Evergreen Speedway 2001 champion honored

Evergreen Speedway and NASCAR Great West Region Champion, Tom Moriarity Honored

Everett, Wa - February 2, 2002 (RFN) - Tom Moriarity, of Monroe, Wa. took the 2001 Evergreen Speedway Super Stock Championship, (third in his career) and claimed the 2001 NASCAR's Great West Region title.

Moriarity the only driver in forty-nine years of racing at Evergreen Speedway to take the Great West Region Championship while racing only one track during the season. Achieving this with four wins, seventeen top five, and eighteen top ten finishes.

Moriarity said, "We didn't have a dominating season, we raced consistent and took four wins. Defiantly the high point of the season and a highlight of my racing career was winning the Great West Championship. Attending the awards ceremony in Orlando was a great experience. Our sponsors had business commitments and were not able to make it. But we had the whole team out there and really enjoyed it. NASCAR rolled out the red carpet for us, they treated us great from the minute we stepped off the plane."

After receiving many awards and capping off what any race team would consider a career season with $54,047 in season prize money, Moriarity closed the four hour awards dinner leaving much speculation for his 2002 race plans. While onstage master of ceremonies Terry Buell asked, "will you be returning to Evergreen for the 2002 season?"

Moriarity said, "I haven't made that decision yet, it will depend on what my sponsors want to do. We will talk then see what happens."

Racing at Evergreen Speedway since 1990, Moriarity is the only driver in speedway history to win three championships in two different divisions. Racing Mini Stocks he took season titles in 1992, 1993, and 1994. Then has super stock titles in 1996, 1999, and 2001.

When asked if there were any low points in the 2001 season Moriarity said, "We had one race where I started twelfth, I worked hard, got past Lex (Lex Johnson) and moved to the front. Soon as I took the lead the oil light came on. I watched the rest of the race from the infield. It was our only mechanical failure all year."

"Following the race season we had an offer to drive the second car with Kevin Hamlin the Northwest Tour, American Dream Motorsports team. That deal fell apart, it was disappointment. No hard feelings over that, money is tight, and things happen. Now we're looking at Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval Big Five Series, I'm also interested in the Yakima/Tri-City Mid-State Series. Nothing has been decided at this point.", said Moriarity.

"Looking back at the hole thing everyone I raced with was great. Wade Archer has come a long ways. Lex Johnson, Matt Murphy, John Pierce, and Robb Touchette, they're always strong. We always strive and set goals to exceed our past performance. I never thought we would win the great west, but have to say it's like a dream come true.", said Moriarity.

Onstage and closing ceremonies, fellow competitor and 1998 speedway super stock champion John Zaretzke made several positive comments (in past tense) as to what a great sportsman Moriarity "has been" over the past season. Possibly implying Moriarity may be leaving the speedway and opening the door for a new champion.

Zaretzke, winner of the 2001 Southwest Tour Albertsons 125 at Phoenix International Raceway has moved his race equipment from Yakima to a shop in Maltby. He will race the complete Evergreen Speedway Super Stock schedule along with Northwest Tour and Winston West events as they arrive at Evergreen Speedway.

-es-