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NEWS & NOTES
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
K&N PRO SERIES WEST
Media Coordinator - Kevin Green
(661)392-8543
kgreen@nascar.com
Media
Coordinator - Derrick Shannon
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
Kwasniewski
Makes Name For Himself In NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
Young driver looks forward to racing on home turf
When the season began, many people in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
had never heard of Dylan Kwasniewski. The Las Vegas driver, who
celebrated his 16th birthday last week, is quickly making a name for
himself, however.
He finished fourth in his series debut at All American Speedway in
Roseville, Calif., in April and registered another strong finish in
last month's NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at
Iowa Speedway. He has moved to 12th in the championship standings
and has taken the lead in the chase for this year's Sunoco Rookie of
the Year Award, despite not competing in the season opener.
Now the series heads to Kwasniewski's home turf - The Bullring at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway - for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 200 on
Saturday, June 11. The .375-mile oval is where he raced in the
Bandolero, Legend car and Charger divisions before moving up to the
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Models, where he
competes this year when not traveling with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series
West.
"I'm really looking forward to racing the K&N Rockstar/Royal Purple
car at my home track," Kwasniewski said. "I have a lot of laps there
and think that definitely gives me an advantage. I've won races in
just about everything at The Bullring. I think I can win in the K&N
car next."
In making his move to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West this year,
Kwasniewski teamed with veteran West Coast driver Greg Pursley at
Gene Price Motorsports. The expanded two-car effort by the
Arizona-based team has met with success for both drivers. While
Kwasniewski has established himself in the series, Pursley has
become a dominant force - scoring three wins in the first four races
and building a sizable lead in the championship standings.
"We were talking to Gene about running five K&N West races after I
turned 16, when NASCAR announced the age rule change; so we switched
gears and Gene pulled together an amazing team for me," Kwasniewski
said. "The competition in this series is tough and I knew I needed
to be with the best team if I was going to be successful on the
track. I can't think of a better place for me to be for the next
couple of years while I climb the NASCAR ladder."
A total of 21 drivers have earned Sunoco Rookie of the Year points
through the first four NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races.
Young Drivers Shine In East-West Combination
Race At Iowa Speedway
Drivers from across the country gather for
event
The annual NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at
Iowa Speedway has provided a great opportunity for young drivers
in the series to showcase their talent on a national stage. Joey
Logano was 16 years old when he won the inaugural event in 2007
and Brian Ickler was 22 when he won the prestigious combination
race a year later.
Although he did not win at Iowa; Trevor Bayne, this year's
winner of the Daytona 500, did experience success there as a
teenager. He was 17 when he finished third in the East-West
combination race in 2008.
The display of talent by NASCAR's future stars was evident last
year at Iowa when three young up-and-coming stars of the series,
all still in their teens, sailed down the front stretch
three-wide to take the white flag. Max Gresham, who was 17 at
the time, emerged with the victory.
Max Gresham won last year.
The trend is continuing this year, with more than two dozen
drivers who are 21 years old or under on the entry list for the
Pork 'Be Inspired' 175 presented by Tompkins Industries on
Saturday, May 21. It will mark the fifth year for the .875-mile
track in Newton, Iowa to host the prestigious combination race.
Some of the young drivers have already tasted victory this
season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Brett Moffitt won the
season opener at Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway, marking his
fifth career series win. Sergio Peña scored his first career
series win, meanwhile, with a victory at South Boston (Va.)
Speedway. Darrell Wallace Jr., Peña's teammate in NASCAR's Drive
for Diversity program at Revolution Racing, registered his third
career series win with a victory at Richmond (Va.) International
Raceway.
"It's really exciting to see so many talented young drivers
competing in this series," said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice
president, regional and touring series. "As NASCAR's top
developmental series, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series provides a great
opportunity for these up-and-coming drivers who aspire to reach
NASCAR's three national series.
"This event, in particular, is the one time each year when the
drivers from the East and the West compete head-to-head with
championship points on the line," he said.
There are approximately 60 entries for this year's combination
race, with drivers representing 22 states and three other
countries. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West race is part of a
big NASCAR weekend at Iowa Speedway, with the NASCAR Nationwide
Series race on Sunday, May 22.
Drivers entered at Iowa from the K&N East who are 21 and under
include Chase Elliott, 15; Julian Albarracin, 16; Tanner
Berryhill, 17; Ryan Blaney, 17; Darrell Wallace Jr., 17; Alex
Bowman, 18; Max Gresham, 18; Brett Moffitt, 18; Sergio Peña, 18;
Tanner Whitten, 18; Chad Boat, 19; Matt DiBenedetto, 19; Cale
Conley, 19; Brandon Gdovic, 19; Cody Hodgson, 19; Ben Kennedy,
19; Cory LaJoie, 19; Daniel Suárez, 19; Michael Cherry, 21; and
D.J. Shaw, 21.
Drivers entered from the K&N West who are 21 or under include
Dylan Kwasniewski, 15; Isaac Sherman, 16; Alex Kennedy, 19;
Travis Milburn, 19; Michael Self, 20; Taylor Cuzick, 20; Luis
Martinez Jr., 21; Spencer Gallagher, 21; and Brennan Newberry,
21.
K&N West Heads To Road Course At Miller
Motorsports Park In Utah
Series
visits 3 types of venues in first 3 races
The first three races in the NASCAR K&N Pro
Series West this year feature competition in three different
arenas of stock car racing - including a speedway, a short track
and a road course.
The season was launched with a race on the
one-mile speedway at Phoenix International Raceway in February.
The next event on the schedule was on the tight .333-mile oval
at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., on April 16.
Now drivers and teams are preparing to
shift gears as the series heads to the road course at Miller
Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah for the Larry H. Miller
Dealerships Utah Grand Prix on Saturday, April 30.
Visiting different types of venues first
thing in the season is something that second-year driver Michael
Self welcomes.
"For me, it's a good thing," said the
20-year-old from Park City, Utah. "I'm not accustomed to driving
on one type of track, nor do I feel like I'm better on one type
of track than the other. So, it's a really good chance for me to
change things up and not get too adept to driving one type of
track."
"I also think it’s a good thing for me,
because I'm getting the three types of tracks out of the way
early in the year," he said. "So, as those races come up, we'll
know later what we have going into the short track races, the
big track races and the road courses."
It will mark the fifth straight year the
series has visited the massive MMP complex, located west of Salt
Lake City. But unlike past seasons when drivers competed on the
3.048-mile outer course, this year's race will be contested on
the track's 2.2-mile layout.
"I think the shorter track will be better
for us and better for the fans," said Self, who drives the No.
21 Shining Monkey/GGRT/RCR Chevrolet of veteran car owner Jim
Offenbach. "I think it will make for a lot closer racing and not
so spread out. As far as the fans, they'll be able to see the
whole race better and get a better picture of what's going on
and be able to keep up with everything."
Hailing from nearby Park City, Self calls
Miller Motorsports Park his home track.
"I consider it my home track because it's
in my backyard," said Self, while pointing out that he has only
competed in big cars on the track four or five times. "All my
friends and local fans can come out. For me, that's what the
home track is all about, having the local support."
Practice for the event gets underway at
8:45 a.m. on Saturday. Qualifying is set for 1:30 p.m., with the
race slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.
Pursley
Hopes To Maintain Momentum At All American
Winner of 3 of last 4 K&N Pro Series West
races
Greg Pursley is on a roll. He has won three of the past four
races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, dating back to last
season.
Kevin Green- NASCAR
He hopes to keep his momentum rolling
when the series visits All American Speedway in Roseville,
Calif., for the Toyota/NAPA AutoCare 150 presented by A-All Mini
Storage on Saturday, April 16.
Pursley knows scoring a win on the tight short .333-mile track
will be a tough challenge. To do so, he will need to beat Eric
Holmes and the Bill McAnally Racing teams on their home turf.
BMR has won five of the six series events since Roseville
returned to the series schedule in 2008, with Holmes taking
three of those wins.
While Pursley has run with the race leaders in each of his four
previous starts at Roseville, his best finish there was third in
2009.
"Nearly every time we've gone to Roseville - we've run okay, but
not really good," said the driver of the No. 26 Gene Price
Motorsports Ford. "We've always been there near the finish, but
have not finished well because of a crash or something. My goal
this time is to come out of Roseville with a good top-five
finish."
To better their odds, his team has put extra focus on their
short track effort this season, according to Pursley.
"We're hoping our short track program will be better this year,"
he said. "We have a new composite body car for the short tracks
and we're excited about that. I'm looking for a good finish at
Roseville this time."
Pursley is coming off a win in the season opener at Phoenix
International Raceway in February. He had closed out the 2010
season with a victory at the one-mile track at Phoenix and two
races before that had a win on the road course at Miller
Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Maintaining that momentum,
however, will be a challenge, he said.
"It's really going to be hard on the short tracks," said the
veteran driver who lives in Parker, Ariz., where the team is
based. "Our team is on a roll right now and we're optimistic
about being able to do that at Roseville. It's just that we've
got so many good short track drivers in our series right now.
But it would be great to keep it on a roll."
Pursley credits champion crew chief Jerry Pitts, who joined the
team at the beginning of last season, with helping to pull
everything together and putting them in position to challenge
for the title.
"We've been together a little over a year now and our team has
really gelled together," Pursley said. "I'm really excited about
this year. I'm really looking forward to running for the
championship this year."
Pursley
Keeps Momentum Rolling
Collects third win in last four K&N Pro Series West races
By Jason Christley, NASCAR
February 24, 2011
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Greg Pursley's run
of success in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and Phoenix
International Raceway has continued into 2011, with a win in the
season opening 3 Amigos Organic Blanco 100 on Thursday.
It was Pursley's second straight win at Phoenix – to go with his
victory in the 2010 finale at the 1-mile oval – and his third in
the last four races.
“My team gave me a great car,” Pursley said of his win in the
No. 26 Gene Price Motorsports Ford. “It’s the same car we won
here with in November.”
His team opted to cut short their practice session earlier in
the day. “We kind of put it away a little early, so we didn’t
over adjust ourselves on the track conditions,” Pursley said.
Then they had a specific game plan for the race.
“Our strategy was to come in really early and try and save our
stuff,” Pursley said. “While everybody had different strategies,
we came in during the second caution and put on two tires and
fuel and went out with the mindset to save our tires and wait
everybody out and try to keep the fenders on it. And it worked.”
The veteran driver from Newhall, Calif., who now lives in nearby
Parker, Ariz., pulled away from the field on the final restart
with seven laps remaining and won by a margin of 1.135 seconds.
“I didn’t want to see that yellow flag, but I just knew we had
to put down some qualifying laps there at the end,” Pursley
said.
He credited his team with their run of success. “My crew chief,
Jerry Pitts, we’ve just now been together a year and kind of
figured each other out,” Pursley said. “Our team has gelled
together really well.”
Jonathon Gomez of Twin Falls, Idaho took the runner-up spot in
his No. 22 Heritage Cattle/Century Boatland Chevrolet, matching
his career-best series finish. Series rookie Derek Thorn of
Lakeport, Calif., finished third in the No. 44 Four Star Fruit/Hronis
Racing Chevrolet. He was followed by Ty Dillon, who had finished
third at Phoenix in November, and Brett Thompson, who was making
his 100th career series start. Rounding out the top 10 were Jim
Inglebright; two-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion
Andrew Ranger; Moses Smith; David Mayhew; and 2010 NASCAR
Canadian Tires Series champion DJ Kennington.
Action sports star Travis Pastrana, making his first start in a
NASCAR points event, finished 25th after a late-race spin.
Pastrana, who was as high as seventh, made contact with the
inside wall on the front stretch, but got it pointed in the
right direction and didn't bring out the caution.
Defending race winner and series champion Eric Holmes came away
from Phoenix with a 14th-place finish. After qualifying 25th,
his team opted to make an engine change and start the race from
the back of the pack. The three-time series champion worked his
way into the top five before make his pit stop.
The race featured 10 lead changes among five drivers, with 24
drivers finishing on the lead lap.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will back on track on Saturday,
April 16 for the Toyota/NAPA AutoCare 150 at All American
Speedway in Roseville, Calif.
58th Season Ready To Go Green
Holmes faces challengers to 4th West title
Eric Holmes returns to Phoenix International Raceway with fond
memories of his 2010 trip to the Valley of the Sun. The Escalon,
Calif. driver got his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship
run started with a win at Phoenix last April, and then lifted
his third championship trophy when the series finished the
season at the track in November.
Holmes is back in the No. 20 NAPA Toyota, hoping to successfully
defend his championship for the first time as the NASCAR K&N Pro
Series West will kick off its 2011 season at Phoenix
International with the 3 Amigos Organic Blanco 100 on Thursday,
Feb. 24.
The event, the first of a 14-race schedule, marks the start of
the 58th season for the West's oldest stock car racing circuit.
Holmes has won championships in 2006, '08 and '10. He was second
in 2009 and ran only a partial schedule in 2007 while running
the East as well. With another West title, Holmes would join
exclusive company. Only three drivers in the series have won
more than three championships: Ray Elder with six (1969-72,
1974-75), and Bill Schmitt (1977, 1979, 1989-90), and Roy Smith
(1980-82, 1988) with four apiece.
He'll face plenty of competition, with nine of the
top 10 drivers from last year returning.
After finishing second in the championship standings last year -
David Mayhew (No. 17 MMI Services/Ron's Rear Ends/KHI Chevrolet)
of Atascadero, Calif., is looking to make another run at the
title.
Greg Pursley (No. 26 Gene Price Motorsports Ford) of Newhall,
Calif., finished off his 2010 season by winning two of the final
three races.
Other series veterans aiming to challenge for the championship
include Moses Smith (No. 16 HASA Pool Products/White Flyer
Toyota) of Tempe, Ariz.; Brett Thompson (No. 61 Rich Thompson
Trucking Chevrolet) of Jerome, Idaho; and Daryl Harr (No. 71
WestWorld Computers Chevrolet) of Edmonton, Alberta. Smith, a
three-time winner of the Most Popular Driver Award, is returning
for his fifth straight full season in the series. Thompson, who
has competed in the series since 2000, is returning to a
full-time schedule after running select events in 2010. Harr -
who at times has competed as part of a two-car team with his
father, Carl - is also returning to a full schedule after
running limited events last year.
A strong challenge is also expected from some second-year
drivers who finished in the top 10 of the final standings last
year. They include last year's Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Luis
Martinez Jr. (No. 6 King Taco/Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil Ford) of
Long Beach, Calif.; Jonathon Gomez (No. 22 Heritage
Cattle/Century Boatland Chevrolet) of Twin Falls, Idaho; Michael
Self (No. 21 Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Chevrolet)
of Park City, Utah; Todd Souza (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets
Chevrolet) of Aromas, Calif.; and Travis Milburn (No. 14 Cooks
Collision Toyota) of Eagle, Idaho.
2011 Schedule K&N West
Kevin W. Green
2007 WAS A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT
IN NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST SERIES
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 1, 2007)
– Track and series records and a pair of individual
accomplishments set this year reflect a level of competition
that continued to increase as the NASCAR Grand National
Division, West Series celebrated its 54th season.
Mike Duncan collected more than $77,000 in
postseason awards to become the first driver to surpass the $1
million mark in career series winnings – with $1,040,109. And
when Joey Logano won at Phoenix International Raceway at the age
of 17 years, 10 months, he became the youngest driver to win a
West Series race.
Track records were set in qualifying for nine events
on this year’s 13-race schedule, while race records were set in
six events.
Qualifying times were eclipsed at five tracks –
Colorado National Speedway, north of Denver; Douglas County
Speedway in Roseburg, Ore.; Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash.;
Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.; and Thunder Hill Raceway in
Kyle, Texas. Inaugural visits to new venues accounted for track
records being established at the other four events.
Two series records were set, meanwhile, both at
Infineon Raceway. The 27 drivers who finished on the lead lap at
Sonoma topped the previous series high of 17. In addition, the
30 cars running at the finish in the northern California road
course race surpassed the previous record of 28 cars.
The 2007 championship season included 13 events at
12 venues in nine states. Those events featured 2,021 laps of
competition, which translated into more than 1,430 miles of
racing.
Brian Ickler led the most laps of competition
overall, keeping the No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet out front
for 416 laps, or about 20 percent of the total laps run.
Two-time series champion Mike Duncan led the most
races in 2007, pacing the field for 306 laps in seven events in
the No. 9 Lucas Oil/Ron’s Rear Ends Chevrolet. He demonstrated
his versatility by leading laps on short tracks, intermediate
tracks and a road course. Justin Lofton was the only other
driver in the series to lead on all three types of venues this
year. He had his Lofton Cattle/Cometic/Klotz/Eibach Ford out
front for 89 laps in five events.
This year’s series champion, Mike David, completed
the most laps. The 2,017 laps of competition he registered in
the No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford were just four laps short of
the total possible for the entire season.
The 2,021 laps of competition run by the series in
2007 translated into just over 1,430 miles of racing.
For
Further Information Contact:
Kevin W. Green, NASCAR Public Relations,
661/392-8543, kgreen@nascar.com
Jason Christley, NASCAR Public Relations,
386/253-0611, jchristley@nascar.com
Kevin W. Green
MIKE DAVID CROWNED 2007 CHAMPION
IN NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST SERIES
PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2007)
– Mike David reached a goal he set more than seven years ago as he
was crowned the 2007 champion of the NASCAR Grand National Division,
West Series during a special awards ceremony in the International
Ballroom of the Hilton Pasadena on Sunday.
The 40-year-old veteran driver from Modesto, Calif., was presented
the championship trophy and postseason team awards representing more
than $147,572. The championship celebration culminated with NASCAR’s
Managing Director of Racing Operations George Silbermann presenting
David with the prestigious NASCAR championship ring.
“It’s a goal that we set out when we started this thing,” David
said, recalling his entry into the West Series in 2001 with car
owner Randy Lynch. “That was one of our goals – to win this
championship.”
The end-of-season awards pushed David’s team winnings for this year
to $236,537. In addition to a $60,000
bonus, he will receive more than $37,000 in team winnings from the
NASCAR point fund. David was presented with the Aero Exhaust Lap
Leader Award for 2007, along with a check for $5,000. In addition,
he received a special trophy and $3,000 from Goodyear.
David, a second-generation driver who grew up watching his father
race at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway, clinched the West Series
championship by a 114-point margin in the final race of the season.
Other championship awards in Pasadena included the presentation of
the Champion Owner trophy to Randy Lynch. He also received the
Champion Sponsor trophy on behalf of his Bennett Lane Winery. The
Lunati Champion Crew Chief Award, along with $2,500, went to the
team’s crew chief, Mario Isola.
The awards ceremony featured many other special honors. Two-time
series champion Mike Duncan of Bakersfield, Calif., was presented
with the Most Popular Driver Award. He also received the Bud Pole
Award for the third time in four years. In addition, Duncan was
presented with the driver and car owner trophies for finishing
second in the championship standings.
The prestigious Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award went to Ontario,
Calif., driver Jason Bowles, who finished third in the overall
championship standings.
Brian Ickler of San Diego received several honors. The second-year
driver was presented with the HDNet Performance Award, along with
$10,000. The award also included a high definition wide-screen
television. In addition, Ickler was presented with the POWERade
Power Move Award, earning him $7,500. Ickler also took home the
Driver Achievement Award for a second consecutive year, while being
recognized for scoring the most wins (three) in 2007.
Long-time car owner Dick Midgley was honored with the Sportsmanship
Award for 2007. Series rookie Alex Haase of Las Vegas was presented
with the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award, along with $6,000.
Eric Hardin of Anaheim, Calif., was presented with a special award,
named in honor of Spencer Clark.
This year’s awards ceremony featured Mike Joy of Fox Sports as
master of ceremonies.
Christley, Jason
NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown Results
NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN
Unofficial Results
Saturday
At Irwindale Speedway
Irwindale, CA
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Joey Logano, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 250 laps,
61.150 mph, $33,284.
2. (9) Peyton Sellers, Danville, Va., Chevrolet, 250, $22,684.
3. (3) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 250,
$17,000.
4. (6) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, 250,
$16,184.
5. (10) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 250, $13,530.
6. (5) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 250, $12,000.
7. (25) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Chevrolet, 250, $8,000.
8. (28) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 250,
$12,434.
9. (33) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 250, $14,684.
10. (13) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 250,
$9,250.
11. (21) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield, Calif., Toyota, 250,
$10,000.
12. (19) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 250, $9,500.
13. (16) Rogelio Lopez, Aquascaliantes, Mexico, Chevrolet, 250,
$10,684.
14. (15) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 250, $8,500.
15. (11) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford, 250, $8,000.
16. (31) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 250,
$8,300.
17. (20) Daryl Harr, St Albert, AB, Chevrolet, 250, $7,700.
18. (29) Jamie Hayes, Norlina, N.C., Chevrolet, 250, $9,284.
19. (18) Ben Walker, Santa Clarita, Calif., Ford, 249, $4,550.
20. (30) Alex Haase, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 248, $7,500.
21. (36) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford, 248, $5,400.
22. (27) Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., Chevrolet, 247, $7,300.
23. (24) Andrew Myers, Newport Beach, Calif., Chevrolet, 243,
accident, $5,250.
24. (8) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 243, accident,
$7,200.
25. (7) Ryan Foster, Anderson, Calif., Chevrolet, 242, $7,150.
26. (38) Woody Pitkat, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 236,
$6,254.
27. (4) Marc Davis, Mitchelville, Md., Chevrolet, 231, $8,784.
28. (22) Justin Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Ford, 214, $7,100.
29. (35) Mike Johnson, Salisbury, Mass., Ford, 212, rear end,
$8,630.
30. (39) Chris Bristol, Columbus, Ohio, Chevrolet, 208, $9,784.
31. (40) Antonio Perez, Mexico City, Mexico, Dodge, 189, $9,734.
32. (12) Nick Lynch, Burley, Idaho, Dodge, 176, accident,
$4,000.
33. (34) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Chevrolet, 155, accident,
$7,000.
34. (23) Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills, Calif., Ford, 139, engine,
$4,000.
35. (37) Ryan Philpott, Tracy, Calif., Ford, 129, suspension,
$5,000.
36. (1) Sean Caisse, Pelham, N.H., Chevrolet, 74, accident,
$11,684.
37. (17) Jeff Barkshire, Auburn, Wash., Dodge, 60, suspension,
$4,000.
38. (14) Stephen Berry, Huddleston, Va., Chevrolet, 45,
accident, $7,530.
39. (26) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Quebec, Chevrolet, 31,
accident, $7,530.
40. (32) Michelle Theriault, Bristol, Conn., Chevrolet, 28,
accident, $8,684.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 2 hours 2 minutes 39 seconds
Margin of Victory:
Fastest Qualifier: S.Caisse (98.517 mph, 18.271 seconds)
Caution Flags: 13 for 61 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: S.Caisse 1-74; M.Duncan 75-154; B.Ickler 155-163;
J.Logano 164-250.
Christley, Jason
Logano Wins NASCAR
Toyota All-Star Showdown
NASCAR Public Relations
Irwindale, Calif. – Joey Logano capped off his rookie season in the
NASCAR Grand National Division the same way he started it: In
Victory Lane.
Logano, the 17-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, picked
up his biggest victory Saturday night winning the NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
He held off fellow Busch East driver Peyton Sellers, who turned 24
Saturday, following a green-white-checkered finish to the 250-lap
event that has been dubbed the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing.’
"I just had a great race tonight," Logano said. "My crew, they
picked it up a ton. To be able to run up front all night, this team
is unbelievable. ... I just have a lot of confidence. That's what
you have to have to win. We came here knowing we can win and that's
what we did."
Two-time West Series champion Mike Duncan finished third in a
frantic finish, edging defending race winner Matt Kobyluck at the
start-finish line. Eddie McDonald followed closely in fifth.
Brian Ickler over overcame a mid-race mechanical problem that put
him a lap down prior to the 200-lap break to drive his way back up
to sixth. Eric Holmes, Mike Olsen, John Salemi, and David Mayhew
rounded out the top 10.
Logano won six times during the Grand National regular season –
including his first career start in the West Series at Phoenix
International Raceway in April. He became the first rookie to win a
NASCAR Busch East title and set the record as series’ youngest
champion.
Christley, Jason
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown - UPDATES w/ Open results,
Saturday's full lineup
Irwindale, Calif. – Sean Caisse
knows that all eyes in the NASCAR developmental world right now
are on Joe Gibbs Racing’s Joey Logano. And that’s just fine for
Caisse, who stole some of that attention by bumping Logano off
the pole during Friday’s qualifying for Saturday’s NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway.
Caisse qualified at 98.517 mph. He
eclipsed Logano’s fast time of 98.253.
“The biggest thing is who’s on the
outside of me,” Caisse said. “He’s been in the spotlight all
year. For him to be in the pole position and then knock him off
it is a hell of an accomplishment. He’s a great driver.”
The top 34 cars advanced to Saturday
night’s main event. The remaining 16 raced later Friday night in
the 50-lap ‘Open’ race, with the top six finishers transferring
to Saturday’s event.
Former Toyota Showdown winner Mike
Johnson took the lead on lap two of the 50-lap Open and held on
for the victory through several challenges, including a
green-white-checkered finish that stretch the race to 54 laps.
Greg Pursley finished second,
followed by Ryan Philpott, Woody Pitkat, and Chris Bristol.
Antonio Perez, a regular in the NASCAR Mexico Series, finished
sixth and was the last car to transfer.
“I just want to everything I can
drive; I love racing,” Perez said. “This is a special moment for
me. This is like a dream come true.”
Pursley, a former NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series champion, had a very special day as well. In
addition to qualifying for Saturday’s race, he won the NASCAR
Super Late Model 150 presented by King Taco earlier Friday
night. In that race, he dove inside track champion Rip Michels
for the lead with 27 laps remaining and led the rest of the way.
“Winning the Toyota All-Star
Showdown ranks right up there with my national championship,”
said Pursley, who won NASCAR's weekly series national title in
2004. “This race to us is like our Daytona 500. And it means
everything to me.”
Following a lap 136 caution, Pursley
was able to hold off Michels, who made several attempts to slide
underneath for the lead.
"Greg's on the very best I've ever
raced against," Michels said. "We've had our day. Today was
Greg's day. ... He just outdrove us and beat us."
For Caisse, it was a late draw in
qualifying that helped him earn the pole for Saturday’s race.
Logano was the 23rd car in line; Caisse went out 40th out of 50
cars,
“The important part was not only the
temperature, but mainly the visibility,” Caisse said, noting the
sun dipped below the horizon just as he took his second lap.
“Really, it was a very lucky draw and I thought that had a huge
factor in a good qualifying run.”
Caisse finished second in the NASCAR
Busch East standings to Logano and won the regular-season ending
race at Dover International Speedway.
Mike Duncan qualified third at
97.890, followed by Logano’s teammate Marc Davis at 97.768.
Brian Ickler will start fifth and Matt Kobyluck sixth. Ickler
won the West Series race at Irwindale in July, while Kobyluck is
the defending champion of the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Mike David, the West Series
champion, qualified 15th but will have to start at the back
Saturday. He got loose in turn 4 of his second qualifying lap
and crushed the nose of the car into the wall just past the
start-finish line.
STARTING LINEUP
NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN
Irwindale Speedway
Qualifying Friday; Race Saturday
1. (44) Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet, 98.517
2. (20) Joey Logano, Middletown Conn., Chevrolet, 98.253
3. (9) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet, 97.890
4. (18) Marc Davis, Mitchelville Md., Chevrolet, 97.768
5. (16) Brian Ickler, San Diego Calif., Chevrolet, 97.709
6. (40) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 97.297
7. (65) Ryan Foster, Anderson Calif., Chevrolet, 97.098
8. (81) Brett Thompson, Jerome Idaho, Chevrolet, 97.004
9. (83) Peyton Sellers, Danville Va., Chevrolet, 96.826
10. (48) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet, 96.785
11. (8) Johnny Borneman, Ramona Calif., Ford, 96.759
12. (29) Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Dodge, 96.717
13. (21) David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet, 96.701
14. (3) Stephen Berry, Huddleston Va., Chevrolet, 96.624
15. (2) Mike David, Modesto Calif., Ford, 96.603
16. (03) Rogelio Lopez, Aquascaliantes Mexico, Chevrolet, 96.489
17. (46) Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge, 96.427
18. (93) Ben Walker, Santa Clarita Calif., Ford, 96.411
19. (22) Jason Bowles, Ontario Calif., Ford, 96.401
20. (71) Daryl Harr, St Albert AB, Chevrolet, 96.365
21. (50) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Toyota, 96.288
22. (66) Justin Lofton, Westmorland Calif., Ford, 96.277
23. (54) Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills Calif., Ford, 96.241
24. (4) Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Chevrolet, 96.200
25. (62) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet, 96.185
26. (09) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond Quebec, Chevrolet, 94.722
27. (5) Eric Hardin, Anaheim Calif., Chevrolet, 94.717
28. (61) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 95.526
29. (52) Jamie Hayes, Norlina N.C., Chevrolet, 95.511
30. (88) Alex Haase, Las Vegas Nev., Chevrolet, 96.056
31. (1) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield Calif., Chevrolet, 95.836
32. (37) Michelle Theriault, Bristol Conn., Chevrolet, 96.144
33. (63) John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Chevrolet, 96.180
34. (78) Moses Smith, Tempe Ariz., Chevrolet, 95.314
35. (96) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, transfer
36. (77) Greg Pursley, Newhall Calif., Ford, transfer
37. (25) Ryan Philpott, Tracy Calif., Ford, transfer
38. (6) Woody Pitkat, Manchester Conn., Chevrolet, transfer
39. (28) Chris Bristol, Columbus Ohio, Chevrolet, transfer
40. (12) Antonio Perez, Mexico City Mexico, Dodge, transfer
Last Chance Open Results
Race Friday; Top 6 transfered to race Saturday
1. (4) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 54 laps
2. (5) Greg Pursley, Newhall Calif., Ford, 54
3. (6) Ryan Philpott, Tracy Calif., Ford, 54
4. (10) Woody Pitkat, Manchester Conn., Chevrolet, 54
5. (28) Chris Bristol, Columbus Ohio, Chevrolet, 54
6. (1) Antonio Perez, Mexico City Mexico, Dodge, 54
7. (11) Todd Souza, Aromas Calif., Chevrolet, 54
8. (7) Candace Muzny, Oklahoma City Okla., Ford, 54
9. (3) Rick Wall, Irvine Calif., Ford, 54
10. (15) David Ross, Colton Calif., Chevrolet, 54
11. (14) Darrell Midgley, Victoria BC, Chevrolet, 54
12. (9) Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet, 53
13. (8) Jamie Dick, Albuquerque N.M., Chevrolet, 53
14. (17) Ryan Black, Alto Loma, Calif., Ford, 53
15. (16) Jason Noll, El Mirage Ariz., Chevrolet, 19
16. (12) Scott Bouley, Thomaston Conn., Chevrolet, 18
17. (13) Jason Gilbert, Dublin Calif., Chevrolet, 16
nascarmedia.com
Holmes Gets Win At Altamont,
David Takes Title
TRACY, Calif. –
Long-time friends and sometime
rivals Eric Holmes and Mike
David both had reason to
celebrate at Altamont
Motorsports Park on Saturday.
Holmes scored a dominant win,
while David won the championship
as the NASCAR Grand National
Division, West Series closed out
its 2007 season on the half-mile
oval in Northern California with
the Dan Gamel RV Centers 200.
Holmes, the 2006 series
champion, took an early lead and
never looked back as he sailed
to victory in one of only four
series events he competed in
this year. David, who finished
second to Holmes in last year’s
standings, entered the event
with a sizable points lead and
secured the title by the midway
point of the race as attrition
took its toll on the 28-car
field.
David’s finish was not without
some drama, however, as he
encountered mechanical trouble
with about 50 laps to go. “I
broke the transmission and only
had high gear,” he said. “It was
shaking and popping and making
noises it’s not supposed to. I
just held on to her.”
Despite losing positions on the
restarts, David was able to
finish third in the Bennett Lane
Winery Ford. Nevertheless, he
was disappointed at not being
able to challenge Holmes for the
win on their home track. “I was
telling my spotter to tell
Eric’s spotter, ‘how about a
fast restart?’ But Eric wouldn’t
help us out,” David later said
with a chuckle. “That’s okay. He
was a little better than us
anyway. I think we had a
second-place car, but it would
have been fun to get up there
and race with him.”
For Holmes, whose effort to run
in the Busch East Series this
season ended in frustration, the
win provided him with some
consolation – as well as
securing him a spot in the
prestigious post-season NASCAR
Toyota All-Star Showdown. “I
knew I could do this stuff,” he
said. “So, I came back to prove
it. We’ll go to the Showdown and
I’ll show them what I’ve got
there.”
Holmes crossed the finish line
with a margin of victory of
2.378 seconds, at an average
speed of 57.297 mph. The win
netted him $6,917 in prize money
and posted awards.
He attributed his dominance to
his Paul Oil Company Chevrolet.
“I had a great car,” Holmes
said. “The 16 would have given
me a run for my money, but I
think I still could have beaten
him,” Holmes said of Brian
Ickler.
Ickler turned in a fast-lap of
100.346 mph in winning his third
Bud Pole Award of the season. He
had the No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts
Chevrolet out front for the
first seven laps, before Holmes
slipped by on a restart. Ickler
pressured Holmes at times, but
dropped off the lead lap with a
flat tire on lap 73. He fell
further behind with additional
flat tires later in the race,
leaving him to finish 16th.
A career-best finish went to
series rookie David Mayhew of
Atascadero, Calif. – who took
the runner-up spot to Holmes in
the Golden Gate Petroleum/RCR
Chevrolet. Kyle Cattanach of
Redding, Calif., also had a
career-best mark, with a
fourth-place finish in the Dan
Gamel/Eldorado Hotel Toyota.
This year’s Sunoco Rookie of the
Year Jason Bowles of Ontario,
Calif., was fifth in the Sunrise
Ford/Turbo Torq Ford. Rounding
out the top 10 were Daryl Harr,
Mike Duncan, Alex Haase, Eric
Richardson and Eric Hardin.
David finished his season with a
114-point margin over Duncan in
the championship standings.
Bowles finished third in the
standings, followed by Ickler
and Johnny Borneman. Justin
Lofton, Hardin, Brett Thompson,
Haase and Richardson complete
the top 10 of the point
standings.
Winning the series championship
is something that David and car
owners Randy Lynch and his wife,
Lisa, have been focused on since
beginning their Grand National
West Series program in 2001. “It
was an important goal to us when
we started, Randy, Lisa and I
and the whole team,” David said
after clinching the title. “So,
to achieve your goal is a real
important thing.”
While David was securing the
championship, Bowles was
enjoying the title as Sunoco
Rookie of the Year. He finished
the season with 93 points –
followed by Haase with 79,
Richardson with 78, Ryan Foster
with 61, Moses Smith with 58,
Mayhew with 47, Stan Silva Jr.,
and Rick Wall with 42, and Mike
Gallegos with 37.
West Series drivers will head to
Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway to
face competitors from across the
country in the NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown on Oct. 19-20.
NASCAR
GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST
SERIES-DAN GAMEL RV CENTERS 200
Results
Saturday
At Altamont Motorsports Park
Tracy, CA
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start
position in parentheses)
1. (2) Eric Holmes, Escalon,
Calif., Chevrolet, 200 laps,
57.297 mph, $6,917.
2. (21) David Mayhew,
Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet,
200, $4,717.
3. (6) Mike David, Modesto,
Calif., Ford, 200, $3,667.
4. (22) Kyle Cattanach, Redding,
Calif., Toyota, 200, $2,400.
5. (5) Jason Bowles, Ontario,
Calif., Ford, 200, $3,517.
6. (17) Daryl Harr, St Albert,
Alberta, Chevrolet, 200, $2,717.
7. (8) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield,
Calif., Chevrolet, 200, $3,367.
8. (18) Alex Haase, Las Vegas,
Nev., Chevrolet, 200, $3,767.
9. (10) Eric Richardson,
Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet,
199, $3,180.
10. (16) Eric Hardin, Anaheim,
Calif., Chevrolet, 198, $3,167.
11. (25) Rick Wall, Irvine,
Calif., Ford, 197, $2,167.
12. (3) Justin Lofton,
Westmorland, Calif., Ford, 197,
$2,017.
13. (14) Jason Fensler, Wilton,
Calif., Chevrolet, 196, $1,500.
14. (19) Brett Thompson, Jerome,
Idaho, Chevrolet, 195, $2,567.
15. (11) Rick Ruzbarsky, Tracy,
Calif., Chevrolet, 194, $1,350.
16. (1) Brian Ickler, San Diego,
Calif., Chevrolet, 193, $3,967.
17. (24) Moses Smith, Tempe,
Ariz., Chevrolet, 192, $1,667.
18. (28) Wes Banks, Oakdale,
Calif., Ford, 192, $1,200.
19. (26) Ed Vecchiarelli, Sr.,
Brighton, Colo., Chevrolet, 192,
$1,000.
20. (23) Jason Gilbert, Dublin,
Calif., Chevrolet, 179, $1,000.
21. (7) Ryan Foster, Anderson,
Calif., Chevrolet, 147,
steering, $1,417.
22. (12) Ryan Philpott, Tracy,
Calif., Ford, 100, oil line,
$1,000.
23. (4) Johnny Borneman, Ramona,
Calif., Ford, 42, accident,
$2,167.
24. (9) Jason Patison, Corona,
Calif., Ford, 41, accident,
$1,000.
25. (27) Thomas Martin, Auburn,
Calif., Chevrolet, 30, engine,
$1,000.
26. (15) Ben Walker, Santa
Clarita, Calif., Chevrolet, 28,
brakes, $1,000.
27. (13) Jim Inglebright,
Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet,
16, accident, $2,167.
28. (20) Mike Gallegos, Wheat
Ridge, Colo., Ford, 0, accident,
$1,417.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 44 minutes
43 seconds
Margin of
Victory: 2.378 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Ickler
(100.346 mph, 17.938 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 45 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B.Ickler 1-7;
E.Holmes 8-200.
Standings: 1. M.David, 2013; 2.
M.Duncan, 1899; 3. J.Bowles,
1871; 4. B.Ickler, 1838; 5.
J.Borneman, 1813; 6. J.Lofton,
1742; 7. E.Hardin, 1712; 8.
B.Thompson, 1683; 9. A.Haase,
1653; 10. E.Richardson, 1617.
Unofficial
|
|
|
|
Derrick
Shannon
Norris
Claims Southwest Series Finale at PIR
AVONDALE,
ARIZ. (November 9, 2006) 2006 NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southeast Series champion headed and west and
claimed the final trophy for the AutoZone Elite Division in
the Konica Minolta “125” for the Southwest Series at the
desert mile known as Phoenix International Raceway. Norris
was running fifth when the caution flew on lap 49 and he
pitted with all the leaders, but with quick work from his
crew he managed to pick up three spots and exited the pits
in second behind leader Greg Pursley. Norris took the lead
for good on lap 81 and never looked back crossing the finish
line 4.1 seconds ahead of runner-up Eric Holmes. Craig
Raudman, Brandon Riehl, and Eddy McKean rounded out the top
five finishers.
“This is a
huge victory for me and the team,” Norris said. “These
Southwest Series guys are some of the best racers in the
country and to come out here and win is a testament to my
team. This is a great way to end the season.”
Finishing
second was 2006 NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone
West Series champion Eric Holmes. “We all wanted to win the
race but the track was a little slick and on old tires I
just did not have enough for JR,” Holmes said. “I love this
track and will miss racing these cars on it. This was an
awesome event under the lights and I hope the fans really
enjoyed it.”
Finishing
third in his first race in more than two years was 2001
Southwest Series champion Craig Raudman. “I had a lot of fun
tonight,” Raudman said. “It felt really good to get back
behind the wheel and race again. I am real happy to have a
good run as it gives us a lot of motivation for next year.”
The race
took one hour, 21 minutes, and 45 seconds to complete at an
average speed of 91.743 mph. The action was slowed four
times for 23 laps of caution. There were three lead changes
among three drivers with Greg Pursley leading the most laps.
Pursley picked up his ninth career Bud Pole Award to lead
the field to green while Eddy McKean claimed the $300
Featherlite Award. Roger Avants, winner of the very first
Southwest Series race back in 1986 at the famed Saugus (CA)
Speedway claimed the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the
most positions in the event (24) and finished 14th.
For all
the latest news and information regarding NASCAR, please log
onto to
www.nascar.com.
Race
Results
Konica
Minolta "125"
NASCAR
AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Phoenix
AZ November 9, 2006
Final
leaders of Thursday's $111,417.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE
DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
stock car
race with driver's hometown, make and model of car, laps
completed, winner's
average
speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1.
JR Norris, Huntersville N.C., Ford Taurus, 125, 91.743 mph,
$11,850
2.
Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$6,288
3.
Craig Raudman, Redding Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$4,200
4.
Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet, 125, $4,000
5.
Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 125, $4,188
6.
Matt Crafton, Kernersville N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$3,488
7.
John Dillon, Eagle Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $2,500
8.
Burney Lamar, W. Sacramento Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125, $2,300
9. M
K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$2,688
10.
Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge Intrepid, 125, $2,500
11.
Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$2,200
12.
Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet, 123, $1,650
13.
Kyle Cattanach, Redding Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$1,600
14.
Roger Avants, Littleton Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$2,800
15.
Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus, 123,
$2,088
16.
Jariod Prince, Vermilion Ohio, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$1,475
17.
Zan Sharp, Wellsville Utah, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$1,925
18.
Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$1,988
19.
Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 122,
$1,963
20.
Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet, 122, $1,800
21.
Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
122, $1,913
22.
Bruce Yackey, Greeley Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121,
$1,800
23.
Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
121, $1,838
24.
Zack Niessner, Royal City Wash., Ford Taurus, 118, $1,225
25.
Trevor Morrical, Brighton Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 117,
$1,200
26.
Danny Mientka, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 113, $1,175
27.
Jay Sauls, Puyallup Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
Overheating, $1,650
28.
Ryan Lawler, Colleyville Texas, Ford Taurus, 102, Handling,
$2,400
29.
Stan Silva, Jr, Castroville Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
80, Accident, $1,738
30.
Dan Fredrickson, Elko Minn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 76,
Handling, $1,650
31.
Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 75, Oil Leak, $1,738
32.
Leilani Munter, Mooresville N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 74,
Handling, $1,150
33.
Kelly Tanner, Auburn Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 60,
Engine, $1,150
34.
Travis McCullough, Lodi Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 59,
Accident, $1,738
35.
Shane Mitchell, Wenatchee Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 59,
Accident, $1,650
36.
Chris Ratterree, Nampa Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 57,
Handling, $1,150
37.
Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 54,
Electrical, $1,738
38.
Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 48,
Engine, $1,738
39.
Rick Wall, Irvine Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 47, Brakes,
$1,150
40.
Brett Edwards, Yucaipa Calif., Ford Taurus, 41, Engine,
$1,150
41.
David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 39,
Engine, $1,738
42.
Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 16,
Engine, $1,738
Failed to Qualify:
(3) Darren
Bucklen (#24), Eddie Bryans (#76), Dan Holtz (#03).
Time
of Race:1
hrs., 21 mins, 45 secs Average
Speed: 91.743 mph Margin
of Victory:4.172 Seconds
BUD POLE
AWARD: Greg Pursley, 70 Star Nursery.Com/Dr. Q's Garden
Products Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Eddy McKean, 19 Windmill Inns/Wide World
of Maps Pontiac
POWERADE
AWARD: Roger Avants, 27 Pro Vans USA/Napier Motorsports
Chevrolet
Caution Flags:
Laps
49-54; 56-58; 60-70; 77-79. 4 for 23 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Greg
Pursley 1-19, Eddy McKean 20-50, Greg Pursley 51-80, JR
Norris 81-125.
Total Laps Led:
Greg
Pursley 49, JR Norris 45, Eddy McKean 31. 3 changes
involving 3 drivers.
Derrick
Shannon
Pursley Nabs Bud Pole for Southwest Series Finale
at PIR
AVONDALE, ARIZ. (November 9,
2006) Greg Pursley of Canyon Country, Calif. captured his second
Bud Pole Award of the season for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Konica Minolta “125” at the ultra-fast
one-mile paved oval of Phoenix International Raceway. Pursley
toured the desert mile with a quick lap of 27.706
seconds/129.936 mph. Rounding out the top five in qualifying of
the 45-cars who clocked in were Midwest Series champion Tim
Schendel, Eric Holmes, Eddy McKean, and Southwest Series
champion JR Norris.
Forty-two
drivers will make up the starting field with Darren Bucklen,
Eddie Bryans, and Dan Holtz failing to qualify.
The Konica
Minolta “125” is set to take the green flag later tonight just
after 7:00 p.m. MT. The event will mark the final race for the
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series after 21 years.
Qualifying Results
Konica Minolta "125"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Phoenix International Raceway November 9, 2006
1.
(70)Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet, 129.936
2.
(21)Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
129.320
3.
(62)Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
129.171
4.
(19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 128.631
5.
(5)JR Norris, Huntersville N.C., Ford Taurus, 128.562
6.
(2)Craig Raudman, Redding Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
128.246
7.
(36)Dan Fredrickson, Elko Minn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
128.073
8.
(28)Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
127.836
9.
(46)Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge Intrepid, 127.786
10.
(65)Stan Silva, Jr, Castroville Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 127.741
11.
(29)Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet, 127.601
12.
(04)Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
127.289
13.
(00)Matt Crafton, Kernersville N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
127.253
14.
(33)M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
127.119
15.
(52)Ryan Lawler, Colleyville Texas, Ford Taurus, 127.029
16.
(83)Zack Niessner, Royal City Wash., Ford Taurus, 127.015
17.
(6)Burney Lamar, W. Sacramento Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 127.015
18.
(69)Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet, 126.971
19.
(07)Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 126.756
20.
(26)David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
126.618
21.
(1)Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
126.596
22.
(99)Shane Mitchell, Wenatchee Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
126.356
23.
(25)John Dillon, Eagle Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 126.316
24.
(9)Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
126.214
25.
(11)Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus,
126.125
26.
(86)Travis McCullough, Lodi Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125.865
27.
(8)Kelly Tanner, Auburn Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125.549
28.
(45)Chris Ratterree, Nampa Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125.536
29.
(59)Kyle Cattanach, Redding Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125.418
30.
(20)Jay Sauls, Puyallup Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125.339
31.
(66)Jariod Prince, Vermilion Ohio, Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
124.896
32.
(84)Zan Sharp, Wellsville Utah, Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
124.809
33.
(98)Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 124.757
34.
(13)Trevor Morrical, Brighton Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
124.688
35.
(94)Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
Provisional
36.
(57)Leilani Munter, Mooresville N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
Provisional
37.
(37)Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
Provisional
38.
(27)Roger Avants, Littleton Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
Provisional
39.
(17)Bruce Yackey, Greeley Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
Provisional
40.
(14)Danny Mientka, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, Provisional
41.
(48)Brett Edwards, Yucaipa Calif., Ford Taurus, Provisional
42.
(4)Rick Wall, Irvine Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 122.909
43.
(24)Darren Bucklen, Greely Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
121.012
44.
(76)Eddie Bryans, El Cajon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, No
speed
45.
(03)Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, No
speed
For more
information please contact:
Derrick Shannon
NASCAR PR
dshannon@nascar.com
or 208/870-8066
Derrick
Shannon
Southwest
Series Era Ends Under the Lights at Phoenix
DAYTONA BEACH,
FLA. (November 7, 2006) The sun will set on the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest Series this Thursday under the lights
at Phoenix International Raceway located in Avondale, Ariz. just
west of downtown Phoenix. With all four of the AutoZone Elite
Division championships already decided and champions crowned,
the Konica Minolta “125” is all about bragging rights.
Leading the
Southwest Series contingent into Phoenix is three-time race
winner and 2002 Southwest Series champion Eddy McKean
from Jerome, Idaho. Next to Ken Schrader, McKean has achieved
the most consistent success at the fast one mile paved oval. To
go along with his three victories, McKean has scored eight top
three finishes since 2001.
“I always love
racing at Phoenix,” McKean said. “The track seems to really suit
my driving style. With this race being the last for us I am
really focused on picking up another winner’s trophy.”
The $111,417
event will draw more than 45 of the top regional racers from
around the country who will vie for one of 42 starting positions
in the 125-lap event slated for Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.
Fresh off his
first Midwest Series championship and victory in the fourth
annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is Tim Schendel
from Sparta Wisc. Schendel has two straight fourth place
finishes at Phoenix in Southwest Series competition and was the
Bud Pole Award winner back in the January.
“Phoenix is just
one of those racetracks that you grow up hearing about and
dreaming to race at,” Schendel said. “We have been coming out
here for the past couple of years and have always been fast. We
hope we can put it all together and score the final win out
there.”
Long-time series
veteran M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park, Calif. Is
the all-time Southwest Series win leader with 22 victories but
has never won at Phoenix and he is hoping to change that
statistic Thursday. “We started the season wanting to win at the
tracks we’ve never won at,” Kanke said. “We crossed two off the
list and all that is left is Phoenix. The competition is so
tough in this series and with all the top guys from the other
series here it is going to be tough.”
Former Southwest
Series champion (2003) Auggie Vidovich who has
successfully made the transition to the NASCAR Busch Series this
season will return to pilot his familiar #11 Centrifugal
Technologies Chevrolet. Also returning to his former mount is
Burney Lamar who has also competed this season in the NASCAR
Busch Series.
Joining these
former series regulars is 2001 Southwest Series champion
Craig Raudman from Redding, Calif. who will make his return
to the driver’s seat this week after serving as crew chief for
Brian Ickler on the NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone
West Series this season.
“I can’t wait to
get to Phoenix,” Raudman said. “It has been a long time and I
have wanted to race all season but we just did not have time to
finish the car. I have missed racing with these guys and really
look forward to the race this week.”
Raudman was one
of the most prolific drivers in the series during the late 90’s
until his championship season of 2001 scoring 15 victories and
29 car Bud Pole Awards. Raudman’s best finish at Phoenix was
back in 2004 where he finished second.
2006 Southeast
Series champion JR Norris from Hueytown, Alabama will be
making his third trip to Phoenix Thursday and is definitely one
of the drivers to beat.
Rounding out the
regional field is a strong contingent from the Northwest Series
that includes two former series champions. Returning to the
driver’s seat after six years is two-time Northwest Series
champion Kelly Tanner from Auburn, Wash. Joining Tanner
is 1990 champion John Dillon out of Eagle, Idaho. Also
representing the Northwest Series is 2006 Sunoco
Rookie-f-the-Year Shane Mitchell along with fellow rookie
Jay Sauls along with Jeff Barkshire, Zan Sharp,
and series runner-up Brandon Riehl.
“Phoenix is the
biggest track that many of us will ever race on,” Riehl said.
“Just to race at Phoenix is a big accomplishment, but to go
there and win, well. That is what it is all about.”
Other notable
drivers who are entered in the race include Roger Avants
from Littleton, Colo. Avants is a multi-time track champion at
Colorado National Speedway outside Denver and a two-time NASCAR
Dodge Weekly Series Regional champion. Avants holds the distinct
honor of winning the very first Southwest Series race staged at
the famed Saugus (CA) Speedway back in 1986.
Leilani
Munter of
Mooresville, NC who will be driving the Konica Minolta sponsored
Chevrolet, is a recognizable face that has worked with
NASCAR.Com over the past couple of season and has developed into
a top racing talent.
The Southwest
Series “ironman’, Bob Lyon of Agua Dulce, Calif. has
started more Southwest Series races (292) than any other
competitor and has been a fixture on the series since 1987.
The all-time win
leader at Phoenix is Ken Schrader of Fenton, MO with 25
victories; six of those coming in the Southwest Series. Schrader
is the defending champion of this event.
The stage has
been set for truly an all-star event that will close the books
on an exciting chapter of racing for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division. While champions have been crowned and trophies mounted
in places of prominence, all that is left is who will win
bragging rights as the top regional racer in the country.
Fast Facts
What: Konica
Minolta "125" (Race No. 9 of 9 in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series).
Where: Phoenix
Int'l Raceway, Phoenix, Ariz.
When: 7:00
p.m. PT (approx.), Thursday, November 9, 2005.
Track layout:
One-mile paved oval.
Race length: 125
laps/125 miles.
Posted awards:
$111,417
2005 winner:
Ken Schrader
2005 pole sitter:
Ken Schrader
2006 Final Championship Standings:
1. Rip Michels 1325, 2. Eric Holmes 1324, 3. Eddy McKean 1228,
4. M.K. Kanke 1198, 5. David Mayhew 1113, 6. Greg Voigt 1082,
7. Jim Pettit II 1062, 8. Thomas Martin 1007, 9. Kevin Clark
960, 10. Kevin Vernon 950.
Pre-race schedule (all times local):
Wed. 11/8: 11:00 a.m. Haulers Enter, 11:30a.m.
Registration opens, 12:00 p.m. Inspection only. Thurs.
11/9: 8:00 a.m. Garage opens, 9:30 a.m. Qualifying draw,
9:30 a.m. Rookie meeting, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Practice, 12:00 p.m.
- 1:00 p.m. Practice, 1:30 p.m. Driver's/Crew Chief meeting,
4:00 p.m. Qualifying (2-laps), 3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. Konica
Minolta "125".
Track contact:
Tammy Neeley, (623)463-5614.
For more information please contact:
Derrick
Shannon
Media
Coordinator
NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
Cell:
208/870-8066
Email:
dshannon@nascar.com
Derrick
Shannon
Holmes Peaks
at Right Time with Victory at Colorado National
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (August 20,
2006) Eric Holmes from Escalon, Calif. continued his pursuit of
his first NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
championship by winning the United Power/Touchstone Energy “150”
at Colorado National Speedway Saturday night. Holmes edged
perennial Midwest Series favorite Tim Schendel by a mere .162
seconds to claim the victory and to close within eleven points
of Southwest Series point leader Rip Michels. Nine-time Midwest
Series champion Steve Carlson finished third after leading 45
laps with Michels and David Mayhew rounding out the top five
finishers.
