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Northwest Legends Tri-City opener preview

Northwest Legends Touring Series racing into ninth season of competition Arlington, Wash. (April 15, 2004) -- The Northwest Legends Touring Series opens its ninth season of racing competition at Tri-City Raceway (TCR), in West Richland, Wash., in ...

Northwest Legends Touring Series racing into ninth season of competition

Arlington, Wash. (April 15, 2004) -- The Northwest Legends Touring Series opens its ninth season of racing competition at Tri-City Raceway (TCR), in West Richland, Wash., in support of the NASCAR Elite Division, Northwest Series on Saturday April 24, 2004.

The season opening event is the first of fifteen events on the on the Northwest Legends Touring Series championship schedule, and the first of two appearances with the NASCAR Elite Division at Tri-City Raceway this season.

The Northwest Legends Touring Series consists of four racing divisions divided in categories based on driver age and racing skill level and include; the Pro Division, Master Division, Semi-Pro Division and the Bandoleros Division.

The Legend Series Pro Division is considered the pinnacle division of the racing series.

Racing his sixth season in the Pro Division, Garrett Haxby, of Suquamish, Wash., drives the #24 Clear Water Casino, Liberty Bay Auto Center, Chevy Coupe.

Haxby finished second in the 2003 Pro Division championship point race, gaining considerable momentum over the second half of the season and considers TCR one of his favorite tracks.

"I'm hoping to pick up where things left off last season. If we can have a better start this season there should be a good chance at a championship run," said Haxby.

He continued, "I like the speed of Tri-City Raceway and it's one of couple tracks I really enjoy racing. I'm ready to get this season going and a win at Tri-City would be a good start."

The Legends Master Division consists of drivers over the age of forty years old.

Rick McNeill, of Burien, Wash., brought home the 2003 Master Division Championship. With twelve series wins over the past two seasons, McNeill also set three Master Division track records during the 2003 season including his 21:433 second, record lap at Tri-City Raceway.

McNeill recently practiced at TCR and commented, "We ran some good laps and timed pretty close to my record lap set last season. I enjoy this track and I'm confident I can take a top three. As for another championship run, it will depend on whether I'm able to make it to all the races. We'll have to wait and see."

The Legends Semi-Pro Division is designed for drivers who are starting out in Legends racing. The minimum age for Legends competition is fourteen years old.

Moving into the Semi-Pro Division for his first season of Legends racing, Matt Lundstrom, of Snohomish, Wash., arrives on scene at the age of seventeen with many wins and prior championships among his racing credentials.

With 14 series wins during the 2003 season Lundstrom captured the Bandoleros Division Championship by a sizable margin while setting five track records at Port Angeles Speedway, Tri-City Raceway, Stateline Speedway, South Sound Speedway and Spanaway Speedway.

A senior at Monroe High School, Lundstrom is a member of the National Honors Society and ranked 18th in his class. Racing since 1999, Lundstrom also has three regional Quarter Midget Championships and several track records. Lundstrom finished his Quarter Midget racing career ranked 4th at the Quarter Midget Nationals.

Tri-City Raceway is one of the fastest and technically demanding tracks on the series schedule, even for veteran drivers. With great anticipation Lundstrom looks forward to new challenges.

"Racing at Tri-City will be an exciting, new, and demanding experience with the Legends race car. I can't wait to get behind the wheel of my car to see how well I perform with other drivers."

He continued, "These cars are actually a handful to drive, which makes them perfect for revealing who has the most finesse and racing skill. With my previous driving experiences and help from other close resources, I'll start the season with a great deal of confidence. Reviewing notes from last season proves that this is one of the fastest and most technical tracks on our circuit. Concentration and focus must be at 110% if you want to run up front at Tri-City."

Running second is not on the agenda for Lundstrom, "For the 2004 season we expect to be one of, if not, the best cars on the track. I have always established numerous sets of high goals for myself. These include trying to win races week in and week out. If that is satisfied, then the ultimate goal of winning the championship will certainly follow," said Lundstrom.

The Bandoleros race car is a contemporary looking, full-bodied race car that contains a full tubular roll cage to maximize safety. The Bandolero was created for racers of all backgrounds and ages, serving as a stepping stone into to other forms of racing. Typically younger drivers race the Bandoleros Division.

Returning for his second season in the Bandoleros is ten year old Zachary O'Brien, of Everett, Wash.

Racing the #19 in the Bandoleros Bandit Division, O'Brien was the 2003 Rookie-of-the-Year and third overall in championship point standings with 12 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.

With his eye on the prize O'Brien comments, "I like racing the many different tracks on the schedule, it's fun. I like Tri-City, but the cars are so low to the ground we bottom-out going into turn-1 and again coming out of turn-4. I like the people who run the track; they seem to like us kids too."

O'Brien continued, "The team goal is to win races this season, and I hope to win the championship for the Bandoleros Division."

Legends Racing Notes of Interest

* New for the 2004 season the Northwest Legends Touring Series will feature a qualifying pole award for the Pro, Master and Semi-Pro Divisions. Fast qualifying time in each division will receive a $25 award. At the end of the season the pole champion in each division will receive an award of $500.

The pole award is titled, "The Brock Rentals Pole Award".

* The 2004 Northwest Legends Touring Series schedule will consist of fifteen championship point events throughout the Pacific Northwest region including ten different racing venues in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

* On June 26th the series travels to compete in a $10,000 non-points race on the banked quarter-mile oval of Raceway Park in Kalispell, Montana.

* In 1992 Legends racing was born, since that time more than 4,000 Legends race cars have been sold. There are car owners from 48 states, 10 foreign countries, and the racing series is gaining momentum with every race. Legends race car drivers come from all walks of life and range from 14 to 73 years in age. Legends cars race at over 200 different tracks across the United States.

* Legends race cars are 5/8 scale body style replicas of cars raced in early NASCAR events from 1937 thru the early 1940's. This affordable racing is the fastest growing motorsport in the country. The cars use the engines, carburetors and ignitions from the Yamaha FJ1200 motorcycle. The Legends race car is extremely fast and tops out at speeds of 140 mph.

* Legends race cars are created by 600 Racing, Inc. and sanctioned by INEX, Corp. to provide a fun and affordable racing opportunity in which anyone (experienced or inexperienced) can compete. Legends Cars offer a unique opportunity for the whole family to get involved in racing. This series fights the high costs involved in racing and the rules are strictly enforced to ensure safety and cost control. Legends race cars are affordable race cars with a unique design that requires little maintenance, time, and cost.

* In January, 1992, 600 Racing Inc. began a highly-accelerated research and development program into the design of a new race car that would cost under $15,000, have very low maintenance costs and remain simple enough so that the owner would not be required to hire a mechanic to work on the car.

-www.nwlegends.com

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