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 PHOENIX,
AZ (October 30) -- Eddy McKean won his second NASCAR Featherlite
Southwest Series race of the season winning Thursday's "Cruise
America 125" at Phoenix International Raceway after starting 36th
on the grid. McKean, from Jerome, ID, worked his way through the field
to lead the final 12 laps en route to collecting $12,150 for the win.
Lakeside, California's Auggie Vidovich, Jr. (photo) also was crowned
the 2003 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series champion after finishing
13th. The NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series is one of five NASCAR
divisions that Hoosier exclusively provided tires for in 2003
including the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series, the NASCAR Raybestos
Northwest Series, the NASCAR International Truck & Engine Midwest
Series and the NASCAR Kodak Southeast Series. Hoosier Racing Tire
Corp. is proud to have been selected by NASCAR to provide tires to the
competitors of these five series throughout the year.
Forty-two drivers filled the starting grid for
Thursday's season finale at the Phoenix 1-mile oval. Joey Miller was
on the pole after qualifying in 27.796 seconds (129.515 mph). Miller
was joined in the front row by Ben Walker.
With 12 laps to go, 36th starting Eddy McKean took the
lead for good en route to capturing the win--his second of the season.
Following McKean to the finish line was Jeff Jefferson, Steve Carlson,
Eric Holmes and Brian Hoppe.
The 134-lap race had 14 of the 42 starters finishing
on the lead lap. Rounding out the list of lead-lap finishers were Tim
Schendel in sixth, Ben Walker, Jim Pettit II, Paul Menard, Eddy
Mercer, Ken Schrader, Zach Niessner, Auggie Vidovich, Jr. and Joe
Herold in 7th through 14th, respectively.
Amazingly, Auggie Vidovich, Jr. wins the series crown
without claiming a win this season. Vidovich was followed in the final
standings by Eric Holmes who finished the season 63 points behind
Vidovich. Jim Pettit II finished in third place followed by Eddy
McKean and Dan Holtz in fourth and fifth place.
Hoosier Product Manager Terry Newton commented,
"It was a great season and what is even more impressive is Auggie
(Vidovich) winning the series crown having not won a race this season.
That speaks volumes about the series and its competitors." Newton
continued, "Auggie finished the season with the most top-five (8)
and top-ten finishes (12) in the 14 race season. They say consistency
wins championships and Auggie was certainly that."
The NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series was serviced
by Hoosier Tire West located in Fresno, California.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. congratulates Auggie on
winning the 2003 series championship and extends their appreciation to
all the teams, drivers and fans who have supported our efforts to
provide them the best race tires in the world.
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