The race
combined the top drivers from both the Southwest and Midwest
Series for the second time this season with 38 drivers on hand
to battle for 32-starting positions. Tim Schendel from Sparta,
Wisc. toured the wide and fast 3/8-mile paved oval in 16.177
seconds/82.339 mph to lead all drivers in qualifying for the
150-lap event. Holmes clocked in second followed by Thomas
Martin, Carlson, and Michels rounding out the top five
qualifiers.
With only
32-starting spots available, that left Dave Finley, Stephan
Sadler, Bob Lyon, Roger Avants, Cody Pruitt, Darren Bucklen,
Bobby Latham, Danny Mientka, Brandon Loverock, and Trevor
Morrical to compete in a 20-lap non-qualifiers race. The top six
cars would transfer to the feature event with four drivers
ending their night early.
Finley, Lyon,
Avants, Bucklen, Sadler, and Pruitt transferred from the
qualifying race lining up at the rear of the starting grid.
Schendel drew a six-car invert putting Southwest Series Sunoco
rookie leader David Mayhew on the pole alongside Rip Michels who
was coming of his first Southwest Series victory last weekend at
Irwindale (CA) Speedway.
Michels grabbed
the early lead as the field sorted itself out. The first of four
cautions came out for Jim Sikes who looped his Chevrolet exiting
turn two. No contact was made and Sikes fell in at the rear of
the field. Michels took command on the lap restart but Steve
Carlson had other ideas.
Carlson, coming
off a disappointing outing last week at Nashville where he lost
a motor, looked to get a little racing luck back on his side.
Carlson worked underneath Michels as the duo entered turn one.
Carlson took the point and set out to prove why his is a
nine-time champion.
Carlson’s pace
strung out the field and he started lapping cars by lap 32.
Schendel past Michels the next lap and closed in on his series
rival. By the time the race reached the one-third mark at lap
50, Carlson, Schendel and Holmes were negotiating traffic at
every turn, with several lapped cars separating each of them.
Thomas Martin,
coming off his top five run at Irwindale had moved into the
fourth position with Mayhew holding on to fifth followed by
Chris Muhler, Rip Michels, Dan Fredrickson, Josh Vadnais, and
Jim Pettit II.
Schendel made
his move to the front passing Carlson as the pair entered turn
three. Schendel then set to distance himself from his pursuers
using lapped traffic to perfection. However, that plan was
foiled as Holmes was equally impressive dispatching of the
slower cars.
Holmes caught
Schendel by lap 64 and got a great run out of turn two and set
sail. Schendel then locked onto Holmes as if tried to his
bumper. At the halfway point of the race Holmes maintained
control of the pace with Schendel holding on to second place.
Carlson dropped back a few cars lengths in third with Muhler and
Mayhew rounding out the top five in the running order.
Michels
maintained the sixth position followed Fredrickson, Vadnais,
Pettit, and Darren Crocker rounding out the top ten. Muhler saw
his spectacular run go away on lap 76 when he slapped the turn
three wall ending his night in the garage area and bringing out
the second caution of the race.
The race
restarted on lap 83 with Holmes controlling the front of the
field, but the best battle on the track was for the 12th
position. Darren Crocker and Eddy McKean waged a spirited battle
for nearly 75 laps dicing back and forth and side-by-side.
McKean would
finally get around Crocker on lap 130 and make his way into the
top ten. Midwest Series point leader Dan Fredrickson received
the black flag for causing the third caution after he assisted
in moving a lapped car causing several cars to get together
including Finley, Avants, Martin, Clark, and Eric Richardson.
Fredrickson served a drive through penalty while Richardson saw
his night end after extensive front end damage to his Ford.
The final
caution dropped on lap 136 when David Finney slapped the turn
two wall and came to rest in the center of the track. Finney
ended his night on the hook and a 28th place finish.
The final
caution set up a five lap dash to the finish with only lead lap
cars up front. Holmes held the point but Schendel gave several
shots over the closing laps to no avail and Holmes crossed the
finish line first edging Schendel for the victory. Carlson
maintained the third spot with Michels and Mayhew rounding out
the top five finishers. Vadnais, Pettit, McKean, Crocker, and
Scotty Backman finished sixth through tenth.
An excited
Holmes showed a lot of emotion after claiming the win. “This is
an awesome place to race,” Holmes said. “Tim drove a great race
and it was a lot of fun out there tonight. My team prepared an
excellent car and to win in Colorado in front of all these great
fans is certainly a career highlight.”
Holmes had a bit
of adversity early in the week when his hauler broke down in
Utah causing his car not to arrive until Friday. “The truck
broke down and we did not get as much time to practice but it
did not matter,” Holmes continued. “This win means a lot heading
into Altamont where we have had success in the past and where we
are due.”
With his second
place performance Schendel will take over the Midwest Series
point standings by 30-points over Fredrickson. “I sure wanted to
win here at Colorado,” Schendel said.” Eric had a real fast car
at the end. He drove a great race and I love running with the
Southwest guys. We are real happy with a solid performance and
going into the final races of the year we are where we need to
be,”
Carlson was
happy with third considering his previous week. “After Nashville
it took us completely out of the points,” Carlson said. “This
place is a lot of fun to race and with all these great drivers
in the show it is no easy feat to win.”
David Mayhew
scored his first top five performance of the season and all but
cemented the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year title with a fifth place
finish. When asked what he learned out on the track, Mayhew
pointed to one thing. “You have to go fast every lap and hold
nothing back,” Mayhew said. “I have learned a lot this year. We
continue to focus on qualifying and that has helped us a bunch
but right at the start I just was not on the wheel like I should
have been. Rip got by me and it took a few laps to find an
opening to drop into.”
The fifth place
finish was his fourth top ten finish of the season and he has
completed 854 of 866 laps contested so far this season. “I
certainly would like to win a race before its over, but running
like we have this year is a big victory for our team and having
the opportunity to go to the Showdown is going to make for a
great season.”
The win moved
Holmes to within just eleven points of Michels heading into the
final event at Altamont Motorsports Park Saturday, September 23.
McKean holds onto third just 34 points behind Holmes. Kanke
still rests in fourth but dropped a few points after a14th place
finish in the race. Mayhew maintains his hold on the fifth
position.
Greg Voigt, Jim
Pettit II, Thomas Martin, Kevin Clark, and Kevin Vernon are
currently sixth through tenth in the standings. Stephan Sadler
and Eric Richardson are within just 29 points of tenth place and
that all important invitation to the fourth annual NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown in October.
The race took
just 55 minutes and 10 seconds to complete at an average speed
of 60.363 mph. The action was slowed four times for 30-laps of
caution. There were three lead changes involving four drivers
with Eric Holmes leading the most laps (86). 29 of 32 cars were
running at the conclusion of the event.
Tim Schendel
received the $450 Bud Pole Award, with fellow Midwest Series
star Steve Carlson collecting the $300 Featherlite Award for
improving the most positions from the previous event (13). Eddy
McKean earned the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most
positions in the race (14), while David Mayhew was the top
finishing Sunoco rookie competitor.
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest/Midwest Series
Combination Event
Unofficial Race Results For The United Power/Touchstone Energy
"150" - 08/19/2006
Colorado National Speedway - Erie, CO - 0.37-mile paved oval
Total Race Length 88 K - 150L - 55 M Purse: $76,884
Fin Str Car
Driver
Team
Laps Points B/Points Total Award Status
1 5 62 Eric
Holmes Paul Oil/Taco Bell/Sunoco Race Fuel
Chevrolet 150 0
$5,350 Running
2 6 21 Tim
Schendel Mathew's Archery/TexPar Energy
Chevrolet 150
0 3,800 Running
3 3 66 Steve
Carlson B&B Race Engines/Sam Frank
Trucking 150
0 2,600 Running
4 2 12 Rip
Michels Stock Building Supply/Victory Circle
Chevrolet 150 0
2,250 Running
5 1 26 David
Mayhew * Attune Systems/Bryco Funding
Chevrolet 150
0 1,900 Running
6 12 20 Josh
Vadnais RCH/Northern Racing Products
Chevrolet 150
0 1,600 Running
7 20 03 Jim
Pettit, II Racing For The Missing
Ford 150
0 1,400 Running
8 22 19 Eddy
McKean Wide World of Maps/Magic Valley Pipe
Pontiac 150 0
2,125 Running
9 19 78 Darren
Crocker Universal Lending/Big Pappa's BBQ
Chevrolet 150 0
1,350 Running
10 23 5 Scotty
Backman Xtreme Signs & Graphics
Chevrolet 150
0 1,325 Running
11 15 17 Bruce
Yackey General Air Service/Sheds R Us
Chevrolet 150
0 1,300 Running
12 14 88 Brent
Kirchner City Auto Sales/Hometown Furniture
Chevrolet 150 0
1,275 Running
13 7 36 Dan
Fredrickson Genz-Ryan/Menards/DPR Motorsports
150 0 1,400
Running
14 16 33 M K
Kanke Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports
Chevrolet 149
0 1,225 Running
15 28 44 Bob
Lyon Alliance Rental Solutions
Chevrolet 149
0 1,200 Running
16 21 9 Mark
Kraus Fanettit Inc/K&K Material Handling
Chevrolet 149 0
1,175 Running
17 31 04 Stephan
Sadler Padco
Chevrolet 149
0 1,150 Running
18 17 0 Greg
Voigt Auto Pro Racing Engines
Chevrolet 149
0 1,125 Running
19 26 07 Kevin
Clark Drive In Gear/Sirius Satellite Radio
Chevrolet 149 0
1,100 Running
20 24 6 Kevin
Vernon JTS Transport/Jim's Towing
Chevrolet 149
0 1,075 Running
21 8 55 Ron
Hawley Owens Corning
Chevrolet 149
0 1,000 Running
22 25 71 Greg
Fowler Furniture Row/Hajek Chevy/Western
Graphics 148 0
1,000 Running
23 27 91 Dave
Finley Tri County Parts
Dodge 148
0 700 Running
24 32 1 Cody
Pruitt Lennox Homes/Cody Co.
Chevrolet 148
0 1,000 Running
25 30 24 Darren
Bucklen Bucklen Motorsports
Chevrolet 148
0 1,000 Running
26 9 06 Mike
Gallegos Rocky Mtn Data/Telcom
Chevrolet 148
0 1,000 Running
27 29 27 Roger
Avants Pro Vans USA
Chevrolet 147
0 700 Running
28 11 2 David
Finney Finney Motorsports
Chevrolet 134
0 1,000 Accident
29 13 83 Jim
Sikes Rothgeb Truck Service/AA Towing
Chevrolet 130 0
1,000 Running
30 4 28 Thomas
Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas
Chevrolet 106
0 1,000 Running
31 18 11 Eric
Richardson * Green Frog Roasting/Centrifugal
Technology 96
0 1,000 Accident
32 10 95 Chris
Muhler Tri County Parts
Chevrolet 76
0 700 Accident
Fastest Qualifier:
Tim Schendel,
Time: 16.177 Seconds, Speed: 82.339 MPH
Failed to Qualify:
(4) Bobby Latham
(#3), Danny Mientka (#4), Brandon Loverock * (#98), Trevor
Morrical (#13).
Time of Race:0
hrs., 55 mins, 10 secs
Average Speed: 60.363 mph Margin of
Victory:.162 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Tim Schendel,
21 Mathew's Archery/TexPar Energy Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Steve
Carlson, 66 B&B Race Engines/Sam Frank Trucking Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Eddy McKean,
19 Wide World of Maps/Magic Valley Pipe Pontiac
Caution Flags:
Laps 4-7; 77-82;
95-103; 136-146. 4 for 30 laps.
Lap Leaders:
Rip Michels 1-8, Steve
Carlson 9-56, Tim Schendel 57-64, Eric Holmes 65-150.
Total Laps Led:
Eric Holmes 86, Steve
Carlson 48, Tim Schendel 8, Rip Michels 8. 3 changes involving
4 drivers.
NASCAR Race Number 7
(Southwest Series Results)
Unofficial Race Results For
The United Power/Touchstone Energy "150" - 08/19/2006
Colorado National Speedway -
Erie, CO - 0.37-mile paved oval
Total Race Length 88 K - 150L
- 55 M Purse: $76,884
Fin Str Car
Driver
Team
Laps Points B/Points Total Award Status
1 1 62 Eric
Holmes Paul Oil/Taco Bell/Sunoco Race Fuels
Chevrolet 150 180
$5,350 Running
2 3 12 Rip
Michels Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory
Circle 150 170
2,250 Running
3 4 26 David
Mayhew * Bryco Funding/Victory Circle
Chevrolet 150
165 1,900 Running
4 9 03 Jim
Pettit, II Racing for the Missing
Ford 150
160 1,400 Running
5 11 19 Eddy
McKean Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre
Pontiac 150 155
2,125 Running
6 6 33 M K
Kanke Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports
Chevrolet 149
150 1,225 Running
7 14 44 Bobby
Lyon Alliance Rentals/Ron's Rear Ends
Chevrolet 149 146
1,200 Running
8 13 04 Stephan
Sadler Padco Carpet Cushion Inc.
Chevrolet 149
142 1,150 Running
9 7 9 Greg
Voigt Auto Pro Racing Engines
Chevrolet 149
138 1,125 Running
10 15 07 Kevin
Clark Sirius Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car
Audio 149 134
1,100 Running
11 10 36 Kevin
Vernon Jim's Towing
Chevrolet 149
130 1,075 Running
12 12 91 Dave
Finley Tri County Parts
Dodge 148
127 700 Running
13 16 1 Cody
Pruitt * Lennox Homes/Codyco
Chevrolet 148
124 1,000 Running
14 2 28 Thomas
Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas
Chevrolet 106
121 1,000 Running
15 8 21 Eric
Richardson * Grapeking/Green Frog Roasting
Ford 96
118 1,000 Accident
16 5 95 Chris
Muhler Art Craft Signs/BMF Performance
Chevrolet 76
115 700 Accident
Failed to Qualify:
(2) Brandon
Loverock * (#98), Bobby Latham III * (#3).
Time of Race:0
hrs., 55 mins, 10 secs
Average Speed: 60.363 mph Margin of
Victory:.162 Seconds
POWERADE AWARD: Eddy McKean,
19 Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre Pontiac
Caution Flags:
Laps 4-7; 77-82;
95-103; 136-146. 4 for 30 laps. Lap Leaders: Rip
Michels 1-8, Eric Holmes 65-150.
Top 10 Driver Points:
Rip Michels
1155, Eric Holmes 1144, Eddy McKean 1110, M K Kanke 1033, David
Mayhew * 958, Greg Voigt 922, Jim Pettit, II
912, Thomas Martin 877, Kevin
Clark 826, Kevin Vernon 823
Sunoco Rookie
Points:
David Mayhew 66, Eric
Richardson 49, Cody Pruitt 47, Brandon Loverock 44.
Next Race:
Altamont Motorsports Park September 23, 2006 *
Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
Holmes
Peaks in NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Event
ERIE, COLO. (August 19,
2006) Eric Holmes captured his second win of the season
is a star studded NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division,
Southwest/Midwest Series special event. Holmes took the
lead from Tim Schendel on lap 65 and never looked back
in route to a .162 second victory over Schendel.
Nine-time Midwest Series champion Steve Carlson finished
third with Rip Michels and Sunoco Rookie David Mayhew
rounding out the top five finishers.
Schendel paced the field in
qualifying earlier in the evening with a quick lap of
16.177 seconds around the fast 3/8-mile paved oval of
Colorado National Speedway located outside Denver,
Colorado. Thirty-two cars made the starting grid under
threatening skies in a race that took just 55 minutes
and 10 seconds to complete.
There were three lead
changes among four drivers with Holmes leading the most
laps (85). The action was slowed four times for 30 laps.
Carlson picked up the $300 Featherlite Award while Eddy
McKean collected the $750 PowerAde Award.
For all the latest news and
information regarding the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, log onto www.nascarregionalracing.com.
Race Results
United Power/Touchstone Energy "150"
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
Erie, CO August 19, 2006
Final leaders of Saturday's $76,884.00 NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division stock car race with
driver's hometown, make and model of car, laps
completed, winner's average speed, reason out
(if any) and prize money.
1. Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, 60.363 mph, $5,350
2. Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $3,800
3. Steve Carlson, West Salem Wisc., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 150, $2,600
4. Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 150, $2,250
5. David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 150, $1,900
6. Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Minn., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 150, $1,600
7. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus,
150, $1,400
8. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix,
150, $2,125
9. Darren Crocker, Littleton Colo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 150, $1,350
10. Scotty Backman, Parker Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $1,325
11. Bruce Yackey, Greeley Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $1,300
12. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse Wisc., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 150, $1,275
13. Dan Fredrickson, Elko Minn, Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $1,400
14. M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $1,225
15. Bob Lyon, Agua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 149, $1,200
16. Mark Kraus, Strattford Wisc., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 149, $1,175
17. Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 149, $1,150
18. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $1,125
19. Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $1,100
20. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $1,075
21. Ron Hawley, Winona Minn., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 149, $1,000
22. Greg Fowler, Erie Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 148, $1,000
23. Dave Finley, Brighton Colo., Dodge Intrepid,
148, $700
24. Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 148, $1,000
25. Darren Bucklen, Greeley Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 148, $1,000
26. Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge Colo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 148, $1,000
27. Roger Avants, Littleton Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 147, $700
28. David Finney, Sycamore Ill., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 134, Accident, $1,000
29. Jim Sikes, Fountain Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 130, $1,000
30. Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 106, $1,000
31. Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif, Ford
Taurus, 96, Accident, $1,000
32. Chris Muhler, Denver Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 76, Accident, $700
Fastest Qualifier:
Tim
Schendel, Time: 16.177 Seconds, Speed: 82.339 MPH
Failed to Qualify:
(4)
Brandon Loverock * (#98), Trevor Morrical (#13), Danny
Mientka (#4), Bobby Latham (#3)
Time of Race:
55 mins, 10 secs Average Speed: 60.363
mph Margin of Victory:.162 Seconds
BUD
POLE AWARD: Tim Schendel, 21 Mathew's Archery/TexPar
Energy Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Steve Carlson, 66 B&B Race
Engines/Sam Frank Trucking Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Eddy McKean, 19 Wide World of
Maps/Magic Valley Pipe Pontiac
Caution Flags:
Laps
4-7; 77-82; 95-103; 136-146. 4 for 30 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Rip
Michels 1-8, Steve Carlson 9-56, Tim Schendel 57-64,
Eric Holmes 65-150.
Total Laps Led:
Eric
Holmes 86, Steve Carlson 48, Tim Schendel 8, Rip Michels
8. 3 changes involving 4 drivers.
Next
Race:Southwest
9/23/06, Midwest 9/23/06
Derrick
Shannon
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST/MIDWEST SERIES
RETURNS TO COLORADO NATIONAL SPEEDWAY THIS WEEKEND
* United Power/Touchstone Energy 150 is Second
Combination Race at CNS
*Points Leader
Rip Michels
Hopes to Keep Momentum Rolling
*Rookie Mayhew Holding his Own
*Clark Confident about his Chances at CNS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 17, 2006)
– Whenever the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest
Series heads to Colorado National Speedway located
outside Denver, Colo., a strong contingent of local
drivers are on hand to test their skills against the
series regulars. The local flavor always adds an
exciting element and has been the recipe for many
compelling races.
Qualifying will be at a premium as only 32 starting
positions are available for the 150-lap event, where a
full contingent of series regulars continue their
pursuit of the series title heading into the second to
the last point’s race of the season. Several local
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series drivers will attempt to
qualify, led by multi-time track champion
Roger
Avants
from Littleton, Colo.
Avants
has competed regularly at Colorado National Speedway
over the years where has earned multiple track
championships and a couple of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series
regional titles. Avants has also dabbled in the
Southwest Series where he won the first ever Southwest
Series race back in 1986 at Saugus Speedway. He went on
to finish fourth in the final standings that year and
forever place his name in the series record books.
Another Colorado native hoping to make his mark on the
Southwest Series is
Kevin Clark from Colorado Springs. Clark is
making his first full-time assault on the Southwest
Series and currently holds down the tenth spot in the
point standings.
Though
Clark is in his first full-time season he is no stranger
to the Southwest Series. Over the past ten years Clark
has made over a dozen starts in the series with a
handful of top ten finishes but tackling the series
full-time creates some unique challenges.
“Qualifying for these races is the most challenging
aspect of racing the Southwest Series,” Clark said. “I
always end up racing well but we put ourselves in a hole
at the start of the race. Two-tenths is the difference
between starting in the top five and starting at the
rear.”
With
qualifying foremost on his mind, Clark will focus 80% of
his time this week on setting the car up to qualifying.
“We are going to go at it differently this week,” Clark
said. “With this being a combination race with the
Midwest and all the local guys in attendance, I really
need to ensure that we start up front.”
Clark
knows his way around CNS starting his racing career at
the 3/8-mile facility back in 1990. Clark toyed in
various classes through the mid 90’s then tried his hand
at a regional modified series (GART) where he won the
1995 series title on the strength of eight wins in
twelve starts. Since that time Clark has concentrated on
running the bigger events across the country providing
greater exposure for his sponsors.
Clark
and his brother run the family business, Kenwood Car
Audio, located in Colorado Springs. Recently they
launched a new automotive accessory business called
Drive-In Gear that has really taken off.
With
the help of Sirius Satellite Radio Clark and his team
are focus on running up front and receiving and
invitation to the fourth annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star
Showdown. “This season is really all about making the
Showdown and competing against the very best drivers in
the country,” Clark said. “Racing in the Southwest
Series is where we wanted to run given we could have run
in any of the other series’. We love the race tracks on
the schedule and the competition is second to none.”
“We
expect to do well this weekend and create a bit of a
cushion heading into Altamont,” Clark continued. “We
started the season off pretty slow and had our share of
issues but we have bounced back and feel real good about
the rest of the year.”
One
driver who was fast from the onset and has kept his
momentum rolling all season is
Rip Michels
from San Fernando , Calif. Michels scored his first
career Southwest Series victory last weekend and
extended his point lead to 21-points heading into CNS.
Michels’ average finish this season is 3.2 with no
finish worse than sixth. That kind of consistency may
well spell the difference at seasons end. “It’s been a
great year so far,” Michels said. “This series is so
tough and to finally pick up a win last weekend is a
real boost to the team.”
Colorado is a special event each season and Michels is
excited to return to CNS. “We always look forward to
going to Colorado National Speedway,” said Michels. “The
fans that attend at that track are some of the best and
most enthusiastic crowds we get to compete in front of
all season. From a driver’s stand point it is a great
racetrack with lots of room to pass. The races at the
track are always exciting and we look forward to
competing at this fast 3/8-mile track.”
David Mayhew
from Atascadero, Calif. currently leads the Sunoco
Rookie standings who will make his second start at CNS
this weekend finds himself in fifth place in the
Southwest Series standings after an eleventh place
effort last weekend at Irwindale.
Mayhew
has three top ten finishes this season and is only
90-points out of fourth place. “We learned a lot last
season about how to run this series in the few races we
did start,” Mayhew said. “That knowledge has helped us a
lot this year along with being able to qualify
consistently up front.” Mayhew finished sixth at CNS
back in June.
Dan Fredrickson
from Elko, Minn. leads the Midwest Series standings by
ten points over perennial front runner
Tim Schendel
of Sparta, Wisc. Fredrickson collected his second
Midwest Series victory in as many races two weeks ago in
Nashville.
The
United Power/Touchstone Energy "150" is the seventh race
of the season for the Southwest Series and is fourth
combination race with the Midwest Series since last
season. This race may well determine the 2006 champion
for both series. The green flag is scheduled to drop at
8:30 pm MT Saturday night.
UNITED POWER/TOUCHSTONE ENERGY 150 NEWS & NOTES
· Alumni
Spotlight...
Kevin Harvick
won
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Watkins Glen this
past weekend. It was Harvick’s first career road course
win and moved him up to third in the point standings.
Former Southwest Series champion
Kurt Busch
won the NASCAR Busch Series event at Watkins Glen.
· Points
…
Michels leads Eric Holmes by 21 points
with Eddy McKean
only eleven points back in third.
· Bud
Pole Awards...Former
series champion Craig
Raudman holds the career Bud Pole Award mark
at 29. M.K. Kanke
has 28 and looks to equal Raudman’s mark this weekend.
· Now
that is close...August
18, 2001 at Colorado National Speedway
Auggie Vidovich edged
Craig Raudman by .001 seconds
for the closest margin of victory in Southwest Series
history. Raudman went on to win the 2001 Series title
while Vidovich finished second.
·
Now that is Big...
The event at CNS this weekend will offer the largest
short track purse in series history at $76,884.
·
Keeping Pace…Rip
Michels
is the only driver to complete all 716 laps contested
this season.
·
289 and Counting...That
is how many career Southwest Series starts
Bob
Lyon from Aqua Dulce, Calif.
has. Lyon has started more races than any other
competitor in series history. His Southwest Series
career started back in 1987.
·
A Pair...Two
races is the most any Southwest Series competitor has
won a CNS.
M.K. Kanke, Auggie
Vidovich, Rick Carelli,
and Jerry
Robertson have two wins
apiece at CNS.
·
Better than Average…
Jim Pettit II
has six top five finishes in the last seven Southwest
races at CNS including one victory while
Eddy McKean
has five top five finishes in the last seven CNS races.
·
Track Records...Burney
Lamar
holds the qualifying record at CNS with a quick lap
of 15.736 seconds, while
Jerry Robertson
holds the 150-lap race record after his victory in 2002.
Robertson is the only non-series regular to claim the
victory at CNS in Southwest Series action.
·
History Lesson...Mark
Reed
scored the win at CNS back on August 17, 1996 over local
star Bruce Yackey. Brothers Craig and Chris Raudman were
third and fourth respectively with Frank Maronski
rounding out the top five finishers in the 126-lap
event. Chris Raudman was the top finishing rookie in the
event while Rick Carelli picked up the Bud Pole Award
with a quick lap of 16.361 seconds. There were six lead
changes among six drivers with Mark Reed leading the
last 19 circuits.
Fast Facts
What:
United Power/Touchstone Energy '150"
Where:
Colorado National Speedway, Erie, Colo.
Who:
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest & Midwest
Series
When:
Sat., August 19 at 8:30p.m. (Mountain Time).
Posted awards:
$76,884
Race length:
150 laps, 43.75 miles
Track layout:
3/8-mile oval.
Track contact:
Doug Greer, (303) 828-0116.
Pre-Race Schedule (All Times Local):
Registration begins 8 a.m., Practice 12:30-2:00 p.m.,
Bud Pole Qualifying 4:50 p.m., United Power/Touchstone
Energy "150" 8:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate. For ticket
information call:
24 hour recorded
information (303) 665-4173
Online Info:
coloradospeedway.com or nascarregionalracing.com
Derrick
Shannon
Michels
Mastery of Irwindale Nets Southwest Series Win
DAYTONA BEACH,
FLA. (August 16, 2006) Rip Michels from San Fernando, Calif.
claimed his first career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division,
Southwest Series victory this past Saturday night at his home
track of Irwindale (CA) Speedway in front of more than 5,000
enthusiastic and supportive race fans. Greg Pursley, the 2004
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series National Champion finished second
with Eric Holmes, Thomas Martin, and Eddy McKean rounding out
the top five finishers in the Stock Building Supply sponsored
event.
