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 PHOENIX,
AZ (November 4) -- The NASCAR Southwest Series closed out its 2004
season at Phoenix International Raceway Thursday the same way it
opened the season--with Eddy McKean (right in photo) in the PIR
winner's circle. The Jerome, Idaho driver won the season-opener back
in January and posted his second win of the year on Thursday in the
desert. Jim Pettit II claimed his first career NASCAR Southwest Series
championship after finishing fourth in the Cruise America 125. The
NASCAR Southwest Series is one of five NASCAR Regional Touring Series
that compete exclusively on Hoosier tires.
Forty-seven cars attempted to gain entry into the
elite 42-car starting grid. Burney Lamar notched his fifth Bud Pole
Award of the year as the event's fastest qualifier after circling the
1-mile oval in 27.387 seconds (131.449 mph).
The race had three different leaders including Burney
Lamar (1-10), Craig Raudman (11-42) and Eddy McKean (43-125). The race
was slowed five times for a total of 29 laps. McKean, who started
third, collected $11,400 for his first place finish.
Following McKean to the line (-.278 seconds) was
seventh starting Eric Holmes who pocketed $6,800 for the runner-up
finish. Nextel Cup driver Ken Schrader finished in third place
followed by Jim Pettit II, Nick Lynch, Joe Herold, NASCAR Busch Series
driver Kyle Busch, Craig Raudman, Zach Niessner and Tim Schendel in
fourth through tenth, respectively. Jeff Bailey finished in 11th
place--the final car on the lead lap.
All NASCAR Southwest Series events are serviced by
Hoosier Tire West located in Fresno, CA. Hoosier's Terry Newton is the
Product Manager for the NASCAR Southwest Series which used
26.5/11.0-15 "2053" left-side tires and 27.0/11.0-15
"2157" right-side tires for the 125-lap finale.
The final driver standings in the NASCAR Southwest
Series had Jim Pettit II claiming the top spot with four wins this
season. Pettit ended the season with 2216 points followed by Craig
Raudman, Eddy McKean, Burney Lamar, Eric Holmes, Joe Herold, Rip
Michels, Greg Voigt, Todd Souza and Doug McCoun in second through
tenth, respectively.
In addition to the top ten finishers in the Midwest,
Southeast and Northwest Series, the top ten drivers in Southwest
Series are all invited to participate in the 2nd annual NASCAR Toyota
All-Star Showdown held November 13th at California's Irwindale
Speedway where the best-of-the-best will battle it out to determine an
overall winner. The season-ending race will also be contested
exclusively on Hoosier tires.
The NASCAR Southwest Series will begin its 2005 season
on January 23rd, at Phoenix International Raceway. It will mark the
20th anniversary of the series.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. wishes to thank NASCAR, as
well as, all the teams, drivers and fans of the Southwest Series for
their trust and support throughout the exciting 2004 season.
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