|
 LAKEVILLE,
IN -- Saturday was a busy day in the NASCAR regional racing series
with three Hoosier tire-rule divisions in action. In the NASCAR
Southwest Series, Eric Holmes (photo) captured his first win of the
season. The 2003 runner-up in the series took the lead on the 54th
circuit leading the rest of the way in the "Budweiser 125"
at Stockton (CA) 99 Speedway. Holmes collected $3,200 for the win. In
the NASCAR Southeast Series, Jason Hogan made it two-in-a-row winning
the "Leak Sealer 150" at Houston Motorsports Park. Hogan was
one of three race leaders during the 150-lap race. Hogan lead the
final 50 laps en route to collecting $7,000 for the top finish.
Finally, Jason Jefferson remained a perfect two-for-two in the NASCAR
Northwest Series winning the "Oso Lumber 125" at Evergreen
Speedway in Monroe, WA. Last year's runner-up in the series also
earned $2,300 for the win. All three events used the same Hoosier left
and right side tire codes (2220/2240).
NASCAR SOUTHWEST SERIES
STOCKTON, CA (May 8) -- Twenty-two cars started Saturday's
"Budweiser 125" at Stockton 99 Speedway. Craig Raudman was
the Bud Pole Award winner with a time of 13.769 seconds around the
1/4-mile oval. Raudman, however, would start sixth after selecting a
six-car invert for the start with Rip Williams and Eddy McKean
assigned front row starting positions.
The race began with Eddy McKean getting the jump on
Rip Williams at the drop of the green flag. From there, McKean was in
control until disaster struck on lap 54, when his drive line broke
handing the lead to fourth starting Eric Holmes. From there, Holmes
defended the lead until the checkered flag waved on lap 125. Holmes
earned $3,200 as the race's top finisher. Craig Raudman finished in
second place earning $2,350. He was followed by Burney Lamar, Rip
Michaels and ninth starting Bob Lyons in third through fifth,
respectively.
Eleven cars finished the race on the lead lap. While
the race was slowed by four cautions for 26 laps, it took just 39
minutes 23 seconds to complete.
Craig Raudman is currently leading in the driver
standings with 811 points followed by Jim Pettit, II with 779 points.
Eddy McKean, Eric Holmes and Dan Holtz round out the top five in the
rankings.
The series is back in action at the end of the month
(May 29) at Irwindale (CA) Speedway for the sixth race on the 14-race
NASCAR Southwest Series schedule.
NASCAR SOUTHEAST SERIES
HOUSTON, TX (May 8) -- Twenty-two cars took the green flag in
Saturday's "Leak Sealer 150" at Houston Motorsports Park.
Kevin Prince won the Bud Pole Award as the fastest qualifier on the
3/8-mile oval, but started sixth after the invert. Dusty Williams was
on the pole with Brandon Bendele alongside for the race start.
Williams took the lead from the drop of the green flag
and led through lap 15, before giving way to fellow front row starter
Brandon Bendele. Bendele, from Adkins, TX, commanded leader status
until lap 101. That is when previous race winner Jason Hogan made his
move. The fifth starting Hogan passed Bendele low to take over the top
spot. From there, Hogan led the remainder of the distance to take the
win and collect $7,000 in the process.
Jeff Fultz finished second place after starting 14th.
Fultz pocketed $6,450 for the runner-up spot. Brandon Bendele rounded
out the top three, while Dusty Williams and Chris Davidson completed
the race's list of top five finishers.
The race had 13 of the 22 starters finish on the lead
lap. It took 51 minutes and 25 seconds to complete, while being slowed
for 10 caution flags for 43 of the 150 race laps.
Jason Hogan remains atop the driver standings with 530
points followed by Erik Darnell with 471 points. Darnell finished
seventh in Saturday's race. Jeff Fultz, J.R. Norris and Chris Davidson
round out the top five in the standings.
Hogan will be attempting to make it three-in-a-row at
the NASCAR Southeast Series next event on June 5, which is the
rescheduled race at Greenville-Pickens (SC) Speedway originally slated
for May 1st.
NASCAR NORTHWEST SERIES
MONROE, WA (May 8) -- Ever since Mother Nature claimed the season
opening event at Evergreen Speedway in the NASCAR Northwest Series,
it's been the Jason Jefferson show. Jefferson claimed the series'
first race on April 1, at Tri-City Raceway and then won its second
event Saturday--the "Oso Lumber 125" also at Evergreen
Speedway.
Twenty-seven cars started the race with Gary Lewis
again capturing the Bud Pole Award as the events fastest qualifier.
Lewis averaged 78.456 mph around the 3/8-mile oval.
The race featured three race leaders including Jeff
Bailey (1-9), Garrett Evans (10-78) and Jason Jefferson (79-125).
Jefferson collected $2,300 for the win. The race, which was slowed by
nine cautions flags for a total of 48 laps, took just under an hour to
complete.
Following Jason Jefferson to the line was John Bender,
Pete Harding, Garrett Evans and Steven Howard in second through fifth,
respectively.
Jason Jefferson remains atop the NASCAR Northwest
Series standings with 360 points followed by Garrett Evans (320),
Brandon Riehl (315), Travis Bennett (312) and John Bender (300).
The NASCAR Northwest Series is back in action May 29,
at Yakima (WA) Speedway.
Hoosier's Terry Newton is the Product Manager for the
three NASCAR Series mentioned in this report.
|