Greg Pursley
claimed his eighth career Bud Pole Award earlier in the evening
with a quick lap of 18.035 seconds/99.806 mph around the
lightning fast half-mile paved oval. Pursley drew a 6-car invert
placing Holmes and two-time series champion Pettit on the front
row to start the 100-lap event.
Holmes, who is
currently second in the point standings, was unable to lead a
lap as Pettit quickly asserted himself at the front to lead lap
one. Pettit has faced countless struggles this season and was
looking to get his season on track and looked to have the car to
do so but quickly fell victim to Michels on lap six.
Michels and
Pettit exchanged the lead several time over the next three laps
before Michels took command of the race on lap 9. Michels who
was winless in his previous 35 starts in the Southwest Series
had something to prove. His sponsor, Stock Building Supply, was
sponsoring the race and he had come so close on two previous
occasions at Irwindale, including the 2005 NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown.
"I have won a
lot of races at Irwindale over the years," Michels said. "The
'tour' is tough and this was one that I have wanted since last
year."
While Michels
controlled the pace out front, former track champion and 2004
NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion Greg Pursley was
making his first start of the season in the Southwest Series.
Pursley started sixth after the invert and through most of the
race never fell further than third eventually making a couple of
runs at Michels but ended finishing second.
Holmes who was
looking to regain the point lead and packing up his second place
performance at Stockton last month was never able to mount a
charge at Pursley or Michels but had his hands full trying to
hold off Pettit early and Thomas Martin as the laps wound down.
Martin who is
in his fourth year on the series had the fastest car through the
middle part of the race and was looking for his best finish of
the year. His stellar run nearly ended on the lap 22 restart
when he missed a shift and dropped all the way back to sixteenth
before getting back up to speed. Luckily all cars were able to
miss his stalled vehicle and after a couple of laps he started
moving back towards the front.
Martin would
eventually end up finishing in the fourth position to record his
best finish of the season. Eddy McKean who has had a very
consistent season thus far continued his finishing average by
placing fifth for his fifth top five finish of the season.
When the
checkered flag dropped after 100 laps, Michels celebrated the
nearly perfect victory among his enthusiastic fans and family.
"I just can't
believe it," said Michels. "We have tried so hard and had come
up short. I am so thrilled for Stock Building Supply and this
whole team as we have waited a long time for this. We had a
great car tonight and it could not have worked out better."
Finishing
second in a new car was Pursley. "I love these cars and I have
missed racing this season," Pursley said. "The Star Nursery team
put a great car under me and finishing second feels great. I
congratulate Rip on picking up his first win."
"We did what
we needed to do," said third place finisher Eric Holmes. "The
championship is going to come down to the final lap of the final
race. We are in position."
Loose is fast
but Thomas Martin created a new definition for loose. “My car
was fast that is for sure," Martin said. "But at the same time
it was a handful to drive most of the race. I am just glad to
work my way back to the front to finish well. My team has worked
hard all season for this finish."
Rounding out
the top five finishers was former champion McKean. "It is
another solid finish for us," McKean said. "This place is tricky
with set ups, we missed just a bit and the finish keeps us close
in the points."
With the win,
Michels extends his point lead to 21-points over Holmes. McKean
drops to third just eleven points behind Holmes. After finishing
12th, M.K. Kanke maintains fourth but drops 72-points behind
McKean. Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year leader David Mayhew climbs one
position to fifth just 90-points behind Kanke.
Michels led 92
laps in route to the win with only three caution periods for
19-laps. There were three lead changes between Michels and
Pettit. Twenty-five of 29 cars were running at the conclusion of
the race with 19 cars running on the lead lap.
Greg Voigt,
Thomas Martin, Jim Pettit II, Kevin Vernon, and Kevin Clark
round out the top ten in the standings with two races to go to
determine the final series champion and the invitation list to
the fourth annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown which will be
staged back at Irwindale in October.
Martin earned
the $300 Featherlite Award for improving the most positions over
the previous race (17), while Darrell LaMoure earned the $750
PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the race
(11). Brandon Loverock was the top finishing Sunoco rookie
competitor while Mayhew extended his rookie point lead to
12-points over fellow rookie competitor Loverock.
The next event
for the Southwest Series is next Saturday night August 19, 2006
at Colorado National Speedway in the annual running of the
United Power/Touchstone Energy "150" in a special combination
event with the Midwest Series.
NASCAR
Race Number
6
Unofficial Race Results For The
Stock Building Supply "100" - 08/12/2006
Irwindale Speedway - Irwindale, CA - 0.5-mile paved oval
Total Race Length 80 K - 100L - 50 M Purse: $56,584
Fin Str Car Driver
Team
Laps Points B/Points Total Award Status
1
4 12 Rip Michels Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory
Circle 100 180
$3,400 Running
2
6 70 Greg Pursley Star Nursery.Com/Dr. Q's
Garden Products 100
170 2,150 Running
3
1 62 Eric Holmes Paul Oil/Taco
Bell/Sunoco Race Fuels Chevrolet 100
165 1,800 Running
4
3 28 Thomas Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas
Chevrolet 100
160 1,900 Running
5
9 19 Eddy McKean Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre
Pontiac 100 155
1,400 Running
6
16 98 Brandon Loverock * Quick Change Exchange
Chevrolet 100
150 975 Running
7
18 94 Darrell Lamoure NAPA Auto Parts/Racing
for the Missing 100
146 1,650 Running
8
2 03 Jim Pettit, II Racing for the
Missing Ford 100
142 1,275 Running
9
11 02 Dan Holtz A.T. Systems/Beverly
Hills Rejuvenation Center 100
138 800 Running
10 19
07 Kevin Clark Sirius Satellite
Radio/Kenwood Car Audio 100
134 775 Running
11
5 26 David Mayhew * Bryco Funding/Victory
Circle Chevrolet 100
130 1,100 Running
12 10
33 M K Kanke Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports
Chevrolet 100
127 1,075 Running
13
7 11 Eric Richardson * Grapeking/Green Frog
Roasting Ford 100
124 600 Running
14 14
36 Kevin Vernon Jim's Towing
Chevrolet 100
121 990 Running
15
13 9 Greg Voigt Auto Pro Racing
Engines Chevrolet 100
118 980 Running
16 27
37 Keith Spangler Spangler Motorsports
Chevrolet 100
115 570 Running
17
24 2 Daniel Moore Stock Builidng
Supply/D&D Construction 100
112 560 Running
18
17 1 Cody Pruitt * Lennox Homes/Codyco
Chevrolet 100
109 550 Running
19 23
61 Jason Fraser VRI/Rich's Car Corner
Chevrolet 100
106 540 Running
20 21
31 Greg Potts Nascimento Motorsports
Chevrolet 99
103 530 Running
21 20
90 Brad Peters Frieght Train Peters Racing
Engines Chevrolet 99
100 520 Running
22 22
44 Bobby Lyon Alliance Rentals/Ron's Rear
Ends Chevrolet 98
97 510 Running
23
25 5 Don Campbell GKI/Waterproofing
Associates/Chevrolet 97
94 500 Running
24
29 4 Scott Ivie Scott Ivie Racing
Chevrolet 96
91 475 Running
25 15
04 Stephan Sadler Padco Carpet Cushion Inc.
Chevrolet 95
88 850 Running
26 26
47 Richard Johnson Radcap Products/Shell Dust Inc.
Chevrolet 87
85 450 Ignition
27
8 75 Van Knill J&M Construction
Chevrolet 61
82 450 Brakes
28 12
91 Dave Finley Tri County Parts
Dodge 20
79 450 Handling
29 28
48 Brett Edwards Unlimited Lanscaping/Bad Boy
Energy Drink 13
76 450 Overheating
Time of
Race:0
hrs., 40 mins, 49 secs
Average Speed: 73.499 mph Margin of
Victory:.542 Seconds
BUD POLE
AWARD: Greg Pursley, 70 Star Nursery.Com/Dr. Q's Garden
Products Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE
AWARD: Thomas Martin, 28 Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet
POWERADE
AWARD: Darrell Lamoure, 94 NAPA Auto Parts/Racing for the
Missing Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW
CHIEF AWARD: Roger Theobald, 12 Stock Building Supply Chavroelt
Caution
Flags:
Laps 19-22;
47-52; 90-95. 3 for 16 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Jim Pettit, II
1-5, Rip Michels 6, Jim Pettit, II 7, Rip Michels 8-100.
Total
Laps Led:
Rip Michels 94,
Jim Pettit, II 6. 3 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10
Driver Points:
Rip Michels
985, Eric Holmes 964, Eddy McKean 955, M K Kanke 883, David
Mayhew * 793, Greg Voigt 784, Thomas Martin
Sunoco
Rookie Points: David Mayhew 56, Brandon
Loverock 44, Eric Richardson 41, Cody Pruitt 38.
Next
Race:
Colorado
National Speedway, August 19, 2006
* Denotes
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
Derrick
Shannon
Michels Magical Night at Irwindale Nets Southwest Series Win
August 12, 2006
Rip Michels from San Fernando, Calif.
finally accomplished what he has set out to do for many years, and
that was to win on the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest
Series. Michels claimed the victory in the Stock Building Supply
"100" at Irwindale (CA) Speedway Saturday night in front of more
than 5,000 enthusiastic race fans. Greg Pursley, the 2004 NASCAR
Dodge Weekly Series National Champion finished second with Eric
Holmes, Thomas Martin, and Eddy McKean rounding out the top five
finishers in the event.
Michels battled former two-time series champion Jim Pettit II for
the lead over the opening laps as the two exchanged the lead
multiple times. Michels finally assumed the lead for good on lap
eight and never looked back. Michels also extended his point to
eleven markers over Holmes heading into the race at Colorado
National Speedway next Saturday night. McKean falls one position to
third just eleven points behind Holmes. M.K. Kanke maintains the
fourth position while Sunoco rookie leader David Mayhew moves up to
fifth in the standings after an eleventh place effort.
Greg Pursley claimed his eighth career Bud Pole Award early in the
evening with a quick lap of 18.035 seconds/99.806 mph around the
lightning fast half-mile paved oval. Pursley drew a 6-car invert
placing Holmes and Pettit on the front row to start the event.
Martin earned the $300 Featherlite Award for improving the most
positions over the previous race (17), while Darrell LaMoure earned
the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the race
(11). Brandon Loverock was the top finishing Sunoco rookie
competitor while Mayhew extended his rookie point lead to 12-points
over Loverock.
The next event for the Southwest Series is next Saturday night
August 19, 2006 at Colorado National Speedway in the annual running
of the United Power/Touchstone Energy "150" in a special combination
event with the Midwest Series. For all the latest news and
information regarding the Southwest Series log on to
www.nascarregionalracing.com.
For more information contact:
Derrick Shannon
Media Coordinator
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
208/870-8066 or dshannon@nascar.com
Race Results
Stock Building Supply "100"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Irwindale, CA August 12, 2006
Final leaders of Saturday's $56,584.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE
DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
stock car race with driver's hometown, make and model of car, laps
completed, winner's average speed, reason out (if any) and prize
money.
1. Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
73.499 mph, $3,400
2. Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $2,150
3. Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100, $1,800
4. Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100, $1,900
5. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 100, $1,400
6. Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
100, $975
7. Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$1,650
8. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 100, $1,275
9. Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, 100, $800
10. Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$775
11. David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$1,100
12. M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$1,075
13. Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus, 100, $600
14. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$990
15. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$980
16. Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$570
17. Daniel Moore, Burbank Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100, $560
18. Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$550
19. Jason Fraser, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100, $540
20. Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 99, $530
21. Brad Peters, Lakeport Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 99, $520
22. Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 98, $510
23. Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 97, $500
24. Scott Ivie, San Ramon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 96, $475
25. Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, $850
26. Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 87,
Ignition, $450
27. Van Knill, Tucson Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 61, Brakes, $450
28. Dave Finley, Denver Colo., Dodge Intrepid, 20, Handling, $450
29. Brett Edwards, Yucaipa Calif., Ford Taurus, 13, Overheating,
$450
Time of Race:0 hrs., 40 mins, 49 secs Average Speed: 73.499 mph
Margin of Victory:.542 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Greg Pursley, 70 Star Nursery.Com/Dr. Q's Garden
Products Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Thomas Martin, 28 Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Darrell Lamoure, 94 NAPA Auto Parts/Racing for the
Missing Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Roger Theobald, 12 Stock Building Supply
Chavroelt
Caution Flags: Laps 19-22; 47-52; 90-95. 3 for 16 laps.
Lap Leaders: Jim Pettit, II 1-5, Rip Michels 6, Jim Pettit, II 7,
Rip Michels 8-100.
Total Laps Led: Rip Michels 94, Jim Pettit, II 6. 3 changes
involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Rip Michels 985, Eric Holmes 964, Eddy McKean
955, M K Kanke 883, David Mayhew * 793, Greg Voigt 784, Thomas
Martin
Sunoco Rookie Points: David Mayhew 56, Brandon Loverock 44, Eric
Richardson 41, Cody Pruitt 38.
Next Race: Colorado National Speedway, August 19, 2006
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
Derrick
Shannon
NASCAR
AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
NEWS AND
NOTES
DAYTONA BEACH,
Fla. (August 11, 2006)
– Rip Michels enters Saturday's Stock Building Supply
“100” at Irwindale (CA) Speedway leading the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest point standings for the second race in
a row on the strength of four top five and five top ten finishes
this season. Michels finished fourth in the last event at
Stockton 99 Speedway last month and holds a slim five-point
advantage over 2002 Southwest Series champion
Eddy McKean.
Michels is still searching for his first Southwest Series
victory and would like nothing more to win at his favorite
track.
Frazier Park,
California’s M.K. Kanke collected his 22nd
career Southwest Series victory at Stockton
for
first on the Southwest Series all-time win list. Kanke has moved
into fourth place in the point-standings with two wins, three
top fives and four top ten performances so far this season. He
sits just 49-points behind Michels in what is shaping up as a
four-way battle for the championship with three races left to
go. Kanke won this event at Irwindale last season and is going
for three wins in a row.
Eddy McKean
from Jerome, Idaho is looking to win a second Southwest Series
title this season and knows that a solid finish this weekend at
Irwindale could mean all the difference. “Irwindale is an
interesting track to figure out,” McKean said. “Each time you
come back the track is different. We have a good baseline set up
but you have to dial your care in the day of the race. Sometimes
you hit it and sometimes you don’t.” McKean has five top ten
finishes in 2006. McKean finished in this event at Irwindale
last year.
Eric Homes
edged closer to Michels in the points chase after a second place
effort at Stockton. Holmes sits third in the standings just six
points behind Michels. Holmes won the 2004 NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown and is looking forward to a return trip to
victory lane at Irwindale.
Holmes is also
competing full-time in the NASCAR Grand National AutoZone West
Series where he is second in the standings and hopes to become
the only driver to qualify for an invite to the NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown to be staged later this year.
“Trying to
prepare and maintain two cars for two very different series’ is
a tough task,” Holmes said. “So far this season we have managed
to not have too many issues on-track and that has saved us a lot
of time back in the shop. The racing at Irwindale is always
really good and with only 100-laps the car is going to have to
be nearly perfect.”
Greg
Voigt
of Santa Barbara, Calif. is quietly having another solid season
and currently holds down the fifth position in the standings
collecting four top ten finishes. Voigt is the 2000 Late Model
champion at Irwindale and is searching for his first Southwest
Series victory
The rest of
the top ten, which includes Sunoco Rookie Leader
David Mayhew, two-time
series champion
Jim Pettit II,
Thomas Martin,
Stephan Sadler, and
Kevin Vernon, who
are separated by just 91 points.
HOME IMPROVEMENT:
The Stock
Building Supply home improvement show at Irwindale this
weekend will have displays from many of the nation’s largest
manufacturers and distributors of the top brand name power
tools, windows, doors, decking, siding, fasteners, connectors,
paint, and more, will be the prelude to a great night
of Southwest Series stock car racing at Irwindale
Speedway running from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM Saturday night.
Along with
this spectacular racing event, Stock Building Supply will host
the 2nd annual Irwindale Home Improvement Show at the speedway
prior to the start of the racing. “This year we will have
close to 40 vendors representing all aspects of the building
industry,” stated Rick Smith, Los Angeles Market Manager for
Stock Building Supply. “Last year’s event was very successful
and we will have 50% more vendors than last year. We expect a
huge crowd and along with this home improvement show, we will
have some of the best short track racing in the country, all in
one night,” stated Smith.
THE TRACK:
Irwindale Speedway is hosting its 16th Southwest Series
event since the track opened back in 1999. Bryan Germone
holds
the qualifying record at Irwindale with a quick lap of 17.363
seconds, while M.K. Kanke holds the 150-lap race record
after his victory in 2001. M. K. Kanke and
David Gilliland have three
Southwest Series
victories at Irwindale since it opened in 1999 Burney
Lamar
have two wins
apiece
with
six
other drivers claiming one victory.
LOCAL
CONNECTION:
Brandon Loverock, Stephan Sadler, Greg Voigt, and Rip Michels
all have history at Irwindale and looking forward to a great
night in front of their “hometown” fans.
COUNTING
LAPS:
Rip Michels
is the only drivers to complete all 616 laps contested so far
this season. M.K. Kanke
has
led the most laps in competition so far this season with 129
circuits at the point.
THE
ROOKIES:
The battle for the Southwest Series’ Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year
award will be one to watch this weekend.
David Mayhew
leads a talented rookie class that includes Eric Richardson,
Brandon Loverock, Cody
Pruitt, Terry Lawrence, Bobby Latham III, Travis McCullough,
and
Danny Mientka.
This year, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year will be awarded to
the rookie driver with the highest finish in 75% of the events
respective to the other rookie contenders.
ALUMNI REPORT:
Former
Southwest Series competitor
Kevin
Harvick
has a run away point lead in the
NASCAR
Busch Series after claiming is fifth win of the season last
Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Harvick also holds down
the fourth points in the
NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Standings.
Burney
Lamar
finished 16th in the
NASCAR
Busch Series event with
Ron
Hornaday
finishing 23rd andAuggie
Vidovich
finishing 34th. Hornaday finished 3rd in
the
NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series event at ORP while
Matt Crafton
finished 20th.
Ticket
information for the Stock Building Supply"100" can be obtained
by calling the track at or by logging on to:
www.irwindalespeedway.com.
Fast Facts
What:
Stock building Supply "100"
Where:
Irwindale Speedway,
Irwindale,
Calif.
Who:
NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
When:
Sat., August 12 at
8:45
p.m. (Pacific Time).
Posted
awards:
$56,584
Race
length:
100 laps, 50 miles
Track
layout:
1/2-mile oval.
Track
contact:
Bob DeFazio, (626) 358-1100 or
rdefazio@irwindalespeedway.com
Pre-Race
Schedule (All Times Local):
Haulers Enter
9:00
a.m., Registration begins
10:00
a.m., Practice
1:00
p.m.-3:00 p.m.(Alternating), Bud Pole Qualifying 5:00 p.m., 5:45
p.m. On-Track Autograph session, Stock Building
Supply "100" 8:45 p.m.
Tickets:
$20 for adults.
Probable Entry List
Stock Building Supply "100"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Irwindale Speedway, August 12, 2006
Car#/Driver/Sponsor/Hometown/Car Make
1. 1 Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif. * Lennox Homes/Codyco Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2. 02 Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif. Beverly Hills Rejuvination Center Ford Taurus
3. 03 Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif. Racing for the Missing Ford Taurus
4. 04 Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif. Padco Carpet Cushion Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo
5. 4 Scott Ivie, San Ramon Calif. Ivie Motorsports Chevrolet Chevrolet Monte Carlo
6. 5 Don Campbell, Campbell Calif. GKI/Waterproofing Associates/Chevrolet Chevrolet
7. 07 Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo. Sirius Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car Audio Chevrolet
8. 9 Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif. Auto Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo
9. 12 Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif. Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory Circle
10.19 Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre Pontiac Grand
11. 21 Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif. * Grapeking/Green Frog Roasting Ford Taurus
12. 26 David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif. * Bryco Funding/Victory Circle Chevrolet Monte Carlo
13. 28 Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif. Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet Monte Carlo
14. 31 Greg Potts, Manteca Calif. Nascimento Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo
15. 33 M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif. Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports Chevrolet Monte
16. 36 Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif. Jim's Towing Chevrolet Monte Carlo
17. 37 Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif. Spangler Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo
18. 44 Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif. Alliance Rentals/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet Monte
19. 47 Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif. Radcap Products/Shell Dust Chevrolet Monte Carlo
20. 48 Brett Edwards, Los Angeles Calif. Ultimate Motorsports Ford Taurus
21. 61 Jason Fraser, Snohomish Wash. VRI/Rich's Car Corner Chevrolet Monte Carlo
22. 62 Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif. Paul Oil/Beebe Racing Chevrolet
23. 75 Garrett Knill, Tucson Ariz. J&M Construction Chevrolet Monte Carlo
24. 91 Dave Finley, Denver Colo. Tri County Parts Dodge Intrepid
25. 92 Brad Peters, Lakeport Calif. Freight Train Peters Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte
26. 94 Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz. NAPA Auto Parts/Racing for the Missing Chevrolet
27. 98 Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif. * Quick Change Exchange Chev Monte Carlo
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
Derrick
Shannon
Kanke Makes History with
Stockton Victory
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (July
17, 2006) For much of his
career he has gone largely
unnoticed by race fans
across the country but he is
one of a handful of current
shortrack regulars who can
say that he has competed
against the likes of Dale
Earnhardt and Bobby Allison
and won. Headlines and
awards are secondary for M.K.
Kanke; racing is all about
competition and beating the
best. This past Saturday
Kanke did just that and
along the way he cemented
his place in NASCAR history
as the all-time winningest
drive in the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest
Series after claiming the
final Southwest Series race
at the historic Stockton 99
Speedway.
Kanke, the Frazier Park,
Calif. resident, qualified
6th fastest for the 100-lap
AutoZone sponsored race but
would start third after
quick qualifier Rip Michels
drew an 8-car invert to
start the race. Michels
toured the tight
quarter-mile paved oval in
just 13.691 seconds to lead
twenty-two competitors in
qualifying. Eric Homes, Joey
Zampa, Eddy McKean, and
Sunoco Rookie David Mayhew
rounded out the top five
after qualifying.
The invert put local racing
star Jeff Belletto at the
point but Belletto's time at
the front would end early
after he jumped the initial
start and he received a stop
and go penalty for his
eagerness. Kanke took over
on lap three and would
remain out front for the
entire race but would have
to fend off several
challenges for the lead
following four restarts.
Kanke was firmly in control
as the field settled into a
racing rhythm by lap ten
with 2002 Southwest Series
champion Eddy McKean in
close pursuit. Two-time and
defending champion Jim
Pettit II followed with
David Mayhew, and Joey Zampa
rounding out the top five in
the running order.
The first of four cautions
came out on lap 30 after
Greg Potts and Stephan
Sadler tangled in turn one.
The incident also
involved Jeff Belletto
and series veteran Bob Lyon.
All cars were able to
continue. After the field
was back under green, Pettit
made a move on McKean and
continued to pressure the
former champion as the duo
raced side-by side for
several laps. The two made
slight contact a couple of
times but McKean was able
to shut the door each time
and maintain the second
position.
While McKean and Pettit
battled, Kanke extended his
advantage to more than
twenty car lengths
negotiating traffic like
a New York cab driver. The
second caution came out
after 2004
Rookie-of-the-Year Don
Campbell looped his
Chevrolet on the front
stretch after an assist from
Lyon.
Kanke continued to set the
pace at the front of the
field after the lap 54
restart with McKean in tow,
followed Pettit, Eric
Holmes, Mayhew, Zampa, Rip
Michels, Kevin Clark, Steve
Belletto, and Greg Voigt.
Pettit continued to pressure
McKean for the next ten laps
but started to fade and
eventually suspension
failure forced Pettit to the
pits. A rear trailing
arm bracket broke ending
another competitive run for
the defending champion and
all but dashing his hopes
for a third straight title.
Eric Holmes set his sights
on the top spot and moved
under McKean for second
place on lap 78. Kanke
meanwhile used lapped
traffic to distance himself
from Holmes and looked to
have the race locked up when
the final caution flew on
lap 94 when Wes Miller lost
power in his Chevrolet and
coasted to a stop in turn
two.
The caution would set up a
single file restart with a
green, white, and checkered
finish to end the race.
Kanke got a solid restart
but Holmes closed the gap
heading into turn one. Upon
exiting turn two McKean was
able to close in on Holmes
when his Chevrolet got a
touch loose. McKean made
contact with the rear of
Holmes' car and that was all
Kanke needed as Holmes had
to lift in order to gather
the car back in. Kanke held
on to win by .330 seconds
over Holmes. McKean finished
third with Bud Pole Award
winner Rip Michels moving up
to finish fourth. Joey Zampa
finished fifth in his first
start of the season.
Steve Belletto finished
sixth after starting 14th,
while Colorado Springs.
Colorado competitor Kevin
Clark scored his second top
ten of the season finishing
seventh. David Mayhew, Eric
Richardson, and Greg Voigt
rounded out the top ten
finishers after the race
went extra distance
(105-laps).
The victory was Kanke's 22nd
of his career and second in
as many races. The win also
secured Kanke's place in
history as the all-time
Southwest Series win leader
ahead of Rick Carelli.
"When we started the season
we really wanted to win
races and to win at Stockton
allowed us to accomplish one
of our goals," Kanke said.
"My crew builds and prepares
awesome racecars and I feel
we can win every race. I
love racing at tracks like
Stockton and I am real
disappointed to see it going
away at the end of the year
and I am real happy to have
finally won here after so
many years of trying."
Rebounding from a
disappointing finish two
weeks ago at Altamont and
finishing second was Eric
Holmes. "Mike (Kanke) had a
fast car and I do know if I
could have caught even if
Eddy and I did not make
contact," Holmes said. "I am
real happy for Mike (Kanke)
on his accomplishment. He is
one of the very best that I
have raced against. We are
happy with second and this
point’s chase is wide open."
Scoring his fourth top five
of the season was Eddy
McKean. "We keep finishing
in the top five we'll be
there at the end," McKean
said. "My car was a bit off
at the end but we are real
happy with the finish.
Finishing well at Stockton
was real important for us
and we can breathe a little
easier going into Irwindale."
"I am disappointed," Rip
Michels said after the race.
"These inverts are tough.
Everybody is fast so moving
through traffic is
difficult. We really want to
win but were happy with a
solid finish and it keeps us
on top of the points, but
its close."
Michels (805) maintains his
point lead but by only five
points over McKean (800).
Holmes (799) is one point
behind McKean in third.
Kanke (756) closed to within
49 points of Michels with
the win while Greg Voigt is
in fifth with 666 points.
Mayhew, Pettit, Thomas
Martin, Stephan Sadler, and
Kevin Vernon round out the
top ten in the standings
after five races.
Kevin Clark who makes the
long-tow from Colorado
Springs, Colo. for every
event has moved into
eleventh in the standings
just 14-points behind
Vernon. All Southwest Series
drivers are vying for a
prestigious invitation to
the NASCAR Toyota All-Star
Showdown that will staged in
October at Irwindale (CA)
Speedway. Only the top ten
drivers from each series
within the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division will receive
an invite.
Michels collected $450 for
his second career Bud Pole
Award while Steve Belletto
earned the $750 PowerAde
Power Move-of-the-Race Award
for improving the most
positions in the event (8).
Kevin Clark earned the $300
Featherlite Award for
improving the most positions
over the previous event (9).
David Mayhew was the top
finishing Sunoco Rookie
competitor for the third
time this season.
The race was slowed four
times for caution totaling
36 laps and there was one
lead change between two
drivers. The next race for
the Southwest Series is
Stock Building Supply "150"
Saturday, August 12 at
Irwindale (CA) Speedway. For
all the latest news and
information regarding the
Southwest Series log onto
www.nascarregionalracing.com.
Derrick
Shannon
Kanke Strikes Twice for Stockton Win
STOCKTON, CALIF. (July 15, 2006)
M.K. Kanke made history Saturday
night by winning his 22nd
career NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series race to
become the series all-time win
leader. The win was also Kanke’s
second victory in as many races and
moves him to within 49 points of
current point leader Rip Michels.
Eric Holmes finished second with
Eddy McKean, Rip Michels, and Joey
Zampa rounding out the top five
finishes in the final Southwest
Series appearance at the historic
Stockton 99 Speedway.
Kanke took the lead from Jeff
Belletto on lap three and never
looked back as he maintained his
advantage through four restarts. The
win at Stockton allowed Kanke to
conquer another milestone and that
was to win for the first time at
Stockton. Kanke’s Southwest Series
career has covered twenty years now
only has Phoenix as the only track
where he has not won.
“I
love racing these short tracks,”
Kanke said from victory lane. “I
started the year really wanting to
win at Altamont, Stockton, and
Phoenix. We have accomplished two of
the three and we are pretty excited
about the rest of the season.”
Holmes tried to close
the gap over the closing laps but
Kanke was able to dictate the pace
and drive his line. “My crew puts
great cars under me every race and
that makes driving them easy,” Kanke
commented.
I”I was not able to
get off the corner as good as Mike
(Kanke) was able to,” Holmes said.
“We are in this for the championship
and tonight was a good finish for
us. It is going to be close the rest
of the year.”
Finishing third for
his fourth top five of the season
and maintaining second in the point
standings is Eddy McKean. “IT was a
great night,” McKean said. “The car
was a bit loose in the end but I’ll
keep taking top three’s. Eric
(Holmes) and M.K. (Kanke) were
faster so I really did not have much
for them on the restart, but were
right where we need to be heading
into Irwindale.”
Rip
Michels collected his second career
Bud Pole Award with a quick lap
around Stockton of 13.691
seconds/65.737 mph and earning $450
for the award. Steve Belletto
collected the $750 PowerAde Award
for improving the most positions in
the race (8) while Kevin Clark
earned the $300 Feather Award.
David Mayhew extended his Sunoco
Rookie point lead as he was the top
finishing rookie in the race with an
eighth place finish.
The
race was slowed four times for 31
laps of caution and the there was
one lead change between two drivers.
Michels holds a five point advantage
over McKean in the point standings
with Holmes just one point behind
McKean. Kanek maintains fourth
follwed by Greg Voigt in fifth.
Mayhew, Jim Pettit, Thomas Martin,
Stephan Sadler, and Kevin Vernon
round out the top ten after five
races.
The next
race for the Southwest Series is
Saturday, August 12 at Irwindale
(CA) Speedway. For all the latest
news and information regarding the
Southwest Series log onto
www.nascarregionalracing.com.
Race Results
AutoZone "100"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION,
SOUTHWEST SERIES
Stockton, CA July 15, 2006
Final leaders of Saturday's
$53,834.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE
DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
stock car race with driver's
hometown, make and model of car,
laps completed, winner's
average speed, reason out (if any)
and prize money.
1. M K Kanke, Frazier Park
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
34.935 mph, $2,900
2. Eric Holmes, Escalon
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$2,000
3. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho,
Pontiac Grand Prix, 105, $1,700
4. Rip Michels, San Fernando
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$2,050
5. Joey Zampa, Napa Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,100
6. Steve Belletto, Modesto
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$1,750
7. Kevin Clark, Colorado
Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 105, $1,275
8. David Mayhew, Atascadero
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$1,350
9. Eric Richardson,
Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus,
105, $900
10. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$1,275
11. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$1,250
12. Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105,
$800
13. Stephan Sadler, Brea
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 104,
$1,175
14. Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe
Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 104, $750
15. Greg Potts, Manteca
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 104,
$700
16. Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 103,
$675
17. Don Campbell, Campbell
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 101,
$650
18. Richard Johnson, Antioch
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100,
$625
19. Wes Miller, Turlock
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 91,
Engine, $625
20. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale
Calif., Ford Taurus, 71, Suspension,
$1,025
21. Thomas Martin, Auburn
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 51,
Engine, $1,025
22. Jeff Belletto, Modesto
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 35,
Brakes, $625
Time of Race:0
hrs., 45 mins, 5 secs
Average Speed: 34.935
mph Margin of Victory:.330
Seconds
BUD
POLE AWARD: Rip Michels, 12 Stock
Building Supply/LADCO/Victory
Circle Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Kevin Clark, 07
Sirius Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car
Audio Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Steve Belletto, 30
California Hot Wood/Save Mart
Chevrolet
LUNATI
CREW CHIEF AWARD: Leon Ruther, Sims
Trucking Chevrolet
Caution Flags:
Laps 30-41; 46-53; 72-77; 94-103. 4
for 36 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Jeff Belletto 1-2, M K Kanke 3-105.
Total Laps Led:
M K
Kanke 103, Jeff Belletto 2. 1
changes involving 2 drivers.
Top
10 Driver Points:
Rip
Michels 805, Eddy McKean 800, Eric
Holmes 799, M K Kanke 756, Greg
Voigt 666, David Mayhew * 663, Jim
Pettit, II 610, Thomas Martin 596, Stephan Sadler
578, Kevin Vernon 572
Sunoco Rookie Points:
David Mayhew 47, Brandon Loverock
34, Eric Richardson 33, Cody Pruitt
31.
Next Race:
Irwindale (CA) Speedway 8/12/06
Derrick
Shannon
Michels Claims Second Southwest
Series Bud Pole Award in Final
Stockton Show
STOCKTON, CALIF. (July 15, 2006)
Rip Michels from San Fernando,
Calif. claimed his second career
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division,
Southwest Series Bud Pole award with
a quick time of 13.691 second trip
around the tight quarter-mile paved
of Stockton 99 Speedway Saturday
afternoon.
Michels is the
current point leader in the
Southwest Series and enjoying his
best season to date in his three
year Southwest Series career. Eric
Holmes, Joey Zampa, Eddy McKean, and
Sunoco Rookie competitor David
Mayhew rounded out the top five
qualifiers for the AutoZone “100”.
Michels will have his work cut out
this evening if he hopes to sweep
the racing action as he drew an
8-car invert putting local hotshoe
Jeff Belletto on the front row for
the 100-lap race. Starting alongside
Belletto will be two-time and
defending series champion Jim Pettit
II who is a crowd favorite at
Stockton.
The
AutoZone “100” is set to take the
green flag at 9:00 p.m. this
evening.
Starting Lineup
AutoZone "100"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION,
SOUTHWEST SERIES
Stockton 99 Speedway July 15,
2006
ROW 1
1. 6 Jeff Belletto, Modesto
Calif. Ironstone Concerts/Calif.
Hotwood/Savemart Chevrolet 13.898
64.758
2. 03 Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale
Calif. Racing for the Missing Ford
Taurus 13.827 65.090
ROW 2
3. 33 M K Kanke, Frazier Park
Calif. Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 13.787 65.279
4. 26 David Mayhew, Atascadero
Calif. * Bryco Funding/Victory
Circle Chevrolet Monte Carlo 13.784
65.293
ROW 3
5. 19 Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho
Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre
Pontiac Grand Prix 13.777 65.326
6. 92 Joey Zampa, Napa Calif.
Garrett's Guide/Club Sport/Allied
Auto Chevrolet Monte 13.734 65.531
ROW 4
7. 62 Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif.
Modesto Refrigeration/Sunoco Race
Fuels Chevrolet 13.710 65.646
8. 12 Rip Michels, San Fernando
Calif. Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory
Circle Chevrolet 13.691 65.737
ROW 5
9. 07 Kevin Clark, Colorado
Springs Colo. Sirius Satellite
Radio/Kenwood Car Audio Chevrolet
13.913 64.688
10. 04 Stephan Sadler, Brea
Calif. Padco Carpet Cushion Inc.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 13.925 64.632
ROW 6
11. 31 Greg Potts, Manteca Calif.
Nascimento Motorsports Chevrolet
Monte Carlo 13.951 64.512
12. 1 Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield
Calif. * Lennox Homes/Codyco
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 13.957 64.484
ROW 7
13. 11 Eric Richardson,
Bakersfield Calif. * Grapeking/Green
Frog Roasting Ford Taurus 13.961
64.465
14. 30 Steve Belletto, Modesto
Calif. California Hot Wood/Save Mart
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 14.000 64.286
ROW 8
15. 28 Thomas Martin, Auburn
Calif. Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet
Monte Carlo 14.003 64.272
16. 9 Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara
Calif. Auto Pro Racing Engines
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 14.009 64.244
ROW 9
17. 36 Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield
Calif. Jim's Towing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 14.167 Provisional
18. 98 Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe
Springs Calif. * Quick Change
Exchange Chevrolet Monte Carlo
14.369 Provisional
ROW 10
19. 5 Don Campbell, Campbell
Calif. GKI/Waterproofing
Associates/Chevrolet Chevrolet Monte
14.107 Provisional
20. 44 Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce
Calif. Alliance Rentals/Ron's Rear
Ends Chevrolet Monte Carlo 14.032
Provisional
ROW 11
21. 57 Wes Miller, Turlock Calif.
Grandma's Day Care Chevrolet Monte
Carlo 14.048 64.066
22. 47 Richard Johnson, Antioch
Calif. Radcap Products/Shell Dust
Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo 14.531
61.937
Derrick
Shannon
NASCAR
AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST
SERIES
NEWS
AND NOTES
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 14, 2006)
– Rip Michels enters Saturday's
AutoZone 100 at Stockton (CA) 99
Speedway leading the points for the
first time in his NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series career on the
strength of three top five and four top
ten finishes this season. Michels
finished second in the last event at
Altamont Motorsports Park two weeks ago
and holds a slim ten-point advantage
over 2002 Southwest Series champion
Eddy McKean.
Frazier Park, California’s M.K. Kanke
collected his 21st career
Southwest Series victory at Altamont
tying him with the High Plains Drifter
Rick Carelli for first on the
all-time win list. Kanke has moved into
fourth place in the point-standings with
one win, two top fives and three top ten
performances so far this season.
McKean is looking to win a second
Southwest Series title this season and
knows that a solid finish this weekend
at Stockton could mean all the
difference. “The race at Stockton this
weekend means everything,” McKean said.
“We need to finish like we have all
season and we’ll be fine, but this track
is unpredictable and anything can
happen.” McKean has four top ten
finishes in 2006.
Eric Homes
fell to third place in the
point-standings after being involved in
a late race altercation while leading
the race at Altamont. Holmes is looking
to get back on track this weekend.
Holmes has one win and three top five
finishes through the first four races
this season.
Holmes is also competing full-time in
the NASCAR Grand National AutoZone West
Series where he is also third in the
standings and hopes to become the only
driver to qualify for an invite to the
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown to be
staged later this year.
“We have our work cut out for us this
weekend at Stockton,” Holmes said. “Our
car is fix and ready to go and I know I
have a great shot at another win.”
Holmes earned a Southwest Series victory
at Stockton back in 2004.
Greg Voigt
of Santa Barbara, Calif. is quietly
having another solid season and
currently holds down the fifth position
in the standings collecting three top
ten finishes.
The rest of the top ten, which
includes Sunoco Rookie Leader
David
Mayhew, two-time series
champion
Jim Pettit II,
Thomas
Martin, Stephan
Sadler, and
Kevin
Vernon, who are
separated by just 79 points.
THE PRESSBOX:
Charles Joshua Debes missing since
December 25, 2003 was safely located and
reunited with his family after being
profiled at the Southwest Series event
at Altamont Motorsports Park two weeks
ago. Debes was highlighted on the hood
of Jim Pettit’s car and he was
recognized by a race fan. This weekend
Pettit will feature Kathryn Buckley who
went missing from the Sacramento area
more than a year ago.
THE TRACK:
Stockton 99 Speedway is hosting
its 24th Southwest Series event since
the series was incepted back in 1986.
Ron Hornaday holds the record for
most Southwest Series wins at Stockton
with three. Auggie Vidovich,
Craig Raudman, Rick Carelli, Troy Beebe,
Ken Boyd,
and Dan Press each have two wins
apiece. Ten other drivers have one
victory on the historic quarter-mile
paved oval. Ron Strmiska has the
distinction of winning his only
Southwest Series race in his only start
at Stockton back in 2002.
LOCAL CONNECTION:
Brothers Steve and Jeff
Belletto will lead a local
contingent into the Stockton event that
will include Ryan Foster, Angelo
Carillo, and Steven Miller.
Qualifying will be key for the 22-car
starting field rookies and first timers
will have to negotiate the tricky layout
at Stockton. The local competitors may
know a thing or two about the track but
Southwest Series regulars have won
twenty of 24 races over the years.
COUNTING LAPS:
Rip
Michels is the only
drivers to complete all 511 laps
contested so far this season.
Eric
Holmes
has led the most laps in competition so
far this season with 109 circuits at the
point.
THE ROOKIES:
The battle for the Southwest Series’
Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year award will be
one to watch this weekend.
David
Mayhew leads a talented
rookie class that includes Eric
Richardson,
Brandon
Loverock, Cody Pruitt, Terry Lawrence,
Bobby Latham III, Travis McCullough,
and
Danny
Mientka. This year,
the Sunoco Rookie of the Year will be
awarded to the rookie driver with the
highest finish in 75% of the events
respective to the other rookie
contenders. The trip to Stockton 99
Speedway this weekend will be the first
visit for all of these rookie
contenders.
ALUMNI REPORT:
Former two-time Southwest Series
champion Ron Hornaday scored his
29th career NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series victory at Kentucky
Speedway last weekend.
Former Southwest
Series Rookie-of-the-Year
Burney Lamar
is leading the rookie standings in the
NASCAR Busch Series and sits 15th
in the overall standings. Jeff Burton
will take over the seat this weekend at
New Hampshire providing feedback to the
team. Lamar will be back in the seat for
the next event. 1999 Southwest Series
champion Kurt Busch finished 8th
at Chicago to move within 132 points of
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series top 10.
Ticket
information for the AutoZone"100" can be
obtained by calling the track at or by
logging on to:
www.stockton99speedway.com
Fast Facts
What:
AutoZone “100” presented by Havoline,
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division,
Southwest Series Race #4 of 9
Where:
Stockton 99 Speedway,
Stockton, Calif.
When:
Saturday, July 15 at
9:00 p.m. (approx.).
Posted awards:
$ 53,834
Race length:
100 laps, 25 miles
Track layout:
Quarter-mile paved oval.
2005 Race Winner:
Auggie Vidovich
2005 Race Bud Pole Winner:
Burney Lamar
Pre-Race
Schedule: Registration begins
10:00 a.m., Practice 2:00 p.m. – 3:30
p.m., Bud Pole qualifying 5:30 p.m.,
AutoZone “100” 9:00 p.m.
Top 10 Drivers:
1. Rip Michels 645, 2.
Eddy McKean 635, 3. Eric Holmes 629, 4.
M.K. Kanke 576, 5. Greg Voigt 532, 6.
David Mayhew 521, 7. Jim Pettit II 507,
8. Thomas Martin 496, 9. Stephan Sadler
454, 10. Kevin Vernon 442.
Track Contact:
Ken Clapp, (925) 629-5803 or 552-9887.
Derrick
Shannon
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division,
Southwest Series Returns to Historic Stockton
99
Speedway for the Final Time
* Michels Leads Point Standings for the First
Time
* Is Track Position Key?
* Mayhew Heads Sunoco Rookie Class
* Alumni Spotlight:
Hornaday Tops Series Alumni with NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series Victory
*
History Lesson: Steve Johnson Sets Series
Qualifying Record
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 12, 2006) –
For the final time, the historic quarter-mile of
Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif. will
host the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division,
Southwest Series this Saturday, July 15.
Stockton is celebrating 61 years of providing
motorsports entertainment in California’s
central valley and has hosted 24 Southwest
Series races since the series was formed back in
1986.
Ron Hornaday Jr.
tops the record books with three victories on
the tricky quarter-mile paved oval, while
Auggie Vidovich, Craig Raudman,
Rick Carelli, Troy
Beebe, Dan Press, and
Ken Boyd have all claimed two wins apiece
in Southwest Series competition. Stockton has
always been stingy with victories and since the
track returned to the series schedule in 2002,
only Vidovich has claimed consecutive victories
since 2002, which he accomplished last season
before moving onto the NASCAR Busch Series this
season. Hornaday's wins were consecutive (92-93)
and Dan Press had two back-to-back victories
(88-89).
For
Jim Pettit II,
the defending Southwest Series champion,
Stockton is considered his home track. The
Prunedale, Calif. native scored his first
Southwest Series victory and first Bud Pole
Award there. "I have had a lot of success at
Stockton over the years," Pettit said. "It is a
special place to race and I have always had a
lot of fans there. It is going to be hot all day
while we practice, but when the sun goes down
the track is going to change quite a bit. I hope
my experience here is the difference. We also
need a lot of luck, something that we have not
had much of this season."
Rip Michels from San Fernando,
Calif. leads the Southwest Series point
standings for the first time in his career after
a second place finish in his last outing two
weeks ago at Altamont Motorsports Park. He knows
his slim ten point advantage over 2002 series
champion Eddy McKean could
quickly evaporate at Stockton where the racing
is always unpredictable. “Anything can happen at
Stockton,” Michels said. “I have been really
good there and I have been really out to lunch.”
While track position is an important element in
any race, it does not mean you are relegated to
a poor finish if you start at the tail end of
the field. Back in 2002, local Stockton ace
Ron Strmiska Jr. qualified for the race by
finishing second in the 20-lap non-qualifiers
race and started the 125-lap feature 22nd.
Strmiska took his time to work through the field
and on lap 124 took the lead from eventual
runner-up Burney Lamar to claim
his only Southwest Series victory.
While Pettit may be the
fan favorite this weekend to the Stockton 99
faithful, Frazier Park, Calif. driver
M.K.
Kanke is a
man on a mission after claiming his 21st
career victory two weeks ago at
Altamont Motorsports Park. The win allowed Kanke
to close the gap to just 69 points as he sits
fourth in the overall standings after four
races.
Stockton has not been one of Kanke’s better
tracks, as he has claimed only four top five
finishes over the years but loves racing on this
type of track. “I really enjoy these small tight
bullrings,” Kanke said. “This type of track is
about a great setup and driver ability. Stockton
is a lot of fun but nerve racking just the same
and I know we have a car that can win this
weekend.”
While Auggie
Vidovich
dominated both races last season leading nearly
all laps in both races, total dominance is not
likely to be in the cards this year. Along with
the Southwest Series regulars several local
drivers will be on hand an attempt to qualify
for the $53,834 event including Steve
and Jeff Belletto, Ryan
Foster, and Steven Miller.
The
AutoZone “100” presented by Havoline is race
number five of the 2006 campaign but is a
crucial event for the series regulars as each
driver is jockeying for an invite to the
prestigious NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown to
be staged in October. Victory at Stockton this
weekend could well determine this year’s series
champion.
The Southwest Series event at Stockton is set to
take the green flag at 9:00 p.m. this Saturday
night in what is sure to be a memorable evening
at the historic racing facility.
Southwest Series Notes:
*
Jim Pettit II
continues partner with
Racing
for the Missing, a division of the Nation’s
Missing Children Organization (NMCO) for the
2006 racing season. Pettit will feature a
missing person on his car at each series event
this season. At Stockton, Pettit will bring
awareness about Kathryn Buckley and Rodney
Parker.
* Steve Johnson set
the one lap Bud Pole qualifying record of 13.232
seconds/68.017 mph at Stockton 99 Speedway for
the Southwest Series back on May 12, 1990. That
mark still stands today. Troy Beebe won that
race and Johnson finished a disappointing 19th.
Johnson redeemed himself later in the season
when the series returned in August by claiming
the victory over fast qualifier M.K. Kanke.
* Alumni Spotlight: Ron
Hornaday claimed the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory this past
weekend at Kentucky Speedway for his series
leading 29th career victory. Former
Southwest Series Rookie-of-the-Year
Burney Lamar
is leading the rookie standings in the NASCAR
Busch Series and sits 15th in the
overall standings. Jeff Burton will take over
the seat this weekend at New Hampshire providing
feedback to the team. Lamar will be back in the
seat for the next event. 1999 Southwest Series
champion Kurt Busch finished 8th
at Chicago to move within 132 points of the
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series top 10.
*
M.K. Kanke
of Frazier Park, Calif. is second on the
all-time Bud Pole Award list with 28 career fast
times. His last Bud Pole Award came last season
at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
Kanke also is tied for first on the all-time win
list with 21 career triumphs after his win two
weeks ago at Altamont Motorsports Park. Kanke
has 85 top five and 127 career top ten finishes
to claim the series records in both those
categories.
* Bob Lyon of Aqua Dulce, Calif. has
started 288 career Southwest series races dating
back to 1987. Lyon will attempt to make career
start 289 this weekend. Lyon did not make the
race at Altamont after a practice crash damaged
his Chevrolet beyond repair dropping him from 10th
to 19th in the point standings two
weeks ago. Lyon has four career victories and
44 top five and 92 top ten finishes over the
years. Lyon's last victory came in 2000.
* Sunoco
Rookie-of-the-Year Standings: David Mayhew
holds a ten point advantage over Brandon
Loverock in the Sunoco Rookie standings
after four races. Eric Richardson,
Cody Pruitt, and Terry Lawrence round
out the top five in the rookie standings heading
into the
Stockton event.
Fast Facts
What:
AutoZone “100” presented by Havoline, NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series Race
#4 of 9
Where: Stockton 99
Speedway,
Stockton, Calif.
When: Saturday, July 15 at
9:00 p.m. (approx.).
Posted awards: $ 53,834
Race length: 100 laps, 25
miles
Track layout: Quarter-mile
paved oval.
2005 Race Winner: Auggie Vidovich
2005 Race Bud Pole Winner: Burney Lamar
Pre-Race Schedule:
Registration begins
10:00 a.m., Practice 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Bud
Pole qualifying 5:30 p.m., AutoZone “100” 9:00
p.m.
Top 10 Drivers: 1. Rip
Michels 645, 2.
Eddy McKean 635, 3. Eric Holmes 629, 4. M.K.
Kanke 576, 5. Greg Voigt 532, 6. David Mayhew
521, 7. Jim Pettit II 507, 8. Thomas Martin
496, 9. Stephan Sadler 454, 10. Kevin Vernon
442.
Track Contact:
Ken Clapp, (925) 629-5803 or 552-9887.
For additional information please contact:
Derrick
Shannon
Kanke King of Altamont
TRACY, CA. (July 2, 2006) M.K. Kanke of Frazier
Park, Calif. scored his 21st career NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest Series victory tying
Southwest Series legend Rick Carelli for first
all-time. Kanke waited until the late laps and made
his move into the lead on lap 125 and cruised to a
3.2 second victory over Rip Michels in the 150-lap
event. Sunoco Rookie Eric Richardson finished third
with Eddy McKean and Thomas Martin rounding out the
top five finishers at the newly resurfaced and
renovated half-mile paved oval facility.
Michels assumes the point lead over Eddy McKean by
ten points with Eric Holmes dropping to third in the
standings after a lap 115 altercation with Michels.
Kanke remains in the fourth position with the win
closing to within 69 points of the points lead. Greg
Voigt holds down the fifth spot with David Mayhew,
Jim Pettit II, Thomas Martin, Stephan Sadler, and
Kevin Vernon rounding out the top ten in the
standings after four races.
The race was slowed six times for 31 laps of caution
with four lead changes involving four drivers. Eric
Holmes led the most laps (91). Jim Pettit II claimed
the $450 Bud Pole Award, while M.K. Kanke collected
the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most
positions in the event (12). Greg Potts earned the
Featherlite Award for improving the most positions
from the previous event (12).
The next race for the Southwest Series is Saturday,
July 15 at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif.
Altamont "150"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Altamont Motorsports Park July 2, 2006
Final leaders of Sunday's $56,584.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE
ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES stock
car race with driver's starting position in
parentheses, hometown, make and model of car,
laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out
(if any) and prize money.
1. (13) M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet,
150, 71.015 mph, $4,150
2. (5) Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif.,
Chevrolet, 150, $2,100
3. (10) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford
Taurus, 149, $1,400
4. (4) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac, 149,
$1,600
5. (3) Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $1,400
6. (15) Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $1,275
7. (2) Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $925
8. (16) Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 147, $900
9. (17) Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 145, $850
10. (12) Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif.,
Chevrolet, 145, $1,225
11. (8) Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford,
142, $1,650
12. (9) David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 140, $1,150
13. (1) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 115, Accident, $1,125
14. (6) Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 109, $700
15. (14) Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 77, Suspension, $650
16. (11) Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 58, Accident, $1,000
17. (7) Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 43, Accident, $575
18. (18) Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 0, Electrical, $950
Time of Race:1
hrs., 3 mins, 22 secs
Average Speed: 71.015
mph Margin of Victory:
3.298 Seconds
BUD
POLE AWARD: Jim Pettit, II, 03 Racing for the
Missing Ford
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Greg Potts, 31 Nascimento
Motorsports Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: M K Kanke, 33 Sims Trucking/RPM
Motorsports Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Leon Ruther, 33 Sims
Trucking Chevrolet
Caution Flags:
Laps 46-50; 53-57; 60-62; 71-74; 107-114; 117-122.
6 for 31 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Eric Holmes 1-62, Jim Pettit, II 63-85, Eric Holmes
86-114, Rip Michels 115-124, M K Kanke 125-150.
Total Laps Led:
Eric Holmes 91, M K Kanke 26, Jim Pettit, II 23, Rip
Michels 10. 4 changes involving 4 drivers.
Top
10 Driver Points:
Rip
Michels 645, Eddy McKean 635, Eric Holmes 629, M K
Kanke 576, Greg Voigt 532, David Mayhew * 521, Jim
Pettit, II 507,
Thomas Martin
496, Stephan Sadler 454, Kevin Vernon 442
Sunoco Rookie Points:
David Mayhew 37; Brandon Loverock 27; Eric
Richardson 24; Cody Pruitt 23; Terry Lawrence 15.
Next Race:
Stockton 99 Speedway
Derrick
Shannon
Pettit Puts Down Perfect Lap To Claim Bud Pole at
Altamont
TRACY,
CA. July 2, 2006. Two-time and defending NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest Series champion returned to
form Sunday afternoon claiming his second career Bud
Pole Award at the newly remodeled Altamont Motorsports
Park located outside Tracy, California. Pettit toured
the reconfigured half-mile paved oval in 17.381
seconds/103.561 mph. Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year
competitors Cody Pruitt and Brandon Loverock clocked in
second and third fast respectively while Rip Michels and
Eddy McKean rounded out the top five qualifiers for the
150-lap event.
Pettit
drew an 8-car invert putting former Altamont race winner
Eric Holmes on the point to start the race. Holmes caps
a busy weekend at Altamont Motorsports Park after
competing in the NASCAR Grand National AutoZone West
Series in Roseburg, Oregon where he finished third.
Holmes
leads the current Southwest Series point standings after
three events and is in the cat birds seat tonight.
Thomas Martin, Darrell LaMoure, Eric Holmes, David
Mayhew, and Eric Richardson round out the top ten
qualifiers.
The
Altamont "150" is set to take the green flag just after
7:00 p.m. tonight.
Starting Lineup
Altamont "150"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Altamont Motorsports Park July 2, 2006
ROW 1
1.
62 Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif. Sunoco Race Fuels/Taco
Bell Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.604 102.249
2.
94 Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz. NAPA Auto Parts/Racing
for the Missing Chevrolet Monte 17.598 102.284
ROW 2
3.
28 Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif. Strictly Toy-Ondas
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.588 102.343
4.
19 Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre
Pontiac 17.579 102.395
ROW 3
5.
12 Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif. Stock Building
Supply/LADCO/Victory Circle Chevrolet 17.573 102.430
6.
98 Brandon Loverock*, Santa Fe Springs Calif. * Quick
Change Exchange Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.557 102.523
ROW 4
7.
1 Cody Pruitt*, Bakersfield Calif. * Lennox Homes/Codyco
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.526 102.705
8.
03 Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif. Racing for the
Missing Ford 17.381 103.561
ROW 5
9.
26 David Mayhew*, Atascadero Calif. * Bryco
Funding/Victory Circle Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.652
101.971
10. 11 Eric Richardson*, Bakersfield Calif. * Grapeking/Green
Frog Roasting Ford Taurus 17.668 101.879
ROW 6
11. 36 Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif. Jim's Towing
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.736 101.488
12. 9 Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif. Auto Pro Racing
Engines Chevrolet 17.798 101.135
ROW 7
13. 33 M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif. Sims Trucking/RPM
Motorsports Chevrolet 17.810 101.067
14. 07 Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo. Sirius
Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car Audio Chevrolet 17.838
100.908
ROW 8
15. 31 Greg Potts, Manteca Calif. Nascimento Motorsports
Chevrolet Monte Carlo 17.881 100.666
16. 5 Don Campbell, Campbell Calif. GKI/Waterproofing
Associates/Chevrolet Chevrolet Monte 17.999 100.006
ROW 9
17. 47 Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif. Radcap
Products/Shell Dust Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo 18.283
98.452
18. 04 Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif. Padco Carpet Cushion
Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo No Time
Derrick Shannon
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE
DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
NEWS AND NOTES
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 30, 2006) – Eric Holmes enters Sunday's
Altamont 150 at Altamont Motorsports Park, located outside
Tracy, Calif., on quite a hot streak in NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest Series competition. He has one win
and two other top four finishes that places him with a
30-point advantage over former series champion Eddy
McKean heading into the fourth event on the 2006
schedule.
McKean, the 2002 series champion, has not finished outside
the top six with his best effort thus far of second place
coming at Shasta Raceway Park earlier this season.
Nipping at McKean's heals is former NASCAR Dodge Weekly
Series regional champion Rip Michels, who has an
identical record of finishes to McKean this season and is
tied for second place.
Greg Voigt of Santa Barbara, Calif. is
quietly having another solid season in fourth place
collecting two top finishes while long-time series veteran
M.K. Kanke rounds out the top five just two
points behind Voigt.
The rest of the top ten, which includes Sunoco Rookie Leader
David Mayhew, two-time series champion
Jim Pettit II, Stephan Sadler,
Thomas Martin, and Bob Lyon
, are separated by just 62 points.
THE PRESSBOX: On Saturday, July 1 at 11:30
a.m. there will be a media lunch and press conference at the
racetrack featuring Southwest Series drivers Jim
Pettit II, Eddy McKean, David Mayhew, and
Darrell LaMoure. Following the press conference
there will be on-track activities and interview
opportunities.
THE TRACK:
Altamont Motorsports Park is hosting its sixth Southwest
Series event. Only Doug McCoun has claimed
more than one victory on the half-mile paved with those
triumphs coming back in 1997 and 1998. Craig Raudman,
Mark Reed, and Holmes are the other winners at
Altamont.
NEW FACE IN VICTORY LANE?:
Only Eric Holmes has the opportunity to return to victory
lane this weekend as he is the only driver entered with a
previous win at Altamont. M.K. Kanke is
looking for his first Altamont victory after scoring three
top four finishes in his last three Altamont starts.
COUNTING LAPS:
Eric Holmes, Eddy McKean,
and Rip Michels are the only drivers to
complete all 361 laps contested so far this season.
Auggie Vidovich , before making the jump to the
NASCAR Busch Series, led the most laps (55).
THE ROOKIES:
The battle for the Southwest Series’ Sunoco
Rookie-of-the-Year award will be one to watch this weekend.
David Mayhew (28) leads a talented rookie
class that includes Brandon Loverock (19), Cody
Pruitt (16), Terry Lawrence (15), Eric Richardson (14),
Bobby Latham III (13), Travis McCullough (9), and
Danny Mientka (5). This year, the Sunoco
Rookie of the Year will be awarded to the rookie driver with
the highest finish in 75% of the events respective to the
other rookie contenders. The trip to Altamont Motorsports
Park this weekend will be the first visit for all of these
rookies contenders.
ALUMNI REPORT:
Former Southwest Series competitor David Gilliland scored the
biggest win of his career two weeks ago at Kentucky Speedway
when he charged through the field and took the lead in the
closing laps to score an improbable win in the NASCAR Busch
Series. Gilliland was the first non NEXTEL Cup Series
regular to find victory lane in the NASCAR Busch Series this
season. Gilliland is an eight-time winner on the Southwest
Series and former winner of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star
Showdown.
Ticket information for
the Altamont "150" can be obtained by calling the track at
(209) 383-7671 or by logging on to:
www.altamontracing.com
Fast Facts
What: Altamont 150
(Race No. 4 of 11 in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series)
Where:
Altamont
Motorsports Park, Tracy, Calif..
When: 7:10
p.m. PDT (approx.), Sunday, July 2, 2006
Track
layout:
1/2-mile oval.
Race
length:
150
laps/75 miles.
Posted
awards:
$56,584
2005
winner:
Event Not Held
2005
polesitter:
Event Not Held
Top 10
in points:
1. Eric
Holmes – 505; 2. Eddy McKean – 475; 3. Rip Michels – 475; 4.
Greg Voigt– 398; 5. M.K. Kanke - 396; 6. David Mayhew* –
394; 7. Jim Pettit II – 377; 8. Stephan Sadler – 345;
9. Thomas Martin – 341; 10. Bob Lyon- 332.
Pre-race schedule (all times local):
Sun., 7/2 - 7:00 a.m. Registration opens; 9:00 a.m.
Inspection Begins; 12:15-1:45 p.m. Practice; 3:45 p.m. Time
Trials; 4:45 p.m. Qualifying Race (if necessary); 7:10 p.m.
Altamont "150".
Track
contact:
Kenny Shepherd, (209) 383-7671.
NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series, Altamont
Motorsports Park,
July 2,
2006 Driver Roster
(Based on
Pre-Entry)
1. (1)Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
2. (03)Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford
3. (04)Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo
4. (5)Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
5. (07)Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo
6. (9)Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet
7. (12)Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet
8. (19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac
9. (21)Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus
10. (26)David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
11. (28)Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
12. (31)Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo
13. (33)M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet
14. (36)Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
15. (44)Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet
16. (47)Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
17. (57)Terry Lawerence, Mooresville N.C., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo
18. (62)Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
19. (63)Jason Fensler, Wilton Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
20. (86)Travis McCullough, Lodi Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
21. (94)Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
22. (98)Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Shon Sbarra
VADNAIS DOMINATES AUTO
TRADER 150 IN NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, MIDWEST AND
SOUTHWEST SERIES COMBINATION EVENT
ERIE, Colo. (June 3, 2006)
– Josh Vadnais came to Colorado National Speedway
(CNS) with simple goals. He and his team wanted to qualify
for the race in time trials, have a good race and be able to
pay for the trip from Minnesota with the winnings. It
materialized as much, much more.
Vadnais, racing out of White Bear Lake, Minn.
and representing the Midwest Series (MWS), thoroughly
dominated the Auto Trader 150 in the combination event for
the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest and Southwest
Series for his first career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
victory. He took the lead from Rip Michels on lap 22 and did
not face a real challenge over the final 129 laps. That’s
how good Vadnais’ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chevrolet was.
Re-starts, which were few and far between, proved to be the
only time that Vadnais found cars on his rear deck lid, but
those attempts to catch the race leader were short lived as
he simply drove away from the pack.
“It’s not often that you get a car like this,”
exclaimed the winner as he stopped his car on the front
stretch of the 3/8-mile oval in suburban Denver for the
post-race celebration. “Unbelievable!”
A late caution creating a re-start on lap 146
would provide second-place finisher and current Southwest
Series (SWS) points leader Eric Holmes, who had been
not so much stalking Vadnais but rather trying to keep him
in sight, one last opportunity to go for the win. However,
just as had been the case all night long, Vadnais was able
to power his way to a comfortable working margin. Holmes
would eventually be beaten to the finish line by .986
seconds.
“I kept thinking to myself that (Vadnais) would
come back to me, but he never did,” said Holmes of Salida,
Calif.. “On the re-starts I tried to plant the Sunoco Racing
Fuels/Taco Bell Chevrolet underneath him heading into turn
one, but he was just too fast tonight. We’re happy with the
second-place finish, but still disappointed. Our car was
good, their car was better.”
Vadnais served notice to the entire field of the
43 cars looking for a slot in the 32-car main event during
time trials by winning his second career Bud Pole Award in
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division competition. He posted a lap
time of 16.094 seconds which translates to 82.764 mph on the
CNS racing surface. A series rule mandated six, eight or
10-car invert, of which Vadnais randomly drew and eight,
meant that he would have a little traffic to work through on
his way to the front. It took just 21 laps to work past
those seven cars.
“That ended up being easier than I ever
imagined,” he stated. “I would be coming up on a car and
think to myself how I was going to get around them once I
got there, but I was already there. My crew gave me a car
that was an absolute privilege to drive. It did everything I
asked of it and more.”
Not that he needed much luck, but a pair of long
green flag runs worked to the advantage of a driver whose
car was as fast as and handling as well as Vadnais’. When
the caution flag came out on lap 135 ending the second long
run under green, his lead was nearly two-thirds of a lap and
growing.
Steve Carlson, nine-time Midwest Series
champion and racing legend, finished third in his
Gordon-Pepping, CPA Chevy after starting 11th.
After the race, the veteran, out of West Salem, Wisc.,
focused more on the racing venue and its hospitality rather
than his performance. “I had a good car tonight and we’re
pleased with our finish,” he said. “This is such a great
track to race at and we really enjoy coming here. The
facility and the crowd are as good as anywhere. We thank the
staff of CNS and all the race fans here for supporting us
over the years. It is appreciated.”
Midwest Series entrant Mike Gallegos of
Wheat Ridge, Colo. had a strong performance in the Gallegos
Racing Chevy by finishing fourth. He also started in the
fourth position.
Perennial Southwest Series title contender
Rip Michels of San Fernando, Calif. started his Stock
Building Supply/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet in the
outside pole position but seemingly battled a loose
condition in the mid portions of the event causing him to
slide back a few slots. He finished the race in fifth for
his second top five in three races this season.
Tim Schendel (MWS), Jim Pettit, II
(SWS), Jerry Robertson (MWS), M.K. Kanke (SWS)
and Dan Fredrickson (MWS) rounded out the top 10.
In addition to the victory and Bud Pole Award,
Vadnais also picked up the Featherlite “Most Improved Driver
of the Race” Award given to the driver who improves his
finishing position the most from the last series event. He
finished 20th in the 2005 season finale for the
Midwest Series thus improving his finish by 19 places and
besting the Southwest Series Kanke’s improvement of 14 spots
from their last event.
Joe Vadnais, the crew chief for the
winning car, picked up the Lunati “Crew Chief of the Race”
Award.
Southwest Series participant Eddy McKean,
out of Jerome, Idaho, produced a sub-par effort in time
trials in his Wide World of Maps/Magic Valley Pipe Pontiac
and started in the 30th position on a driver’s
provisional. He finished the race in the 11th
position garnering the POWERade “Power Move of the Race”
Award given to the driver who improves his position the most
over the course of the event.
In these combination events, championship and
car owner points are distributed by the car’s overall finish
in relation to the other vehicles entered into the event
from the same series.
Holmes came into the event with a slim
five-point advantage on McKean, but with his first-place
finish amongst Southwest Series competitors he was able to
stretch that lead out to 30 points.
Something to watch in the Southwest Series
standings this season is the progress up the charts made by
two-time and defending series champion Pettit. He started
the season in a huge hole after losing a motor in the
season’s opening race at Phoenix International Raceway
leaving him with a 31st-place finish. With his
overall seventh-place effort, and third within the Southwest
Series ranks, Pettit vaulted into seventh position in the
championship point standings and just 21 points out of
fourth place.
This was the Midwest Series’ opener for the 2006
season and Vadnais gets the early jump on the competition in
their title hunt. His outlook on this season made a complete
turn around with his performance in this race.
“We’re just a family racing outfit with a fairly
modest budget,” he said. “I can’t even say that we had any
particular goals other than race as often and as well as we
can. This win coupled with the fact that our next race is at
a track that I like a lot and have had some success at
really sheds a different light on this season.”
Carlson finished second out of the Midwest
Series contingent putting him squarely in the hunt for an
incredible 10th series championship. To put this
accomplishment into perspective, the next closest driver to
Carlson in terms of championships won in the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division is the Northwest Series’ Garrett Evans
with four titles.
The next event for the Midwest Series will be
July 14 at Raceway Park in Shakopee, Minn., and the next
time out for the Southwest Series will be July 2 at Altamont
Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif.
UNOFFICIAL results from Auto Trader "150"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION
Erie, CO June 3, 2006
Final leaders of Saturday's $85,313.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE
DIVISION stock car race with
driver's hometown, make and model of car, laps completed,
winner's average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1. Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Minn., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 151, 57.352 mph, $6,070
2. Eric Holmes, Salida Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 151,
$3,370
3. Steve Carlson, West Salem Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
151, $2,470
4. Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
151, $1,800
5. Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
151, $1,970
6. Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 151,
$1,670
7. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 151,
$1,620
8. Jerry Robertson, Denver Colo., Dodge Intrepid, 151,
$1,075
9. M. K. Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
151, $1,420
10. Dan Fredrickson, Elko Minn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
151, $1,345
11. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 151,
$2,170
12. Scotty Backman, Parker Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
151, $1,025
13. Darren Crocker, Littleton Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $1,000
14. Greg Fowler, Erie Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$1,245
15. David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $1,265
16. Dexter Bean, Westby Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$1,195
17. Greg Voigt, Goleta Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150,
$1,220
18. Kevin Clark, Colo. Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 150, $875
19. Russ Blakeley, Whitewater Wisc., Ford Taurus, 149,
$1,120
20. Bobby Lyon, Agua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
149, $1,145
21. Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
149, $1,070
22. Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 149, $700
23. Danny Darnell, Beach Park Ill., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
148, $750
24. Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 148, $700
25. Mark Kraus, Strattford Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
143, $1,020
26. Brent Kirchner, La Crosse Wisc., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 138, $1,020
27. Jim Sikes, Jr., Fountain Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
134, Accident, $750
28. Todd Hansen, Minneapolis Minn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
132, $1,020
29. Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
129, $1,120
30. Darren Robertson, Denver Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
77, Brakes, $700
31. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 55, Electrical, $700
32. Josh Bauer, Random Lake Wisc., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
21, Motor, $1,020
Unofficial Race Results For The
Auto Trader "150" - 06/03/2006
Colorado National Speedway -
Erie, CO - 0.37-mile paved oval
Total Race Length 88 K - 151L -
55 M Purse: $85,313
Fin Str Car
Driver
Team
Laps Points B/Points Total Award Status
1
8 11 Josh Vadnais Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation Chevrolet 151
0 $6,070 Running
2
6 62 Eric Holmes Sunoco Race
Fuels/Taco Bell Chevrolet 151
0 3,370 Running
3
11 66 Steve Carlson Gordon-Pepping CPA
Chevrolet 151
0 2,470 Running
4
4 06 Mike Gallegos Gallegos Racing
Chevrolet 151
0 1,800 Running
5
2 12 Rip Michels Stock Building
Supply/Victory Circle Chevrolet 151
0 1,970 Running
6
5 21 Tim Schendel Mathew's
Archery/Vault Chevrolet 151
0 1,670 Running
7
12 03 Jim Pettit, II Racing For The
Missing Ford 151
0 1,620 Running
8
16 91 Jerry Robertson Tri County Parts
Dodge 151
0 1,075 Running
9
10 33 M. K. Kanke Sims Trucking/RPM
Motorsports Chevrolet 151
0 1,420 Running
10
7 36 Dan Fredrickson Brothers Jorgenson
Racing Chevrolet 151
0 1,345 Running
11
30 19 Eddy McKean Wide World of
Maps/Magic Valley Pipe Pontiac 151
0 2,170 Running
12
21 51 Scotty Backman * XTreme Signs &
Graphics Chevrolet 151
0 1,025 Running
13
24 78 Darren Crocker Universal Lending
Chevrolet 150
0 1,000 Running
14
17 71 Greg Fowler Michelle Fowler
RE/MAX/Hajek Chevrolet 150
0 1,245 Running
15
9 6 David Mayhew * Attune Systems/Victory
Circle Chevrolet 150
0 1,265 Running
16
19 20 Dexter Bean PDI Motorsports
Chevrolet 150
0 1,195 Running
17
31 9 Greg Voigt Auto Pro Racing
Engines Chevrolet 150
0 1,220 Running
18
23 07 Kevin Clark Sirius Satellite
Radio/Kenwood Audio Chevrolet 150
0 875 Running
19
1 22 Russ Blakeley Blakeley Motorsports
Ford 149
0 1,120 Running
20
32 44 Bobby Lyon Alliance Rental
Solutions Chevrolet 149
0 1,145 Running
21
3 28 Thomas Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas
Chevrolet 149
0 1,070 Running
22
20 98 Brandon Loverock * Quick Change Exchange
Chevrolet 149
0 700 Running
23
26 85 Danny Darnell * Simply Wow Cleaner
Degreaser Chevrolet 148
0 750 Running
24
28 2 Eric Richardson * Centrifugal
Technologies Chevrolet 148
0 700 Running
25
29 8 Mark Kraus Seubert Calf
Ranches Chevrolet 143
0 1,020 Running
26
14 88 Brent Kirchner City Auto Sales
Chevrolet 138
0 1,020 Running
27
22 83 Jim Sikes, Jr. * A-A Towing/McCase
Motorsports Chevrolet 134
0 750
Accident
28
15 53 Todd Hansen Hansen Racing
Chevrolet 132
0 1,020 Running
29
25 04 Stephan Sadler Padco Carpet Cushion
Inc. Chevrolet 129
0 1,120 Running
30
18 73 Darren Robertson * Furniture Row
Chevrolet 77
0 700 Brakes
31
13 3 Kevin Vernon Jim's Towing
Chevrolet 55
0 700
Electrical
32
27 01 Josh Bauer Akzo Nobel
Chevrolet 21
0 1,020 Motor
Failed to Qualify:
(11) Danny
Mientka * (#4), Travis McCullough (#86), Bruce Yackey (#17),
Darrell Lamoure (#94), Don Campbell (#5), Cody Pruitt *
(#1), Greg Potts (#31), David
Finney (#26), Ronnie Hawley (#55), Richard Johnson (#47),
Geo Prentice, Jr (#10).
Time
of Race:
0 hrs., 58
mins, 27 secs
Average Speed:
57.352
mph
Margin of Victory:
.986
Seconds
BUD POLE
AWARD:
Josh Vadnais, 11 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD:
Josh Vadnais, 11 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chevrolet
POWERADE
AWARD:
Eddy McKean, 19 Wide World of Maps/Magic Valley Pipe Pontiac
LUNATI
CREW CHIEF AWARD:
Joe Vadnais, 11 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chevrolet
Caution Flags:
Laps 55-61;
67-71; 77-83; 135-145. 4 for 30 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Russ
Blakeley 0, Rip Michels 1-21, Josh Vadnais 22-151.
Total
Laps Led:
Josh
Vadnais 130, Rip Michels 21. 2 changes involving 2 drivers.
* Denotes
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
UNOFFICIAL Points Distribution for CNS Combination Event
Fin Car
Driver
Team
Laps Points B/Points Total Award Status
1
62 Eric Holmes Sunoco Race
Fuels/Taco Bell Chevrolet 151
180 $3,370 Running
2
12 Rip Michels Stock Building
Supply/LADCO/Victory Circle 151
170 1,970 Running
3
03 Jim Pettit, II Racing for the
Missing Ford 151
165 1,620 Running
4
33 M K Kanke Perricone
Juices/Sims Trucking/RPM 151
160 1,420 Running
5
19 Eddy McKean Wide World of
Maps/Wind Mill Inns Pontiac 151
155 2,170 Running
6
6 David Mayhew * Bennett
Construction/Watkins Chevrolet 150
150 1,265 Running
7
9 Greg Voigt Auto Pro Racing
Engines Chevrolet 150
146 1,220 Running
8
07 Kevin Clark Sirius Satellite
Radio/Kenwood Car Audio 150
142 875 Running
9
44 Bobby Lyon Alliance
Rentals/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet 149
138 1,145 Running
10
28 Thomas Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas/H2HD
Chevrolet 149
134 1,070 Running
11
98 Brandon Loverock * Quick Change Exchange
Chevrolet 149
130 700 Running
12
2 Eric Richardson * Centrifugal
Technologies Chevrolet 148
127 700 Running
13
04 Stephan Sadler Padco Carpet
Cushion Inc. Chevrolet 129
124 1,120 Running
14
3 Kevin Vernon Jim's Towing
Chevrolet 55
121 700
Electrical
Failed to Qualify#:
(6) Cody
Pruitt * (#1), Darrell Lamoure (#94), Travis McCullough *
(#86), Greg Potts (#31), Don Campbell (#5), Richard Johnson
(#47).
Top
10 Driver Points:
Eric Holmes
505, Eddy McKean 475, Rip Michels 475, Greg Voigt 398, M K
Kanke 396, David Mayhew * 394, Jim Pettit, II 377, Stephan
Sadler 345, Thomas Martin 341, Bobby Lyon 332
#
Non-Qualifying Drivers and Owners are awarded non-qualifier
points on the basis of the car’s qualifying results,
starting with the 44th position per the points
schedule in section 17-3(1) of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division Rulebook.
For More
Information, Contact:
Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations, (253) 853-7371 or
ssbarra@nascar.com
Derrick
Shannon, NASCAR Public Relations, (208) 870-8066 or dshannon@nascar.com
Jeremy
Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 681-4173 or
jdavidson@nascar.com
Shon Sbarra
ERIE, Colo. (June 3, 2006)
– Josh Vadnais won the Bud Pole Award for the Auto Trader 150 in
the combination NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest and
Southwest Series at Colorado National Speedway.
Vadnais, of White Bear Lake,
Minn., patrolled the 3/8-mile oval in 16.094 seconds (82.764
mph) in his No. 11 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chevrolet. It was
his first Bud Pole of the season and the second of his NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division career.
Thirty-two cars will start
tonight’s feature event with 20 qualifying in time trials, six
racing their way in via the qualifying race and six provisional
slots will be provided. Forty-three cars were entered in the
event.
The green flag is scheduled to
be waved at 8:10 p.m. MDT.
Contact:
Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public
Relations, (253) 377-9128 or ssbarra@nascar.com
Jeremy Davidson
NASCAR
AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, MIDWEST SERIES AND SOUTHWEST SERIES MATCHUP
IN AUTO TRADER 150
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May
31, 2006)
– On Saturday, June 3 the NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series and Midwest Series return
to Colorado National Speedway in
Erie, Colo., in an Elite Division
matchup featuring the
two Late Model series in a combined
format.
The highest-finishing Midwest Series driver will be credited with a
Midwest Series victory and receive first-place points towards the
Midwest Series championship, regardless of their overall finish in
the event. The second highest-finishing Midwest Series driver will
receive second-place points and so on. Likewise, the
highest-finishing Southwest Series driver will be credited with a
Southwest Series victory and receive first-place points towards the
Southwest Series championship, and so on.
Drivers will be credited with championship points for their
respective series, based on whichever series they have previously
obtained a NASCAR license for. Drivers will not be credited with a
start or championship points outside their “home” series for which
they are licensed for.
The Auto Trader is the third race of the season for the Southwest
Series and marks the start of the 2006 Midwest Series campaign.
The two series, which use identical race cars under identical rules
as part of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, have both raced at
Colorado National Speedway, located 25 miles north of Denver,
on several previous occasions.
Saturday’s Auto Trader 150 is the
third time they are being brought together in a combined format.
Qualifying will be at a premium as only thirty-two starting
positions are available for the 150-lap event, where a full
contingent of series regulars will vie for their shot at victory in
this unique format. Several local NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series drivers
will attempt to qualify, led by multi-time track champion
Roger Avants,
of Littleton, Colo.
Other notable local competitors entered in this marquee event
include Jerry Robertson
of Denver,
Bruce Yackey
of Greeley, Colo., Kevin Clark
of Colorado Springs, Colo.,
Mike Gallegos of Wheat Ridge,
Colo., Greg Fowler
of Erie,
Trevor Morrical
of Brighton, Colo., Jon
Backman of Parker, Colo.,
Danny Mientka
of Colorado Springs, Colo.,
Kenneth Walter of Littleton,
Colo., Darren Crocker
of Littleton, Colo., and Dave
Finley of Brighton, Colo.
Two-time defending Southwest Series
champion
Jim Pettit II,
of Prunedale, Calif., is clawing his way back into the top
10 in the Southwest Series standings
after a rough start this season. Pettit finished eighth at Shasta
Raceway Park
three weeks ago and currently sits 13th
after two races this season. Pettit eyes a return trip to the
winner's circle at CNS after finishing second to Jerry Robertson
in August 2005.
"I
love racing at Colorado National," Pettit said. "It is a long
[trip], but the racing is always some of
the best all year and the fans are incredible. I have always run
real well there and hope that I am there at the end this weekend. It
is going to be a tough race to win as the best of the Midwest will
make it one of the more competitive fields all season."
