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Rain or shine, veteran Lutovsky making progress at Evergreen

It took Darrel Lutovsky seven years to win his first career feature event, but only a week to win for the second time.

Lutovsky, 41, of Everett, Wash., has learned over the years how to be competitive in the Les Schwab Tires Street Stock division at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash. The division competes on Evergreen’s .375-mile paved oval each Saturday night. Lutovsky proved to be a steady learner over the seasons. Even without a win, Lutovsky finished second by just 10 points to Lane Sundholm for the 2007 track championship. With back-to-back wins during he first half of 2009, Lutovsky is third in the division’s points race.

What makes his pair of wins even more impressive is the opposing track conditions that prevailed over those two Saturday nights. His first win came in the rain. His second win came on a dry night.

Given the typically wet summer months in the Pacific Northwest, Evergreen Speedway has a “rain or shine” weather policy, and ample covered grandstands to shelter the fans.

“It was a rainy day so the track was slippery,” Lutovsky said. “It takes finesse.”

Lutovsky learned his lessons well over the years of racing on a wet track at Evergreen.

“I got comfortable driving at the top of the track in the rain,” he said of his high line. “We run grooved Goodyear Racing Tires, and we found a little speed and a little grip up there. You just have to be gentle on the brakes and gas.

“We’ve had so many second-place finishes and races we should have won,” Lutovsky said. “It took a lot of learning about what to do and what not to do.”

The second win the following week left him stunned.

“I was speechless,” he said.

Lutovsky’s spotter, his uncle Eric Wagner, is a retired driver who first brought him to the track.

“He raced Sprint Cars and Super Late Models at Evergreen, and I’d work on his car with him,” Lutovsky said. “I eventually got the opportunity to buy a Street Stock really cheap, and went racing.”

The driver’s girlfriend, Christina Mark, videotapes the races to study the driver’s progress.

His current race car is a 1970 Camaro. Fred Williams, of Engines by Freddy, sponsors the engine. Other sponsors include B&D Sheet Metal, Coleman Motorsports and Brad Penn High Performance Motor Oil.

Lutovsky thinks it’s too early in the season to worry about the points race, but would enjoy the opportunity to compete for the championship. He says he takes the season on a week-to-week basis.

“After our next race, I could be first in points, or I could be sixth. We’ve come close to a title before. I think we’re capable of winning it, but we’ve got to be consistent.”

Evergreen Speedway has long been known as “The Super Speedway of the West,” and is also home to the Evergreen State Fair.

The facility includes a big .675-mile oval, a .375-mile oval and a Figure Eight track that host NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events on Saturday nights. The long front straightaway of the big track is also used as a .200-mile dragway for Friday night racing. The track opens for testing and practice on Thursday nights, and hosts drifting events on Sundays. Wednesday go-cart racing is in the discussion phase. Area law enforcement agencies also use the facility to brush up on pursuit techniques and other driving tactics.

Saturday’s racing goes on no matter the weather. A rainy night does, however, give the NASCAR Super Stock (Super Late Models) the night off and racing is held only on the .375-mile short track. Fans still get to see all the divisions scheduled for the short track which include Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Stinger Eights, Super Figure Eights and Hornets.

“Our fans know we race rain of shine,” said track Director of Sales Marv Monty. “Our rules require windshield wipers and window defrosters on the Street Stocks and Mini Stocks.”