Doug Pace The Spokesman-Review
For 11 years, Stateline Speedway has held the NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 200.
In the last three years, one man has taken the top prize back to Washington – Gary Lewis.
When Lewis wins at the prestigious Montana 200, he’s followed it up with a win two weeks later in Post Falls over the last three summers. This year the Snohomish, Wash., driver rides into town with four straight Montana victories and will look to add a unique quadruple of Idaho and Montana 200 wins to his resume.
Standing in his way will be three-time Inland Northwest Super Stock Association champion David Garber, former NASCAR Pro Series West driver Kevin Richards and a slew of regional late model talent out to dethrone Lewis.
Having a car capable of winning on the high-banked quarter-mile of Montana Raceway Park and the flatter Stateline Speedway is one key to a potential fourth straight Gem State victory, Lewis said.
“The tracks are very different indeed, but thanks to Mike Leary’s Shock Shop we have been able to build a handling package that works great at both,” Lewis said. “Each one is a multigrooved track and that fits my driving style very well.”
In the past, Lewis has been on the same Hoosier racing tire at each of the Montana 200 and Idaho 200 victories he’s achieved. This year Stateline will use a tire that is used on the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series, which runs a preliminary event Saturday night. The change in tires got the attention of the three-time champion.
“I’m sure it (the change in tires) will require some minor adjustments on our SEFNCO Communications Chevrolet, but then again, you’re always going to have to fine-tune a car at every track anyway so, as they say, that’s racing.”
Across the Northwest, tracks hold annual events similar to the Idaho 200. In Yakima, it’s the Apple Cup, which entered its 45th year last spring; at Wenatchee Valley, it’s their annual September 200-lap race; and the $15,000 to win Montana 200 that drew 45 drivers just two weeks ago. Over the history of those events, no driver has dominated like Lewis has in the last three seasons. The historical nature of his runs has not begun to set in, he said.
“Honestly, I have not put much thought into the historical part of what we’ve been able to do over the last few year,” he said. “We just go out and perform with hard work, learning and dedication by the team and myself, and that has been able to get us some wins in the books along the way. We hope we’re able to do that again this weekend at Stateline Speedway with a fourth NAPA Idaho 200 victory.”
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