN WINSTON WEST SERIES EVENT AT MONROE MONROE, Wash. (June 28, 2003) – After missing the first race of the season, Mark Reed knew he had a lot of ground to make up in the chase for this year’s championship in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series. Reed’s move toward the top of the point standings was bolstered by a win on Saturday in the Coors Light 200 presented by NAPA and Albertsons at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. While the Bakersfield, Calif., driver dominated much of the 200-lap event, he had to contend with a strong effort by Kevin Richards and 164 consecutive laps of caution-free racing with green-flag pit stops to notch his second career win. Qualifying is where Richards and the Monaco Enterprises/Jerry Springer Chevrolet have suddenly flexed their muscle this year. After winning his first career Bud Pole Award a week ago in his 74th series start, Richards notched his second consecutive fast-time with a lap of 99.551 mph in qualifying. And for the second straight race, he led the early stages and appeared to have the car to beat. Reed, who started fourth on the grid, inherited the lead when Richards opted to pit during a caution early in event for fresh left side tires and fuel on lap 30. Reed set sail on the restart and pulled away. The pace he set put many competitors a lap down and had them hoping for a caution midway in the race. Richards, meanwhile, steadily began to work his way back to the front after his early stop. Brett Thompson was the first of the lead-lap cars to pit under green, making his stop on lap 124. Scott Gaylord and Johnny Borneman headed down pit lane on lap 127. Scott Lynch, Jeff Jefferson, Ed Watson headed to the pits a few laps later – with Reed dropping out of the lead to make his stop on lap 136. He was followed in by Mike Duncan and Jason Jefferson. His early pit stop allowed Richards to remain on track as the rest of the field lost a lap to him, while stopping under green-flag conditions. The caution-free pace continued, however, leaving Richards to eventually pit under the green, as well. When he did on lap 160, Reed was there to take over the top spot. He was followed by the lead-lap cars of Duncan, Jeff Jefferson, Gaylord, Lynch, Jason Jefferson, Borneman, Thompson and Richards. Reed had the Royal Bath & Body Products Pontiac on cruise control as he charged to the win with a margin of victory of 4.340 seconds at an average speed of 84.398 mph. With the victory he netted $7,917 in prize money and posted awards. While it marked Reed’s second career victory, it was the first win for Adair Motorsports and car owner Christina Adair. The runner-up spot went to Duncan of Lamont, Calif., in the Lucas Oil Chevrolet. Gaylord of Lakewood, Colo., took third in the Oliver Gravity Separators/Denver Seminary Chevrolet – to capture his second consecutive podium finish. Fourth went to Jeff Jefferson of Naches, Wash., in the NAPA/NAPA Belts and Hose Chevrolet. He was followed by younger brother Jason Jefferson in the Silver Dollar Restaurant/Holiday Inn Pontiac. Rounding out the top 10 were Lynch, Borneman, Thompson, Steve Portenga and Watson. Richards was left with a 14th-place finish after suffering electrical problems in the closing laps of the race. The event featured three lead changes among two drivers. The pace of the event was slowed by just two cautions for nine laps. With his sixth consecutive top 10 finish, Portenga was able to retain his lead in the championship standings with 917 points. Duncan’s runner-up finish vaulted him into second with 901, while Lynch continues to hold third at 882. Gaylord is fourth with 879, while Jim Inglebright is fifth with 878. The top 10 include Borneman at 854, Richards at 850, Reed at 806, Thompson at 781 and Gene Woods at 713. The next event on the Winston West Series schedule is at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on July 26. For Further Information Contact: Kevin W. Green, NASCAR Winston West Series Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations