Source HEI Media Coordinator

Richards Wins by Inches in INSSA Nail Bitter

POST FALLS, ID – August 21, 2005 – Newman Lake, Washington’s Kevin Richards won the Inland Northwest Super Stock Series 100-lap race by just 5.75 inches over late race leader Dave Garber in a last lap duel to the finish line at Stateline Speedway in Post Falls. John Mandere led the field to the green. Hayden, Idaho’s Darren Rupinski took command of the lead on lap 10 after a caution for the spun car of Ross Cooper. The caution quickly flew again as Rupinski assumed the top spot, numerous cars spun in the middle of three and four. Rupinski, the 2003 Idaho 200 winner, looked to be the car to beat early on as he started distancing himself from the second place battle of Dave and Dan Garber and point leader Kevin Richards. Dave Garber slowly reeled in Rupinski as the top four hit lapped traffic. Rupinski, hindered by the obstacles of slower cars allowed the Garber’s and Richards to pounce for the top spot midway through the race as Rupinski was caught behind a slower car with no where to go. Dave Garber took the lead on lap 63 as Rupinski slipped and fought for second and third place positions. Cautions flew for the spinning cars of Tom Schultz and John Mandere late in the race allowing Richards to maintain with in striking distance of leader Garber. With little under twelve to go, it looked, as if Dave Garber was about to score his first INSSA win. Richards was slowly closing the gap in second with time running out and to great of distance to close. Garber’s stride to victory hit a snag with ten laps to go when brother Dan Garber brought out a caution for a flat right front tire. On the restart, Garber held of Richards numerous times as the two jockeyed for the top spot. With five to go, Richards took the lead down the backstretch. Garber rallied back on the bottom to regain the position. Richards dropped to the bottom with little avail leading only one lap. The white flag flew. Garber inched ahead, locked on the bottom. Turn two, Richards jolted to the top in search for room. Down the backstretch in a dead heat, Garber was faster into the corners, Richards out.
Garber dove into turn three with the advantage of a fender. Richards hammered away at the top. Wheel to wheel they slid out off turn four to the line to the checker. Richards had won by inches. Garber jumped out of his car with a moment of jubilation, then confusion to who had won, and slowly to disappointment as Richards proceeded with a victory burnout. INSSA officials handed the first place trophy to Richards for his fifth series victory of the season. Garber was awarded for second. Andy Brown in all the late race shuffling passed Rupinski for third.

Officials reviewed still photography of the finish in addition to time coded video shot by Spokane ABC affiliate KXLY to further determine a clear and concise outcome. Richards had won the race by just a small fraction of his Chevrolet body nose piece.

In other races, Kevin Burck of Ephrata, Washington claimed the main event for the Inland Northwest Sprint Cars. Burck also set a new track record qualifying time of 12.158 seconds over the old record of 12.179 set in July 2004. Dave Hill scored the checker in the heat race after making an inside pass three wide exiting turns two.

Brian Husk out ran defending champion Rob Ballard and current point leader Craig Felix in the Hobby car 20-lap main to take the win. Ned Pennington finished fourth. Husk also won the Heat race.

The wild, wacky, over the top action of Wednesday Night Fever resumes this Wednesday at 6pm with Fever 4’s, Road Runners, plus the wild and crazy Bumper Cars. Adults are just $5.75; kids under the age of nine accompanied by adults are free.

This upcoming weekend the best open wheeled modified drivers take to the track Saturday and Sunday for the Gary Miller Memorial Race and Shoot-Out in honor of the late Northwest Modified founder and supporter Gary Miller. The event will feature a 100-lap race Saturday featuring the Northwest Modifieds and Sunday will feature the “Modified Shoot-Out” with a combination of Northwest Modifieds, IMCA cars, Grand American Modifieds and B-Mods.

For more information about Stateline Stadium/Speedway including coming attractions, schedule of events, and competition rules, log onto www.raceidaho.com or contact the event hotline at 208-773-5019.

Pictures of the event can be found at www.stateline.photoreflect.com

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Stateline Stadium/Speedway – 8/20/05 Saturday Results

INLAND NORTHWEST SUPER STOCK SERIES
Fin. Car (#), Driver, Hometown, Status, Laps Completed
1) 14 Kevin Richards Newman Lake, WA Running 100
2) 93 Dave Garber Spokane, WA Running 100
3) 41 Andy Brown Spokane, WA Running 100
4) 63 Darren Rupinski Hayden, ID Running 100
5) 23 Brad Allard Sagle, ID Running 100
6) 10 Jeff Little Dover, ID Running 100
7) 9 Bruce Garber Mead, WA Running 100
8) 95 Dan Garber Spokane Valley, WA Running 100
9) 25 John Mandere Chattaroy, WA Running 99
10) 7 LT Jones Sandpoint, ID Running 98
11) 28 Ross Cooper Spokane Valley, WA Running 97
12) 19 Mark Oergel Spokane, WA Running 97
13) 38 Mike Hoover Spokane, WA Running 96
14) 33x Mike Behar Spokane, WA Running 84
15) 27 Jeff Fenton Spokane, WA Mechanical 14
16) 46 Bryan Butterfield Spokane, WA Mechanical 13
17) 68x Tom Schultz Spokane, WA Mechanical 13
18) 21 Jack Morse Spokane, WA Mechanical 4

2 Scott Wilhelm Otis Orchards, WA DNS
43 Shelby Thompson Spokane, WA DNS

Fast Time: #95 Dan Garber, 13.281
Lap Leaders: #25 John Mandere -- Laps 1-9, #63 Darren Rupinski ~ Laps 10-62
#93 Dave Garber -- Laps 63-96, #14 Kevin Richards ~ Laps 97-100

A-Dash - #63 Darren Rupinski
B-Dash - #25 John Mandere

A-Heat - #9 Bruce Garber
B-Heat - #7 LT Jones

HOBBY STOCKS
Fast Time – Craig Felix, 16.10. Trophy Dash – 1) Rob Ballard. Heat – A) Brian Husk; B) Brett Santa Rosa. A Main -- 1) Husk; 2) Ballard; 3) Felix; 4) Ned Pennington; 5) John Ward; 6) Dave Harrison; 7) Tony Kempken; 8) Krissy Gutierrez; 9) JC Ward; 10) Gary Hommel.

Inland Northwest Winged Sprints
Fast Time – Kevin Burck, 12.158. Trophy Dash -- 1) Burck. Heat – 1) Dave Hill. A Main -- 1) Burck; 2) Hill; 3) Wes Helgeson; 4) Mark Jones; 5) Henry Tupling; 6) Larry Davies; 7) Frank Schubach; 8) Tony Berry.

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