Looking to back up his thrilling win at CNS last season is
Brandon Riehl,
of Boring, Ore., who currently holds the point lead in the Northwest
Series. "I am looking forward to Colorado, but it is going to be
tough with all the top guys there,” Riehl said.
“This could be the toughest race of the
season."
The Midwest Series will kick off their season at CNS led by
nine-time champion
Steve Carlson,
of West Salem, Wis., Carlson will be joined by the top drivers of
the Midwest Series including
Tim Schendel,
Ron Hawley,
Dexter Bean,
Brent Kirchner,
Josh Vadnais
and David Finney.
The Auto Trader "150" could well be the best race of the season and
it looms as one of the most important races in this year's
championship chase. The green flag is set to wave at 8:10 p.m.
Saturday, June
3.
Auto Trader 150 NEWS & NOTES
Alumni Spotlight...
Burney Lamar,
former Southwest Series star and current driver of the
No. 77
Dollar General Chevrolet
for Kevin Harvick Inc.
on the NASCAR Busch Series, continues to impress as he continues to
finish races and complete laps in his first full season on the
NASCAR Busch Series. Lamar is 11th in the standings and is the
leading Rookie-of-the-Year competitor. Former Southwest Series
champion Auggie Vidovich
has made the jump to the NASCAR Busch Series, where he’ll drive the
No. 4 Dodge for
Biagi-Den Beste Racing.
From the Midwest Series, two-time
champion Justin Diercks,
of Davenport, Iowa, made his NASCAR Busch Series debut May 5 at
Richmond International Raceway
Points
… Eric
Holmes leads the current 2006
Southwest Series standings after two races with 2002 series champion
Eddy McKean
only five markers back.
Bud Pole Awards
...
Craig Raudman’s
29 career Bud Pole Awards
leads all
Southwest Series drivers but M.K.
Kanke (28 poles) looks to
take that record back this season.
Who’s Faster
… If past Bud Pole qualifying
speeds are any indication, the Southwest Series may be favored to
put one of its drivers on the pole. The Southwest Series’ Bud Pole
qualifying record at Colorado National is 15.736 seconds (85.791
mph), set by Burney
Lamar in 2002. In the Midwest Series, the record belongs to
Mark Kraus, at 15.919 seconds
(84.804 mph) set in 2000.
Rookie Race
...
David Mayhew
leads the
Southwest Series Sunoco
Rookie of the
Year standings after a
ninth-place
finish at Shasta. Other
Southwest Series Sunoco
Rookie
of the Year
contenders this season include
Travis McCullough, Cody Pruitt, Eric
Richardson, Danny Mientka,
Bobby Latham,
and
Brandon Loverock.
287 and Counting...That
is how many career Southwest Series starts
Bob Lyon,
of Aqua Dulce, Calif., has heading into the Auto Trader 150. Lyon
has started more races than any other competitor in series history.
His Southwest Series career started back in 1987. Lyon finished 12th
at CNS last season.
History Lesson
...
Rick Carelli,
the “high plains drifter,” scored
the win back on August 22, 1992. The victory was Carelli’s sixth of
the season and moved him into third place in the point standings
behind Ron Hornaday
and
Doug George.
Hornaday finished second that day followed by Roger Avants, Bob
Lyon, and Michael Waltrip.
Steve Portenga
was the top finishing rookie in a race that took just 39 minutes and
31 seconds to complete 104 laps. Carelli’s margin of victory was 3.1
seconds and the race was slowed four times for 22 laps. Carelli was
also the fast qualifier with a quick lap of 16.407 seconds.
Fast Facts
What: NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series/Midwest Series Auto Trader “150”
Where: Colorado National
Speedway, Erie, Colo.
Who: NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series/Midwest Series
When: Sat., June 3 at 8:10
p.m. (Mountain Time).
Posted awards: $85,313
Race length: 150laps, 43.75
miles
Track layout: 3/8-mile oval.
2005 Race Winner: Brandon
Riehl
2005 Bud Pole Winner: Brandon
Riehl
Track contact: Doug Greer,
(303) 828-0116
Pre-Race Schedule (All Times Local):
Saturday, June 3- Registration begins 8:00 a.m., Haulers Enter 8:00
a.m., Practice 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Bud Pole Qualifying 4:50
p.m., Auto Trader "150" 8:10 p.m.
For more information, contact:
Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 681-4173 or
jdavidson@nascar.com
Shon
Sbarra, NASCAR
Public Relations, (253) 853-7371 or
ssbarra@nascar.com
Derrick
Shannon
Auggie Awesome
Again at Shasta
DAYTONA BEACH,
FLA. (May 16, 2006) Auggie Vidovich from Lakeside, Calif. had a lot
on his mind this past Saturday night but quickly cleared his head
and the field as he cruised to his 11th career NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series victory and second in a row at Shasta
Raceway Park located outside Anderson, Calif. Vidovich took the lead
on lap 71 of the 125-lap NARI Records sponsored event edging Eddy
McKean from Jerome, Idaho by a mere .019 seconds. Teammates Jason
Fensler and Eric Holmes finished third and fourth respectively while
Thomas Martin rounded out the top five.
Vidovich’s near
perfect night started with a quick qualifying lap of 15.611
seconds/86.477 mph to best the field of 27 of the regions finest
Late Model Touring drivers. Fensler, Holmes, Martin and David Mayhew
completed the top five fastest qualifiers, but Vidovich drew an
8-car invert which put third year series driver Rip Michels on the
point for the feature race.
Vidovich started
outside row number four but did not seem worried about the starting
position on the tricky 3/8-mile paved oval. Michels led the field to
green with Kevin Vernon alongside. The pack quickly started to
jockey for position throughout the field over the first ten laps.
The first of three
cautions came out on lap 11 when series veteran Bob Lyon and Stephan
Sadler got together in turn two. Also involved were Sunoco rookie
Cody Pruitt. Pruitt headed straight to the pits with heavy front end
damage while Lyon and Sadler were able to continue. Pruitt would
finish 24th.
Meanwhile, Michels
set a torrid pace on the lap 20 restart followed closely by M.K.
Kanke who was searching for his 21st career series win to
tie Rick Carelli for number one on the all-time list. Vernon held
the third position with Fensler and Vidovich rounding out the top
five in the running order.
As quickly as
Kanke closed on Michels his evening ended with a flat left rear
tire. Kanke rode around the track until traffic cleared allowing him
to exit the track and head to the pits for repairs. Kanke called it
an evening after suspension damage was discovered.
Michels extended
his lead over second place Fensler by lap 30 with Vidovich closing
fast in third. Vernon and Eddy McKean were fourth and fifth. The
second caution flew when Vernon spun in turn four and Darrell
LaMoure and Don Campbell made contact trying to avoid the spinning
car of Vernon. All three drivers were able to continue but LaMoure
sustained heavy right front body damage.
Michels continued
his stronghold at the point but began to face serious pressure from
Fensler. By lap 42 Fensler was able to push his nose under the Stock
Building Supply Chevrolet and take the lead. Vidovich followed
Fensler by Michels on the next lap while McKean closed and completed
his pas the next lap.
By lap 50, Fensler
Vidovich, and McKean put some distance on fourth place Thomas Martin
and dispatched with lapped traffic if as the three were on a rail.
Eric Holmes moved into the mix by lap 67 assuming the fourth
position.
Vidovich eyed
Fensler as a hawk eyes his prey and pounced on lap 71 rocketing by
the 63 machine. Vidovich would never look back over the final 54
circuits but would have to negotiate heavy traffic throughout the
event.
McKean made his
move on Fensler on lap 90 and by lap 92 drove underneath Fensler in
Turn and set his sights on Vidovich. Over the next six laps Fensler
and Holmes would exchange the third position several times with
Fensler ultimately winning out over his teammate.
The final caution
of the event came out on lap 100 when LaMoure looped his Chevrolet
in turn. With the lead lap cars lined up on the outside and the down
cars on the inside, Vidovich hoped for a good start in order to put
some distance between himself and McKean. Vidovich got a great
restart but the advantage did not last long. McKean got by the
lapped cars and locked on to Vidovich. Fensler, Holmes, and Martin
followed with Michels, Mayhew, Greg Voigt, Jeff Barkshire, and
two-time series champion Jim Pettit II rounding out the top ten with
only twenty laps left in the event.
Vidovich
maintained his advantage over McKean edging the Jerome, Idaho driver
at the line. Fensler finished with teammate Holmes in fourth. Martin
held on for fifth while Michels hung on to finish sixth. Barkshire,
Pettit, Mayhew, and Voigt rounded out the top ten finishers at the
conclusion of 125 laps. Stan Silva Jr. was the only other driver on
the lead lap finishing eleventh.
Vidovich showed a
lot of emotion in victory lane. “This was a great win for the team,”
Vidovich said. “Mike Harvick and the crew set up a real fast racecar
and all I had to do was drive. I would also like to thank Rich
Fountain for all of his support.” Vidovich finished his celebration
giving a big hug and a kiss to his mother who has attended all of
his Southwest Series races since his rookie year back in 2000.
Finishing second
and backing up his top five finish from a year ago was championship
hopeful Eddy McKean. “This was a great finish for us,” McKean said.
“We were a little tight at the end but what a fun race. George Wade
and his staff know how to treat racers and race fans and we had a
lot of fun this weekend.”
Scoring his first
top five of the season and looking to run a full Southwest Series
schedule this season was second generation driver Jason Fensler from
Wilton, Calif. “This is a tough series with some of the best drivers
in the country. I am thrilled to finish third,” Fensler said. “My
car was great during the first half of the race but I was simply
hanging on over the final fifty laps.”
“I was hoping for
the win, but a top five is a big accomplishment,” said fifth place
finisher Thomas Martin. “We have made big improvements in our
program and I am confident we are going to have more finishes like
this over the course of the season.”
Bobby Latham III collected the $750
PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the race (11)
while Thomas Martin earned the $300 Featherlite Award for improving
the most positions from the previous event (32). David Mayhew was
the top finishing Sunoco rookie competitor with his ninth place
performance.
Eric Holmes (325) from Escalon, Calif. leaves Shasta with a slim
five point advantage over former series champion Eddy McKean
(320). Vidovich sits third with 318 points with Fensler and
Michels rounding out the top five in the standings after two
races this season. The Southwest Series travels next to Colorado
National Speedway outside Denver June 3 for a 150-lap showdown
with the Midwest Series.
Post Script:
- Auggie Vidovich has been signed to drive for a NASCAR Busch
Series team thus dropping him from the championship chase.
Vidovich will return to the Southwest Series at Phoenix later
this year.
- Two-time and defending Southwest Series champion Jim Pettit
II jumped 18 positions in the standings to 13th after finishing
eighth at Shasta.
- Bob Lyon started his 288th race this past Saturday in
Southwest Series competition dating back to 1988. Lyon finished
20th.
- Northwest Series Championship contender Jeff Barkshire made
the long tow to Shasta for his first Southwest Series start.
Barkshire finished 7th in his first ever visit to the track.
Fellow Northwest championship driver Brandon Riehl did not
compete in the race as a broken motor sidelined the Northwest
Series point leader.
- Multi-time national and regional go-karting champion Terry
Lawrence finished 13th in his third series start. Lawrence who
hails from Boise, Idaho has recently relocated to North Carolina
and will use seat time in the Southwest Series as he prepares
for future Busch Series and ARCA opportunities. Lawrence will
travel to France this next week and test for a factory go-karting
team.
- Dan Holtz has signed multi-time Late Model champion Freddie
Query as crew chief for the 2006 season. Query will continue to
compete behind the wheel in non-conflicting weekends.
- Rising country music star and NARI recording artist BECCA
treated competitors and race fans to two free concerts this past
weekend. BECCA also was the Grand Marshall for the weekend and
described her exeprience as "Amazing".
NARI Records "125" presented by BECCA
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Shasta Raceway Park May 13, 2006
1. Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet, 125, 66.991
mph, $3,250
2. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac, 125, $1,900
3. Jason Fensler, Wilton Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125, $1,200
4. Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$1,100
5. Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125, $1,450
6. Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $1,400
7. Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge Intrepid, 125, $975
8. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford, 125, $1,350
9. David Mayhew*, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
125, $925
10. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet, 125,
$1,300
11. Stan Silva, Jr, Castroville Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 125, $1,150
12. Bobby Latham III*, Twin Falls Idaho, Dodge Intrepid,
124, $1,550
13. Terry Lawerence*, Mooresville N.C., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 123, $775
14. Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
123, $750
15. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 123, $700
16. Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
123, $675
17. Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
123, $1,050
18. Brandon Loverock*, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 121, $625
19. Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo,
120, $600
20. Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet, 120, $950
21. Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 117, $925
22. Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, 94,
Brakes, $500
23. M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet, 31,
Handling, $900
24. Cody Pruitt*, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 22, Overheating, $500
Failed to
Qualify:
(3) Kevin Clark
(#07), Eric Richardson * (#21), Danny Mientka * (#4).
Time of
Race:
0 hrs., 41 mins,
59 secs Average Speed:
66.991 mph Margin of Victory: .019 seconds
BUD POLE
AWARD: Auggie Vidovich, 11 Centrifugal Technologies Chevrolet,
15.738 seconds/86.477 mph
FEATHERLITE
AWARD: Thomas Martin, 28, Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER
MOVE OF THE RACE: Bobby Latham III *, 3 Latham Motors Dodge
LUNATI CREW
CHIEF AWARD: Mike Harvick, #11 Centrifugal Technologies
Chevrolet
Caution
Flags:
Laps 11-20;
33-38; 100-104. 3 for 21 laps.
Lap
Leaders:
Rip Michels
1-42, Jason Fensler 43-70, Auggie Vidovich 71-125.
Total Laps
Led:
Auggie Vidovich
55, Rip Michels 42, Jason Fensler 28. 2 changes involving 3
drivers.
Top 10 Driver
Points:
Eric Holmes
325, Eddy McKean 320, Auggie Vidovich 318, Jason Fensler 311,
Rip Michels 305, Greg Voigt 252, David Mayhew *
244, M K Kanke 236, Dan Holtz
227, Terry Lawerence * 221
Sunoco Rookie
Points:
David Mayhew
18, Cody Pruitt 16, Terry Lawrence 15, Bobby Latham III 13,
Brandon Loverock 10, Travis McCullough 9, Eric
Richardson 6, Danny Mientka
5.
Next
Race:
Colorado Nat'l
Speedway 6/3/06
Derrick
Shannon
Vidovich
Victorious in Shasta Repeat
ANDERSON, CA. (May 13, 2006) Auggie
Vidovich from Lakeside, Calif.
capped a perfect evening claiming
his 11th NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series victory
Saturday night at Shasta Raceway
Park in Anderson, Calif. Vidovich
edged Eddy McKean at the line with
Jason Fensler, Eric Holmes, and
Thomas Martin rounding out the top
five finishers in the NARI Records
sponsored event.
Vidovich
took the lead for good on lap 71 of
the 125-lap race and never looked
back though he had to work his way
to the front after starting in the
eighth position. Vidovich also
claimed his third career Bud Pole
Award with a quick lap of 15.611
seconds around the tricky 3/8-mile
paved oval but had to start eighth
after he drew an 8-car invert.
Rip
Michels, Jeff Barkshire, Jim Pettit
II, David Mayhew, and Greg Voigt
rounded out the top ten finishers in
the second event of the 2006
campaign. Bobby Latham III collected
the $750 PowerAde Award for
improving the most positions in the
race (11) while Stan Silva Jr.
earned the $300 Featherlite Award
for improving the most positions
from the previous event (33). David
Mayhew was the top finishing Sunoco
rookie competitor with his ninth
place performance.
Eric
Holmes (325) from Escalon, Calif.
leaves Shasta with a slim five point
advantage over former series
champion Eddy McKean (320). Vidovich
sits third with 318 points with
Fensler and Michels rounding out the
top five in the standings after two
races this season. The Southwest
Series travels next to Colorado
National Speedway outside Denver
June 3 for a 150-lap showdown with
the Midwest Series.
NARI Records "125" presented by
BECCA
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION,
SOUTHWEST SERIES
Shasta Raceway Park May 13, 2006
1. Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside
Calif., Chevrolet, 125, 66.991 mph,
$3,250
2. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho,
Pontiac, 125, $1,900
3. Jason Fensler, Wilton
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$1,200
4. Eric Holmes, Escalon
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$1,100
5. Thomas Martin, Auburn
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$1,450
6. Rip Michels, San Fernando
Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $1,400
7. Jeff Barkshire, Auburn
Wash., Dodge Intrepid, 125, $975
8. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale
Calif., Ford, 125, $1,350
9. David Mayhew*, Atascadero
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125,
$925
10. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara
Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $1,300
11. Stan Silva, Jr,
Castroville Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 125, $1,150
12. Bobby Latham III*, Twin
Falls Idaho, Dodge Intrepid, 124,
$1,550
13. Terry Lawerence*,
Mooresville N.C., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 123, $775
14. Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix
Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$750
15. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$700
16. Greg Potts, Manteca
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$675
17. Don Campbell, Campbell
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123,
$1,050
18. Brandon Loverock*, Santa
Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, 121, $625
19. Stephan Sadler, Brea
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 120,
$600
20. Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce
Calif., Chevrolet, 120, $950
21. Richard Johnson, Antioch
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 117,
$925
22. Dan Holtz, Pacific
Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, 94,
Brakes, $500
23. M K Kanke, Frazier Park
Calif., Chevrolet, 31, Handling,
$900
24. Cody Pruitt*, Bakersfield
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 22,
Overheating, $500
Failed to Qualify:
(3) Kevin Clark (#07), Eric
Richardson * (#21), Danny Mientka *
(#4).
Time of Race:
0 hrs., 41 mins, 59
secs
Average Speed: 66.991
mph Margin of
Victory: .019 seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Auggie Vidovich, 11
Centrifugal Technologies Chevrolet,
15.738 seconds/86.477 mph
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Stan Silva, Jr,
65 A&S Metals/Stan Silva Jr.
Trucking Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE:
Bobby Latham III *, 3 Latham Motors
Dodge
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Mike
Harvick, #11 Centrifugal
Technologies Chevrolet
Caution Flags:
Laps 11-20; 33-38; 100-104. 3 for
21 laps.
Lap Leaders:
Rip Michels 1-42, Jason Fensler
43-70, Auggie Vidovich 71-125.
Total Laps Led:
Auggie Vidovich 55, Rip Michels 42,
Jason Fensler 28. 2 changes
involving 3 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points:
Eric Holmes 325, Eddy McKean 320,
Auggie Vidovich 318, Jason Fensler
311, Rip Michels 305, Greg Voigt
252, David Mayhew *
244, M K Kanke 236, Dan Holtz 227,
Terry Lawerence * 221
Sunoco Rookie Points:
David Mayhew 18, Cody Pruitt 16,
Terry Lawrence 15, Bobby Latham III
13, Brandon Loverock 10, Travis
McCullough 9, Eric
Richardson 6, Danny Mientka 5.
Next Race:
Colorado Nat'l Speedway 6/3/06
Derrick
Shannon
DAYTONA
BEACH,
Fla.
(May 8,
2006)
– Saturday,
May
13 the
NASCAR
AutoZone
Elite
Division,
Southwest
Series
returns
to
Northern
California
for the
second
straight
year
with the
running
of the NARI
Records "125"
presented
by BECCA
at
Shasta
Raceway
Park
located
in
Anderson,
Calif.
The
event at
Shasta
will be
the second
event of
the 2006
campaign
as the
boys of
summer
prepare
for
action
after a
four
month
layoff.
Last
season,
the
series
returned
to the
Northern
California
oval
after a
16 year
hiatus,
Auggie
Vidovich
claimed
the
victory
over Rip
Michels,
Nick
Lynch,
Eddy
McKean,
and Jim
Pettit
II.
Vidovich
is
squarely
focused
on
adding a
second
series
title to
his
resume'
and
looks
for a
repeat
performance
at
Shasta.
Vidovich
will
also
gain
seat
time
this
season
competing
in the
NASCAR
Grand
National
Division,
AutoZone
West
Series
driving
for a
new
team.
Vidovich's
victory
at SRP
last
season
was his fourth
win of
the year
and the
10th
career triumph
for the
Lakeside,
California
native. After
starting
fifth,
he took
the lead
heading
into lap
85 and
led the
final 40
laps at
the
3/8-mile
oval.
Rip
Michels
finished
second
after
leading
the
race’s
first 84
laps.
Nick
Lynch,
the Bud
Pole
winner,
started
eighth
after
the
invert
and
worked
his way
to a
third-place
finish.
Eddy
McKean
crossed
the line
in
fourth
followed
by
Jim
Pettit
II.
Greg
Pursley,
M.K.
Kanke,
Ryan
Foster,
Brandon
Riehl
and
Keith
Spangler
rounding
out the
top 10.
This
season
the cast
of
characters
change a
bit but
the
action
will be
the
same.
Coming
off his
second
straight
series
title,
Jim
Pettit
II
from
Prunedale,
Calif.
has a
large
hole to
climb
out of
after a
disappointing
31st
place
finish
at
Phoenix.
Pettit
is mired
deep in
the
standings
and will
need top
five
performances
the rest
of the
season
in order
to hope
for a
three-peat.
"I am
looking
forward
to the
race at
Shasta,"
Pettit
said.
"We had
a good
car last
season
and we
are very
hungry
for a
win
after
our
disappointment
at
Phoenix."
Another
former
champion
hoping
for a
second
trophy
to place
on the
mantle
is 2002
titlest
Eddy
McKean
from
Jerome,
Idaho.
McKean
had a
solid
top ten
run at
Phoenix
and
looks to
back up
his
fourth
place
finish
at SRP
last
fall in
pursuit
of that
second
title.
"We have
come a
long way
with our
short-track
program,"
McKean
said.
"We are
really
focused
on
consistency
and I
think we
have a
car to
beat.
George
Wade and
his
staff
treated
us all
real
well
last
year and
we look
forward
to the
race
next
weekend."
There
are
seven
registered
Sunoco
Rookie-of-the-Year
competitors
this
season
led by
Cody
Pruitt
of
Bakersfield,
Calif.
Pruitt
assumes
the seat
vacated
by
former
ROTY
champion
Burney
Lamar
and
finished
with an
impressive
12th
place
finish
at
Phoenix
to start
his
rookie
campaign.
Brandon
Riehl
from
Boring,
Oregon
will
join the
Southwest
Series
regulars
after
picking
up his
third
career
Northwest
Series
victory
April 30
at
Meridian
(ID)
Speedway.
Riehl
has one
Southwest
Series
win
which
came
last
year at
Colorado
National
Speedway
outside
Denver.
"I have
a great
sponsor
in Aero
Exhaust
and I
plan on
racing
as much
as I can
this
year,"
Riehl
said. "I
love
racing
with the
Southwest
Series
guys and
I really
look
forward
to
Shasta
this
weekend."
There
have
only
been two
repeat
winners
at
Shasta
Raceway
Park
over the
years in
Southwest
Series
competition,
Ron Esau
(86, 87)
and
Mike
Chase
(86,
87),
both
drivers
claimed
victories
in the
first
four
series
races
held
when the
facility
was
configured
as a
third-mile
oval.
The NARI
Records "125" presented
by BECCA
may only
be the
second
race of
the
season
but it
looms as
one of
the most
important
races in
this
year's
championship
chase.
The
green
flag is
set to
wave at
8:30
p.m.
Saturday,
May
13.
NARI
Records 125
presented
by BECCA NEWS
& NOTES
· Alumni
Spotlight...
Burney
Lamar,
former
Southwest
Series
star and
current
driver
of the
Dollar
General
Chevrolet
for KHI
on the
NASCAR
Busch
Series,
continues
to
impress
as he
continues
to
finish
races
and
complete
laps in
his
first
full
season
on the
NASCAR
Busch
Series.
Lamar is
14th in
the
standings
and is
the
leading
Rookie-of-the-Year
competitor.
·
Points
… Matt
Crafton leads
the
current
2006
Southwest
Series
standings
after
the
event at
Phoenix
in
January
with Eric
Holmes the
first
series
regular
following
Crafton.
·
Bud Pole
Awards...Craig
Raudman
29
career
Bud Pole
Awards
to lead
all
series
drivers
but M.K.
Kanke
(28
poles) looks
to take
that
record
back
this
season.
The
track
qualifying
record
at SRP
is
15.500
seconds/87.097
mph set
by Nick
Lynch
last
September.
·
Rookies...
Cody
Pruitt
leads
the
current
Rookie-of-the-Year
standings
after a
12th
place
performance
at
Phoenix.
Other
Rookie
contenders
this
season
include
Travis
McCullough,
David
Mayhew,
Eric
Richardson,
Danny
Mientka,
Bobby
Latham,
and
Brandon
Loverock.
All of
which
will be
visiting
Shasta
Raceway
Park for
the
first
time.
·
287 and
Counting...That
is how
many
career
Southwest
Series
starts
Bob Lyon
from
Aqua
Dulce,
Calif.
has.
Lyon has
started
more
races
than any
other
competitor
in
series
history.
His
Southwest
Series
career
started
back in
1987.
Lyon
finished
14th at
Shasta
last
season.
Lyon
lost his
long
time
crew
chief
Tony
Prusa
last
month to
illness.
·
Celebrity
Status...
NARI
Recording
artist
BECCA
joins
forces
with
Shasta
Raceway
Park
beginning
with
Southwest
Series
event.
BECCA’s
first CD
release
titled
“BECCA”
is
filled
with
Solid
Country
as BECCA
blends
in
everything
that is
crazy
good
about
blues,
Soul,
Folk,
gospel
and
rock.
It’s a
unique
sound
BECCA
calls LA
COUNTRY.
·
History
Lesson...Dan
Press
held off
a
determined
Roman
Calczynski
to win
the
Stroh's
100 at
the then
1/3-mile
layout.
Ron
Hornaday,
Mike
Chase,
and
local
star
Roger
Gannon
rounded
out the
top five
finishers.
The race
took
just 36
minutes
to
complete
with
five
caution
periods
for 22
laps.
Calczynski
started
on the
pole but
Press
past him
on lap
six and
never
looked
back.
Randy
Laskowsky
was the
top
finishing
rookie
with a
16th
place
effort.
Ray
Hooper
Jr.
and Dan
Press
were
tied
atop the
point
standings
after
three
events
in the
20-race
campaign.
Press
went on
to claim
the
title
that
year by
103
points
over
Mike
Chase.
Fast
Facts
What: NASCAR
AutoZone
Elite
Division,
Southwest
Series
NARI
Records
"125"
presented
by BECCA
Where:
Shasta
Raceway
Park,
Anderson,
Calif.
Who:
NASCAR
AutoZone
Elite
Division,
Southwest
Series
When:
Sat., May
13 at
8:30
p.m..
(Pacific
Time).
Posted
awards:
$50,731
Race
length:
125
laps, 46.875
miles
Track
layout:
3/8-mile
oval.
2005
Race
Winner:
Auggie
Vidovich
2005 Bud
Pole
Winner:
Nick
Lynch
15.500
seconds/87.097
mph
2006
Championship
Standings:
(After
Round
one)
1. Matt
Crafton
180; 2.
Ken
Schrader
170; 3.
