June 22, 2003 Tri-City Raceway NWWS News Recap For Immediate Release JASON JEFFERSON TAKES WIN IN NAPA 150, WHILE MAKING SERIES DEBUT AT TRI-CITY RACEWAY WEST RICHLAND, Wash. (June 21, 2003) – Jason Jefferson knows his way around Tri-City Raceway. He has won track championships in the late model division on the half-mile tri-oval – as well as winning NASCAR Elite Division, Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series races there. Jefferson added to those accomplishments with a victory in the NAPA 150 NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series event on June 21. He made the most of his experience at the West Richland, Wash., track – driving the Simmonson Automotive Pontiac to victory in his series debut. The win came despite a qualifying effort that left him a little disappointed. "I didn’t have a very good qualifying run," Jefferson explained. "So, I took my time and was trying to be smooth. I was hoping the other guys would wear out and sure enough they did." While experience contributed to his win, the 26-year-old driver from Naches, Wash., was quick to credit his crew and his dad, well-known championship car owner George Jefferson. "I attribute it a little bit to running the track, but a lot to being smooth and the way the car was set up," he said. "My dad set the car up, along with Sam Roebuck." Jefferson had some tough competition to overcome, however – including his brother Jeff, who started on the front row, and Kevin Richards, who dominated much of the event. Richards of Spokane, Wash., tied the 13-year-old track record in qualifying, with a lap of 95.541 mph in the Monaco Enterprises/Jerry Springer Chevrolet. He led from the drop of the green flag and pulled away several times in the first 100 laps, only to have that margin evaporate with each of the four cautions. While Richards set the pace, Jeff Jefferson and Steve Portenga trailed after him. Scott Lynch, Mark Reed and Jim Inglebright followed – while Jason Jefferson appeared content to ride in seventh. Although the top two positions remained unchanged through the first half of the event, the other top 10 positions were hotly contested as more than one driver lost positions after contact from behind. About 50 laps into the race, Jason Jefferson began to make his move to the front. Reed was also on the charge, as was series veteran Scott Gaylord and Ed Watson. Gaylord, who started 11th on the grid, made a near perfect progression through the field – gaining the 10th spot by lap 20, the ninth spot by lap 40, the eighth spot by lap 60, the seventh spot by lap 80, the sixth spot by lap 100 and the fifth spot by lap 120. The Lakewood, Colo., competitor topped off his charge to the front by moving forward from fifth to third in the final 15 laps. Jefferson’s progression had him in second by lap 90. He closed in on Richards and after several attempts to take the lead, managed to slip by on lap 123. Jefferson was able to negotiate lapped traffic late in the race to maintain the lead and hold off Richards by .535 of a second at the checkered flag. In taking third in the Oliver Gravity Separators Chevrolet, Gaylord captured the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award for gaining the most positions. Reed of Bakersfield, Calif., finished fourth in the Royal Bath & Body Products Pontiac, followed by Jeff Jefferson of Naches, Wash., in the NAPA/NAPA Belts & Hose Chevrolet. Rounding out the top 10 were Brandon Riehl, Mike Duncan, Ed Watson, Inglebright and Portenga. The average speed of the race, which was slowed for just 17 laps by the four caution periods, was 74.586 mph. Although only his first race in the series, Jefferson indicated his comfort in the heavier cars. "I think I fit in with these cars," he said. "These are the kind of cars I grew up with and these are the kinds of cars I like. Hopefully, I can run some more this year." Portenga – who hailed from Sparks, Nev., but now resides in Bakersfield, Calif. – retained his lead in the series championship standings. He has 779 points, while Inglebright is second with 748. Scott Lynch, who took Raybestos Brakes Rookie of the Race honors for the fourth time this season, is third in the overall standings with 732. Duncan is one marker back at 731, with Richards moving up to fifth with 724. Completing the top 10 are Gaylord, Johnny Borneman, Brett Thompson, Reed and Gene Woods The next event on the Winston West Series schedule is the Coors Light 200 presented by NAPA at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., on June 28. For Further Information Contact: Kevin W. Green, NASCAR Winston West Series Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations