Tom Dyer won his first career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series race in his third series start Saturday afternoon at Infineon Raceway located outside of Sonoma, Calif. Dyer took the lead on lap 36, after stopping for fuel and tires on lap 20, and held on for the victory over Bud Pole winner Eric Holmes by .449 seconds on the twelve turn 1.99-mile road course. Former Series champion Bryan Germone finished third followed by Kenny Shepherd, and Chris Cook.
Burney Lamar was the first series championship contender at the top of the running order finishing sixth after leading the first twenty laps. Championship leader Jim Pettit II stays on top of the point standings after a fifteenth place finish. Lamar moved by Auggie Vidovich for second in the standings after Vidovich ended his day after motor failure sidelined his Chevrolet on lap 17. Vidovich drops to third while M.K. Kanke and Greg Voigt round out the top five in the point standings after seven of 14 races.
"We had a chaotic morning," Dyer said from the post race press conference. "We had to scramble to get a pit crew put together and then right before the race our radio did not work. We had to drop to the back at the start so I just tried to remain calm and hope for the best. The race kind of came to me I am thrilled to win in the Southwest Series."
Holmes was disappointed finishing second. "Tom (Dyer) won in the car I have driven for the past three years," Holmes said. I thought I had everyone covered today but Tom got by us in the pits early and we could not get past him late in the race."
Bryan Germone sponsored by local winery Generations of Sonoma and race sponsor Blue Lizard finished third in likely his only appearance of the season. "I love the Southwest Series and would love to be back full-time," Germone said. This finish helps us continue to build this Michael Sebastiani team and we are happy to finish in the top five."
The race too just over two hours to complete and was slowed six times for 19 laps. Holmes collected the $400 Bud Pole Award, with Cook claiming the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the race (25). Stan Silva Jr. won the $300 Featherlite Award for improving the most positions from the previous event (18). Dustin Jones was the top finishing Sunoco Rookie competitor with a 19th place finish on the lead lap.
The next race for the Southwest Series is Saturday, July 16 at Stockton 99 (Calif.) Speedway. For all the latest news and information regarding the Southwest Series log onto www.nascarregionalracing.com.
Blue Lizard Australian Suncream "200"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Infineon Raceway June 25, 2005
1. (7) Tom Dyer, Corte Madera Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, 62.972 mph, $7,700
2. (1) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $5,000
3. (12) Bryan Germone, Windsor Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $3,600
4. (6) Kenny Shepherd, Merced Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $2,800
5. (30) Chris Cook, Davidson N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $3,350
6. (2) Burney Lamar, W. Sacramento Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $2,600
7. (17) Steve Belletto, Modesto Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $2,000
8. (5) David Gilliland, Riverside Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 64, $1,950
9. (13) Kyle Busch, Las Vegas Nev., Pontiac Grand Prix, 64, $1,850
10. (20) Stan Silva, Jr, Castroville Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $2,000
11. (15) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,500
12. (11) Travis Kvapil, Mooresville N.C., Dodge Intrepid, 64, $1,450
13. (18) Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,800
14. (9) Justin Marks, Rocklin Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,375
15. (19) Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 64, $1,738
16. (3) M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,700
17. (22) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 64, $1,675
18. (4) Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,625
19. (38) Dustin Jones, Tucson Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,200
20. (39) Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 64, $1,150
21. (32) Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 63, $1,490
22. (24) Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 63, $1,480
23. (31) Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 63, $1,470
24. (40) Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 62, $1,060
25. (14) Todd Souza, Aromas Calif., Ford Taurus, 58, $1,050
26. (26) Doug McCoun, Prunedale Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 58, Fuel Pump, $1,050
27. (36) Wes Banks, Oakdale Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 54, $1,050
28. (42) Travis McCullough, Lodi Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 45, Engine, $1,050
29. (23) Troy Ermish, Fremont Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 40, Oil Line, $1,050
30. (41) Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 30, $1,050
31. (37) Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 30, $1,050
32. (16) Dave Blaney, Hartford Ohio, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 27, Transmission, $1,050
33. (28) Mike Ledbetter, Ceres Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 25, $1,050
34. (27) Erik Darnell, Beach Park Ill., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 19, Clutch, $1,050
35. (10) Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 17, Engine, $1,450
36. (8) Boris Said, Carlsbad Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 14, Accident, $1,050
37. (29) Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 14, Transmission, $1,050
38. (34) Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 6, Engine, $1,050
39. (21) David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 5, Transmission, $1,050
40. (35) Scott Smith, Los Milinos Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 3, Suspension, $1,050
41. (33) Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, 2, Electrical, $1,050
42. (25) Michael Waltrip, Sherrills Ford N.C., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 0, Withdrew, $1,050
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
Failed to Qualify: (6) Spencer Clark (#77), Tyler McQuarrie (#17), Tom Hubert (#4), Tim Woods (#54), Chris Evans (#8), Tim Spurgeon (#86).
Time of Race: 2 hrs., 1 mins, 21 secs Average Speed: 62.972 mph Margin of Victory: .449 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Eric Holmes, 62 Sunoco Race Fuels/State Fair Corn Dogs Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Stan Silva, Jr, 65 A&S Metals/Stan Silva Jr. Trucking Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Chris Cook, 87 Christine Marie Motorsports.Com Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Mike Roos, 63 Cycle Shack Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 4-5; 9-13; 21-24; 29-32; 45-46; 50-51. 6 for 19 laps.
Lap Leaders: Burney Lamar 1-20, David Gilliland 21-35, Tom Dyer 36-64.
Total Laps Led: Tom Dyer 29, Burney Lamar 20, David Gilliland 15. 2 changes involving 3 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Jim Pettit, II 1092, Burney Lamar 1050, Auggie Vidovich 996, M K Kanke 987, Greg Voigt 936, Eddy McKean 927, Greg Pursley
905, Thomas Martin 874, Nick Lynch 851, Rip Michels 841
Sunoco Rookie Points: Don Campbell 59, Dustin Jones 58, Stephan Sadler 47, David Mayhew 41, Ryan Foster 39.
Next Race: July 16 at Stockton 99 Speedway