Eric
Holmes
165; 4.
Tim
Schendel
160; 5.
Rip
Michels
155.
Track
contact:
George
Wade,
(530) 378-6789
Pre-Race
Schedule
(All
Times
Local):
Saturday,
May 13-
Registration
begins
9:30
a.m.,
Haulers
Enter
10:00
a.m.,
Practice
1:30
p.m.-3:30
p.m.(Alternating),
Bud Pole
Qualifying 5:00
p.m., NARI
Records
"125" presented
by BECCA
8:30
p.m.
Tickets:
Available
by
calling
(530) 378-6789
Online
Info:
www.shastaracewaypark.org
For more
information
please
contact:
NASCAR
AutoZone
Elite
Division,
Southwest
Series
Derrick
Shannon
NARI Recording
Artist BECCA
Highlights
Southwest Series
Event at Shasta
DAYTONA BEACH,
FL. (May 5,
2006) NARI
recording artist
BECCA set to
entertain fans
as the NASCAR
AutoZone Elite
Division,
Southwest Series
returns to
Shasta Raceway
Park Saturday,
May 13 for the
NARI Records
"125" presented
by BECCA.
BECCA’s first CD
release titled
“BECCA” is
filled with
Solid Country as
BECCA blends in
everything that
is crazy good
about blues,
Soul, Folk,
gospel and rock.
It’s a unique
sound BECCA
calls LA
COUNTRY.
This partnership
comes with the
success of
BECCA’s newly
released CD
simply called
BECCA and her
single “Second
Chance". NASCAR
and Country
music have
always been a
family affair
and BECCA’s
brand of country
music she calls
LA COUNTRY makes
a perfect
marriage into
the NASCAR
family. “We are
so excited to
present BECCA to
the NASCAR
racing
community” says
Nari Records
Manager/Producer
Rick Francisco.
BECCA's new CD
is currently
being aired on
over 200 radio
stations around
the world and
the number of
people
discovering this
fresh new
country star are
increasing
everyday.
BECCA’s music is
also available
at CD Baby,
Tower Records,
iTunes and most
digital
downloading
services.
Flannel Shirt
Management
invites you to
join BECCA at
her website at
myspace.com.
Listen to
samples of her
new CD on Nari
Records.
The Southwest Series
stars enter their
21st season of
action in 2006 and
full contingent of
drivers will be on
hand for round two
of the series
schedule. The event
at Shasta will
gather more than 30
of the regions top
drivers vying for
one of the 24
starting positions
in the NARI Records
"125".
Last season Auggie
Vidovich claimed the
victory when the
series returned to
SRP after a sixteen
year absence,
followed by Rip
Michels, Nick Lynch,
Eddy McKean, and Jim
Pettit II.
NARI Records
"125" presented
by BECCA
NASCAR AUTOZONE
ELITE DIVISION,
SOUTHWEST SERIES
Shasta Raceway
Park May 13,
2006
1. (1)*Cody
Pruitt,
Bakersfield
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
2. (03)Jim
Pettit, II,
Prunedale
Calif., Ford
3. (3)*Bobby
Latham III, Twin
Falls Idaho,
Dodge Intrepid
4. (04)Stephan
Sadler, Brea
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
5. (4)*Danny
Mientka,
Colorado Springs
Colo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo
6. (5)Don
Campbell,
Campbell Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
7. (07)Kevin
Clark, Colorado
Springs Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
8. (9)Greg
Voigt, Santa
Barbara Calif.,
Chevrolet
9. (11)Auggie
Vidovich,
Lakeside Calif.,
Chevrolet
10. (12)Rip
Michels, San
Fernando Calif.,
Chevrolet
11. (14)Ed Belec,
Lakewood Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
12. (19)Eddy
McKean, Jerome
Idaho, Pontiac
13. (21)*Eric
Richardson,
Bakersfield
Calif., Ford
Taurus
14. (23)Dan
Holtz, Pacific
Palisades
Calif., Ford
Taurus
15. (26)*David
Mayhew,
Atascadero
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
16. (28)Thomas
Martin, Auburn
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
17. (30)Steve
Belletto,
Modesto Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
18. (33)M K
Kanke, Frazier
Park Calif.,
Chevrolet
19. (36)Kevin
Vernon,
Bakersfield
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
20. (44)Bobby
Lyon, Aqua Dulce
Calif.,
Chevrolet
21. (47)Richard
Johnson, Antioch
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
22. (57)Terry
Lawerence,
Mooresville
N.C., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo
23. (62)Eric
Holmes, Escalon
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
24. (63)Jason
Fensler, Wilton
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
25. (64)Garrett
Evans, E.
Wenatchee Wash.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
26. (65)Stan
Silva, Jr,
Castroville
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
27. (69)Brandon
Riehl, Boring
Ore., Chevrolet
28. (86)*Travis
McCullough, Lodi
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
29. (94)Darrell
Lamoure, Phoenix
Ariz., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo
30. (98)*Brandon
Loverock, Santa
Fe Springs
Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte
Carlo
* Denotes Rookie
of the Year
Contender
NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division,
Southwest Series
Derrick
Shannon
NASCAR AUTOZONE
ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
CONTINUES
FINAL SEASON MAY
13 AT SHASTA RACEWAY PARK
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2006)
– The NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series got a
huge headstart on the 2006 racing
season at the Copper World Classic
Jan. 22 at Phoenix (Ariz.)
International Raceway. After a
three-month break, the Southwest
Series returns to action May 13 at
Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson,
Calif. The 2006 season marks the
final year for the Southwest Series,
as NASCAR has announced
restructuring plans for its regional
racing series.
For many fans and
drivers, the Shasta race marks the
true beginning of the championship
competition, as the current points
battle shows non-series regulars
Matt Crafton, Ken Schrader
and Tim Schendel atop the
standings after their top-five
finishes at Phoenix. With the
visitors gone, Southwest Series
regulars Eric Holmes and
Rip Michels, who also finished
in the top five at Phoenix, will
battle for points against the rest
of the top-10 title contenders
including Eddy McKean,
Jason Fensler, M.K. Kanke
and Auggie Vidovich. Reigning
series champion Jim Pettit II
finished 31st at Phoenix
after experiencing engine problems,
but is expected to mount a strong
defense of his title when the season
resumes.
The Southwest
Series schedule includes eight races
at seven tracks. Two races – June 3
and Aug. 19 at Colorado National
Speedway in Erie, Colo. – are
combination events with the NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest
Series. The Southwest Series will
close the history books on the
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, with
a Nov. 9 finale at Phoenix.
Citing declining
support and rising costs for the
Elite Division, NASCAR has announced
it will focus its efforts on
Divisions that will build a better
developmental program for the
future. Following the 2006 season,
the four series that comprise the
Elite Division – including the
Midwest, Northwest, Southeast and
Southwest Series – will be
discontinued.
Beginning in 2006
and continuing in 2007, NASCAR will
implement several rule changes in
the NASCAR Grand National Division,
in an effort to reduce the cost of
competing in the Busch East Series
and the AutoZone West Series. These
changes include a less-costly "spec"
engine, as well as composite bodies.
2006 NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest
Series schedule
Sun., Jan.
22 Phoenix (Ariz.)
International Raceway
Sat., May
13 Shasta Raceway
Park, Anderson, Calif.
Sat., June
3* Colorado National
Speedway, Erie, Colo.
Sat., June
17 Irwindale
(Calif.) Speedway
Sat., July
15 Stockton 99
Speedway, Stockton, Calif.
Sat., Aug.
19* Colorado National
Speedway, Erie. Colo.
Sat., Sept.
23 Altamont Raceway
Park, Tracy, Calif.
Thurs., Nov.
9 Phoenix (Ariz.)
International Raceway
* Denotes
combination races with NASCAR
AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest
Series
TENTATIVE
SCHEDULE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT
NOTICE
Derrick
Shannon
Crafton Conquers
Phoenix Foes
AVONDALE, ARIZ. (January 22, 2006) Current
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series star Matt
Crafton returned to his roots Sunday
afternoon and claimed the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division, Southwest Series portion of
the the 29th Copper World Classic at Phoenix
Int'l Raceway. Crafton passed Ken Schrader
with ten laps to go to claim his fifth
series victory and first since his
championship year back in 2000. Ken
Schrader, Eric Holmes, Tim Schendel and Rip
Michels rounded out the top five finishers.
The race was shortened to 85 laps from the
scheduled 100 lap distance due to time
constraints. Eddy McKean scored his tenth
top ten finish at Phoenix after running as
high as third. Two-time and defending
Southwest Series champion Jim Pettit II
finished a disappointing 31st after
suffering engine trouble. Jason Fensler, M.K.
Kanke, Auggie Vidovich, and Nick Lynch
rounded out the top ten finishers.
Kanke claimed both the $300 Featherlite
Award for improving the most positions from
the previous event (22), and the PowerAde
Award for improving the most positions in
this event (36). Tim Schendel led the first
25 laps after claiming his first Southwest
Series Bud Pole Award worth $450.
NASCAR Race Number 1
Unofficial Race Results For The Southwest
Series "100" - 01/22/2006
Phoenix International Raceway - Phoenix
AZ - 1-mile banked paved oval
Total Race Length 136 K - 85L - 85 M
Purse: $127,887
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points
B/Points Total Award Status
1 15 46 Matt Crafton Stan Silva
Trucking/Crafton Motorsports 85 180 5
$10,400 Running
2 4 99 Ken Schrader SEM Chevrolet 85 170
6,400 Running
3 2 62 Eric Holmes Sunoco Race Fuels/Taco
Bell Chevrolet 85 165 5,000 Running
4 1 2 Tim Schendel Mathews Archery/Solocam/TexPar
Chevrolet 85 160 4,550 Running
5 7 12 Rip Michels Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory
Circle 85 155 3,800 Running
6 5 19 Eddy McKean Wide World of
Maps/Wind Mill Inns Pontiac 85 150 3,700
Running
7 6 63 Jason Fensler Sunoco Race
Fuels/Taco Bell Chevrolet 85 146 2,800
Running
8 36 33 M K Kanke Perricone Juices/Sims
Trucking/RPM 85 142 4,050 Running
9 10 11 Auggie Vidovich Centrifugal
Technologies Chevrolet 85 138 2,700 Running
10 9 29 Nick Lynch Baja Motorsports/Mr.
Gas Chevrolet 85 134 2,600 Running
11 11 23 Dan Holtz Rialto Concrete
Products/Pipeline Carriers Ford 85 130 2,000
Running
12 18 1 Cody Pruitt * Lennox Homes/Codyco
Chevrolet 85 127 1,900 Running
13 13 64 Garrett Evans Leonard Evans
Hyundai Chevrolet 85 124 2,300 Running
14 14 07 Kevin Clark Sirius Satellite
Radio/Kenwood Car Audio 85 121 2,225 Running
15 23 9 Greg Voigt Auto Pro Racing
Engines Chevrolet 84 118 2,100 Running
16 39 04 Stephan Sadler Padco Carpet
Cushion Inc. Chevrolet 84 115 1,675 Running
17 12 25 John Dillon Frontier
Equipment/Toyota Industrial Equipment 84 112
2,150 Running
18 35 86 Travis McCullough * U Race it
.Com Driving School Chevrolet 84 109 1,625
Running
19 8 26 David Mayhew * Bennett
Construction/Watkins Chevrolet 84 106 1,600
Running
20 34 37 Keith Spangler Spangler
Motorsports Chevrolet 84 103 1,575 Running
21 32 27 Roger Avants Pro Vans USA/Napier
Motorsports Chevrolet 84 100 1,550 Running
22 31 57 Terry Lawerence All American
Homes/Club Lace Chevrolet 84 97 1,500
Running
23 21 21 Eric Richardson * Small Miracles
Ford 84 94 1,475 Running
24 33 44 Bobby Lyon Alliance
Rentals/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet 83 91
1,850 Running
25 30 36 Kevin Vernon Jim's Towing
Chevrolet 83 88 1,425 Running
26 40 14 Ed Belec Arvada
Excavating/Texaco/Sam Hill Oil 83 85 1,400
Running
27 38 47 Richard Johnson Radcap
Products/Shell Dust Inc. Chevrolet 69 82
1,375 Running
28 42 84 Zan Sharp Sharp Transportation
Chevrolet 61 79 1,850 Running
29 37 5 Don Campbell GKI/Courtesy
Chevrolet Chevrolet 51 76 1,725 Running
30 41 4 Danny Mientka * RE/MAX Advantage
Wreckmaster Chevrolet 39 73 1,800 Running
31 3 03 Jim Pettit, II Racing for the
Missing Ford 36 70 1,700 Engine
32 22 94 Darrell Lamoure NAPA Auto
Parts/Racing for the Missing 29 67 1,300
Ignition
33 43 31 Greg Potts Nascimento
Motorsports Chevrolet 25 64 1,300 Rear End
34 17 65 Stan Silva, Jr A&S Metals/Stan
Silva Jr. Trucking Chevrolet 23 61 1,300
Running
35 29 06 Mike Gallegos Steve's
Transmissions Chevrolet 17 58 1,300 Rear End
36 19 69 Brandon Riehl Aero
Turbine/Darrel's Economy Muffler 16 55 1,800
Rear End
37 16 28 Thomas Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas/H2HD
Chevrolet 9 52 1,700 Rear End
38 27 39 Pete Harding LP Body
Shop/Harding Forklift Chevrolet 9 49 1,800
Suspension
39 20 91 Dave Finley Tri County Parts
Dodge 9 46 1,300 Accident
40 24 3 Bobby Latham III * Latham Motors
Dodge 1 43 1,300 Accident
41 25 98 Brandon Loverock * Quick Change
Exchange Chevrolet 1 40 1,300 Accident
42 26 55 Ron Hawley Owens Corning
Chevrolet 1 37 1,800 Accident
43 28 35 Todd Hansen Copenhagen Ent.
Chevrolet 1 34 1,800 Accident
Time of Race: 0 hrs., 59 mins, 17
secs Average Speed: 86.028 mph
Margin of Victory: .686
Seconds
BUDWEISER POLE AWARD: Tim Schendel, 2
Mathews Archery/Solocam/TexPar Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: M K Kanke, 33
Perricone Juices/Sims Trucking/RPM
Motorsports Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: M K Kanke, 33 Perricone
Juices/Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports
Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 3-9; 10-14;
17-20; 37-41. 4 for 21 laps.
Lap Leaders: Tim Schendel 1-25,
Eric Holmes 26-33, Ken Schrader 34-42, Eric
Holmes 43-52, Ken Schrader 53-73, Matt
Crafton 74-85.
Total Laps Led: Ken Schrader 30,
Tim Schendel 25, Eric Holmes 18, Matt
Crafton 12. 5 changes involving 4 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Matt
Crafton 180, Ken Schrader 170, Eric Holmes
165, Tim Schendel 160, Rip Michels 155, Eddy
McKean 150, Jason Fensler
146, M K Kanke 142, Auggie Vidovich 138,
Nick Lynch 134
Top 3 Rookie Points: Cody Pruitt
10, Travis McCullogh 9, David Mayhew 8, Eric
Richardson 7, Danny Mientka 6, Bobby Latham
III 5, Brandon Loverock 4.
Next Race: Stockton 99 Speedway
TBA
Derrick
Shannon
Schendel Grabs
First Southwest Series Bud Pole Award at
Phoenix
AVONDALE, ARIZ.
(January 22, 2006) Tim Schendel of Sparta, Wisc.
collected his first career NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division, Southwest Series Bud Pole Award after
touring the one-paved oval of Phoenix Int'l
Raceway Sunday morning with a quick lap of
27.157 seconds. Schendel will pace the 43-car
field in the opening event of the 21st season
for the Southwest Series. Eric Holmes, Jim
Pettit II, Ken Schrader, and Eddy McKean rounded
out the top five qualifiers.
Schendel, a regular
on the Midwest Series was one of the fastest
cars in practice on Saturday and is looking for
his first win at Phoenix after several strong
runs in recent years. "The car just stuck on
that second lap," Schendel said. "I always love
coming to Phoenix and this is the best car that
I ever had here. I look forward to a great
race."
The Southwest Series
"100" is scheduled to take the green flag just
after 1 pm this afternoon.
Southwest Series
"100"NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION,
SOUTHWEST SERIES
Phoenix International Raceway January 22,
2006
1. (2)Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 132.563
2. (62)Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 131.516
3. (03)Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif.,
Ford, 131.492
4. (99)Ken Schrader, Fenton Mo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 131.296
5. (19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac,
130.581
6. (63)Jason Fensler, Wilton Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 130.425
7. (12)Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif.,
Chevrolet, 129.828
8. (26)David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 129.608
9. (29)Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet,
129.594
10. (11)Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif.,
Chevrolet, 129.515
11. (23)Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif.,
Ford Taurus, 129.478
12. (25)John Dillon, Eagle Idaho, Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 129.134
13. (64)Garrett Evans, E. Wenatchee Wash.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 129.083
14. (07)Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 129.023
15. (46)Matt Crafton, Kernersville N.C.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 129.023
16. (28)Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 128.379
17. (65)Stan Silva, Jr, Castroville Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 128.178
18. (1)Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 128.032
19. (69)Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore.,
Chevrolet, 127.891
20. (91)Dave Finley, Denver Colo., Dodge
Intrepid, 127.841
21. (21)Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif.,
Ford Taurus, 127.389
22. (94)Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 127.339
23. (9)Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif.,
Chevrolet, 127.119
24. (3)Bobby Latham III, Twin Falls Idaho,
Dodge Intrepid, 127.074
25. (98)Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs
Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 126.904
26. (55)Ron Hawley, Winona Minn., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 126.823
27. (39)Pete Harding, Surrey BC, Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, 126.378
28. (35)Todd Hansen, Minneapolis Minn.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 126.347
29. (06)Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 126.294
30. (36)Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125.989
31. (57)Terry Lawerence, Mooresville N.C.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125.786
32. (27)Roger Avants, Littleton Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125.742
33. (44)Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif.,
Chevrolet, 125.527
34. (37)Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125.353
35. (86)Travis McCullough, Lodi Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124.861
36. (33)M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif.,
Chevrolet, Provisional
37. (5)Don Campbell, Campbell Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Provisional
38. (47)Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Provisional
39. (04)Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif.,
Chevrolet, Provisional
40. (14)Ed Belec, Lakewood Colo., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, Provisional
41. (4)Danny Mientka, Colorado Springs Colo.,
Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Provisional
42. (84)Zan Sharp, Wellsville Utah, Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, Provisional
43. (31)Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet
Monte Carlo, No speed
Derrick
Shannon
NASCAR AUTOZONE
ELITE DIVISION,
SOUTHWEST SERIES
NEWS & NOTES –
PHOENIX
-
Pettit is
Looking For
Three-peat
in 2006
-
Schrader Set
to Battle
Series
Regulars in
Season
Opener
-
Dillon
Dedicated in
Return to
Form
-
NASCAR
Northwest
Series
Legend Evans
Slated to
Tackle Both
NW and SW
Series This
Season
DAYTONA BEACH,
FLA. (January
17, 2006)
Jim
Pettit II
of Prunedale,
Calif. has spent
the last
twenty-five
years chasing
his NASCAR
dreams. Along
the way he has
won
championships at
the local and
regional levels
on both dirt and
asphalt tracks
making him one
of the most
accomplished
racers among his
peers. You might
have never heard
of Jim Pettit II
but his name is
firmly etched in
the NASCAR
record books.
After claiming
his second
consecutive
NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division,
Southwest Series
title last
season, a mark
duplicated by
only Ron
Hornaday Jr.,
Pettit is
squarely focused
on a third
consecutive
title.
“When we won the
first Southwest
Series title we
were excited,”
Pettit said.
“But that really
made us hungry
to win
back-to-back
titles. Now we
are determined
to be the only
three-time
Southwest Series
champion.”
Pettit may have
the early
advantage as the
Southwest Series
regulars gear up
for their 21st
and final season
of action this
weekend in
Phoenix, Arizona
at the 29th
annual Copper
World Classic.
More than 40 of
the top Touring
Late Model
drivers from
around the
country are
expected as they
vie for one of
42-starting
positions and
their share of
$127, 887 in
posted awards.
John Dillon
of Eagle, Idaho
returned to
action in the
Northwest Series
last season
after a fifteen
year hiatus.
Making only
occasional
starts during
the past fifteen
years, Dillon
posted an 8th
place final
points finish up
North earning
him an
invitation to
the prestigious
NASCAR Toyota
All-Star
Showdown.
Dillon left
racing for all
intents and
purposes after
posting one of
the most
dominating
championship
performances
back in 1990.
Dillon won eight
times in fifteen
races claiming
12 top five and
15 top ten
performances en
route to the
title.
Away from racing
Dillon built a
business in the
auto wrecking
industry that he
hoped would
someday fund his
racing passion.
After several
successful years
building the
business Dillon
sold the
enterprise and
started another.
Dillon now
operates on of
the largest and
most successful
forklift
companies in the
Mountain States
and is coming
back to racing
with renewed
passion and
dedication.
“After my
championship in
1990, the
opportunities to
advance were not
like they are
today,” Dillon.
“Timing is
everything. Who
knows what would
have happened if
it was 1994 and
I won the
championship. I
knew if I was
going to
continue racing
I would need to
have the
resources
necessary to
compete and most
of the top
running teams
out here were
funded by
successful
businessmen.”
“After the 1990
championship I
just felt it was
the right time
to go back to
work so to
speak,” Dillon
continued. "I
enjoy racing as
much today as I
did back then,
but today I am
so much more
involved in the
technology side
of things. It is
exciting to
develop new set
ups and work
with different
shock
configurations.”
Phoenix holds a
special place in
the careers of
most West Coast
drivers and
Dillon has a
love/hate
relationship
with the track.
“Racing at PIR
is the ultimate
thrill ride,”
Dillon said.
“The track
really suits my
driving style as
it tends to
tighten up as
the race
progresses
meaning that you
need to start
with a loose
racecar. I like
driving a loose
racecar, but
mechanical woes
have often
sidelined our
efforts in the
past. This
weekend we are
hoping to change
all that.”
Dillon plans
several
Southwest Series
starts this
season but will
concentrate his
efforts on a
title run in the
Northwest Series
in a year that
he hopes he will
return to his
winning ways.
Another
Northwest Series
competitor
hoping to make
his mark on the
Southwest Series
this season is
four-time
champion
Garrett Evans
of East
Wenatchee, Wash.
Evans has seen
victory lane at
Phoenix back in
2000 and is
preparing to
contest the full
slate of
Southwest Series
races along with
the entire
Northwest Series
schedule.
“With the
realignment of
the tours I just
want to race as
much as I can
this year,”
Evans said. “I
enjoy racing at
Phoenix and
after our recent
test I think we
have a real good
shot at a good
finish.”
Auggie Vidovich,
Eddy McKean,
Greg Voigt, Greg
Pursley, Rip
Michels, and M.K.
Kanke
all return this
season after top
ten points
finishes last
season. Kanke
sits second on
the all-time
Southwest Series
win list with 20
victories
needing only one
win to tie Rick
Carelli.
Vidovich returns
to the #11
Centrifugal
Technologies
Chevrolet this
season in
pursuit of a
second
championship
after three
runner-up
championship
finishes since
2000.
McKean returns
for his sixth
Southwest Series
season in 2006.
During the past
five years no
other driver has
amassed the
consistency that
McKean has found
at PIR. With
three wins on
the desert mile,
McKean has also
claimed nine top
three finishes.
McKean has his
sights set on
another series
championship in
a career that
has seen him
finish no worse
than fifth in
the final
standings in
each of the last
five years.
“Winning the
title back in
2002 was a real
big deal for me,
my family, and
my team,” McKean
said. “Jimmy
(Pettit) may
have the
momentum on his
side going into
this year, but
it is much too
early to etch
his name on the
trophy.”
When asked how
come he is so
comfortable at
Phoenix McKean
says it is about
feel. “Some
racetracks you
just find a feel
for it,” McKean
said. “I have
always felt real
comfortable in
the car and that
means a lot a
Phoenix.”
Ken Schrader,
a veteran driver
of more than
thirty years and
pilot of the
Famed Wood
Brothers #21 on
the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup
Series, claimed
two USAC
Championships
prior to his
move to NASCAR
in 1985.
Schrader joins
the Southwest
Series regulars
this weekend as
the winningest
driver in the
history of
Phoenix
International
Raceway;
Schrader has 15
victories at the
desert’s
one-mile paved
oval. His most
recent victory
came last
November in the
Arizona Lottery
“125”, NASCAR
AutoZone Elite
Division,
Southwest Series
event.
PIR is a
one-mile
superspeedway
with turns one
and two banked
at 11 degrees,
while turns
three and four
are banked nine
degrees with two
degrees of
banking in the
dogleg. The
track has hosted
33 previous
Southwest Series
events.
Three other
divisions will
join the
Southwest Series
this weekend.
Racing begins at
Noon on Sunday,
January 22 with
the FastSigns
Southwest USAC
National/Western
Midget Feature
(25 laps)
followed by the
NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division,
Southwest Series
(100 laps), the
FastSigns
Southwest USAC
Silver Crown
Feature (50
laps). The final
event of the
afternoon is the
United Rentals
125, NASCAR
Grand National
Division,
AutoZone West
Series (125
laps).
Fast Facts
What: Copper
World Classic
Southwest
Series "100"
(Race No. 1 for
the NASCAR
AutoZone Elite
Division,
Southwest
Series).
Where: Phoenix
Int'l Raceway,
Phoenix, Ariz.
When: 1:00
p.m. PT
(approx.),
Sunday, January
22, 2006
Track Layout:
One-mile paved
oval.
Race Length: 100
laps/100 miles.
Posted Awards:
$127,887.
2005 Winner:
Burney Lamar
2005 Top Five
Finishers:
Burney Lamar,
Ken Schrader,
Eddy McKean,
Eric Holmes, Jim
Pettit II.
2005 Polesitter:
Field set by
rulebook
Top 10 Final
2005 Point
Standings:
1. Jim Pettit,
2. Auggie
Vidovich ,
3. Eddy McKean ,
4. Burney
Lamar , 5. Nick
Lynch, 6. Greg
Voigt , 7. M.K.
Kanke, 8. Rip
Michels ,
9. Greg Pursley,
10. Thomas
Martin.
Pre-race
schedule (all
times local):
Fri. 1/20:
2:00-6:00 p.m.
Registration
opens, 6:00 p.m.
Haulers Enter.
Sat. 1/21:
7:00 a.m. Garage
opens, 8:00 a.m.
Rookie meeting,
8:45 a.m.
Driver's/Crew
Chief meeting,
12:30 p.m.-1:00
p.m. Practice,
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Practice, 3:15
p.m. Qualifying
Draw. 6:00 p.m.
Garage Closes,
Sun. 1/22:
7:00 a.m. Garage
Opens, 8:00 a.m.
Qualifying
(2-laps), 10:00
a.m. Driver’s
Autograph
Session, 1:00
p.m. Southwest
Series “100”.
Track contact:
Tami Nealy,
(623)463-5613.
For More Information Contact:
Derrick Shannon
Media Coordinator
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
Cell: 208/870-8066
Email:
dshannon@nascar.com
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