FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Patience Pays Off For Thompson With INSSA Win

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – June 10, 2007 – Late in the rain-delayed Inland Northwest Super Stock (INSSA) event at Spokane Raceway Park (SRP) on Sunday it appeared to everyone, including Spokane’s Shelby Thompson, that Kevin Richards had this one in the bag. 

Richards, from Newman Lake, Washington, who had posted a new track record (17.673), took the lead from Sagle, Idaho’s Corey Allard on lap 20.  Well into the race, Richards was out for a Sunday drive with nearly a half lap lead over Thompson, Christian Roeder (Ephrata, WA), and Erick Hargraves (Yakima, WA).  

The caution flew at lap 84 as Jeff Fenton, who had been running 5^th, spun on the back stretch and knocked down a concrete section of the wall ~ a caution Richards was soon sorry to see.  With the field tightened up, the green flag flew and it appeared Richards had a tire going down.  His hands full with a very loose car, Richards did all he could to hang on to the lead.  By lap 90, Thompson took over the lead to the boisterous cheers of the ecstatic die-hard race fans that were all on their feet.  Thompson led the way to the checkered, followed by Roeder and Hargraves, who were also able to make their way around Richards before crossing the stripe.  Corey Allard rounded out the top 5.

Several of the 22 cars that started the event were unable to return Sunday due to other obligations. Saturday’s start was the largest field of late models to take the green flag at SRP for many years.  Among some of Saturday’s starters were ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour drivers Jay Sauls, Matt Hall, Kevin Moland and Brandon Riehl.  The Tour drivers were extended a one-time invitation after their race at State Line Speedway was rained out (to be run at a later date).

INSSA returns to State Line Speedway for the 4^th event of their season this Saturday night, June 16^th.  Dave Garber maintains a slim point’s lead over Kevin Richards going into this event.