STOCKTON, California -- Auggie Vidovich from Lakeside, Calif. continued his pursuit of a second NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series title by claiming his third victory of the season ninth of his Southwest Series career Saturday night at the tight and tricky quarter-mile oval of Stockton 99 Speedway. Vidovich edged championship rival and Southwest Series point leader Jim Pettit II of Prunedale, Calif. by one second in the 125-lap event. Nick Lynch, Greg Voigt, and Sunoco Rookie competitor Stephan Sadler rounded out the top five finishers in the AutoZone sponsored race.
Earlier in the evening, Burney Lamar laid down a quick lap of 13.668 seconds/65.847 mph to lead twenty-two drivers in qualifying. It was Lamar’s 14th career Bud Pole Award and third of the 2005 season. Lynch, Pettit, Eric Holmes, and Voigt rounded out the top five in qualifying. Lamar drew an eight-car invert putting the Belletto brothers, Jeff and Steve, on the front row to start the race.
Vidovich would start third in the event after qualifying sixth and take the lead of the race on lap seven and never look back. Before Vidovich could reach victory lane he would have to fend off several challenges over the course of the race including a late race duel with championship point leader Pettit.
Lamar had perhaps the fastest car on the race track all race long, but cut a tire forced the fifth year competitor to pit on lap nine losing three laps in the process. Lamar was able to make up two laps under racing conditions but ran out of time and finished ninth one lap down.
Finishing sixth was local favorite Eric Holmes of Escalon, Calif. Holmes ran as high as second but a mid race altercation with Ceres, California’s Mike Ledbetter dropped Holmes back in the running order. Front row starter Steve Belletto finished seventh with Doug McCoun, Lamar, and Don Campbell rounding out the top ten in the running order.
Fifteen of the twenty-two starters were running at the conclusion of the race that was slowed five times for 28 laps. Jeff Belletto led the first six circuits before giving way to Vidovich. The race was completed in 41 minutes and 25 seconds.
Lamar collected the $400 Bud Pole Award while Stephan Sadler secured the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the event (16). Vidovich added the $300 Featherlite Award for improving the most positions over the previous event (34). Sadler also was the top finishing Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year competitor.
With Vidovich’s win he shaved ten points off Pettit’s point lead but still sits third in the standings after eight races. Lamar maintains second. M.K. Kanke finished 13th and holds down the fourth spot in the standings while Voigt holds onto the fifth spot. Eddy McKean, Nick Lynch, Greg Pursley, Thomas Martin, and Rip Michels round out the top ten in the point standings heading into the King Soopers Freedom “150” next weekend at Pikes Peak Int’l Raceway in Fountain, Colo.
AutoZone "125" presented by Havoline
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Stockton 99 Speedway July 16, 2005
1. (3) Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, 45.272 mph, $3,400
2. (6) Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 125, $2,200
3. (7) Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $1,800
4. (4) Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $1,700
5. (21) Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $1,950
6. (5) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $1,100
7. (2) Steve Belletto, Modesto Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $1,000
8. (13) Doug McCoun, Prunedale Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125, $980
9. (8) Burney Lamar, W. Sacramento Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124, $1,750
10. (19) Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124, $930
11. (14) Ryan Foster, Anderson Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123, $900
12. (22) Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123, $880
13. (15) M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 118, $1,250
14. (1) Jeff Belletto, Modesto Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 116, Accident, $835
15. (16) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 103, $1,200
16. (10) Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, $1,200
17. (20) Mike Ledbetter, Ceres Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 76, Suspension, $800
18. (12) Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50, Overheating, $1,200
19. (9) Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, 30, Overheating, $800
20. (11) Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 28, Accident, $1,200
21. (17) Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 28, Accident, $800
22. (18) Dustin Jones, Tucson Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 8, Accident, $800
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
Time of Race: 41 mins, 25 secs Average Speed: 45.272 mph Margin of Victory: 1.110 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Burney Lamar, 1 HPS Mechanical/Victory Circle/Groeniger Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Auggie Vidovich, 11 Centrifugal Technologies Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Stephan Sadler *, 04 Padco Carpet Cushion Inc. Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Mike Harvick, 11 Centrifugal Technologies Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 17-20; 30-36; 45-49; 77-82; 111-116. 5 for 28 laps.
Lap Leaders: Jeff Belletto 1-6, Auggie Vidovich 7-125.
Total Laps Led: Auggie Vidovich 119, Jeff Belletto 6. 1 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Jim Pettit, II 1262, Burney Lamar 1188, Auggie Vidovich 1176, M K Kanke 1111, Greg Voigt 1096, Eddy McKean 1045, Nick Lynch 1016, Greg Pursley 1014, Thomas Martin 977, Rip Michels 956
Sunoco Rookie Points: Don Campbell 68, Dustin Jones 65, Stephan Sadler 57, Ryan Foster 47, David Mayhew 41
Next Race: Pikes Peak Int'l Raceway July 23, 2005
