Steve Portenga delivered the Bill McAnally Racing team its seventh victory in the past eight visits to Irwindale Speedway by winning the King Taco 150 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series race on Saturday.
Portenga became the third different driver to pilot the blue and yellow NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to victory lane at the half-mile Southern California track - following Austin Cameron and Brendan Gaughan, with three wins each.
Portenga battled Mike Duncan for most of the 150-lap race. Duncan slipped back late in the event, however, leaving Scott Lynch to chase after Portenga in the final laps.
Lynch trailed Portenga across the finish line, with Brett Thompson taking third and Duncan recovering for fourth. David Gilliland came home in fifth.
With his runner-up finish, Lynch maintained his lead in the championship standings over Portenga - 844 to 798.
KING TACO 150
NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series
Irwindale, Calif. July 23, 2005
IRWINDALE, Calif. - Final leaders of Saturday's $104,895 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series stock car race with driver's starting position in parenthesis, hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out if any and prize money.
1. Steve Portenga, Sparks Nev., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, 65.344 mph, $7,063
2. Scott Lynch, Burley Idaho, Dodge Intrepid, 150, $5,263
3. Brett Thompson, Jerome Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $3,263
4. Mike Duncan, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $3,763
5. David Gilliland, Riverside Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,513
6. Scott Gaylord, Lakewood Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,413
7. Andrew Myers, Huntington Beach Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,063
8. Sarah Fisher, Indianapolis Ind., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,163
9. Daryl Harr, St Albert Alberta, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $2,063
10. Daniel DiGiacomo, Dana Point Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $1,275
11. Jeff Davis, Anaheim Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 149, $1,250
12. Robbie Brand, Barstow Calif., Ford Taurus, 149, $1,175
13. Chris Schmelzle, Victoria BC, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $1,150
14. Chris Oddo, Fallbrook Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $1,100
15. P.J. Abbott, Arlington Texas, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 148, $1,075
16. Mike David, Modesto Calif., Ford Taurus, 147, $1,813
17. Johnny Borneman, Ramona Calif., Ford Taurus, 147, $1,288
18. Andrew Lewis, Corona Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 147, $1,263
19. Eric Hardin, Anaheim Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 145, $1,000
20. Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills Calif., Ford Taurus, 141, $1,763
21. Jason Small, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 139, Accident, $1,000
22. David Eshleman, Fontana Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 135, Accident, $1,263
23. Tim Smith, Roseville Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 98, Oil Leak, $1,263
24. Ron Peterson, Riverside Calif., Ford Taurus, 76, Rear End, $1,000
25. Jason Jefferson, Naches Wash., Ford Taurus, 59, Accident, $1,263
26. Takuma Koga, Nagoya Japan, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 45, Accident, $1,263
27. Bobby Hillis, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 39, Drive Shaft, $0
28. Spencer Clark, Las Vegas Nev., Pontiac Grand Prix, 23, Engine, $263
29. Jack Sellers, Sacramento Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 4, Engine, $263
Did not qualify: (0)
Time of race: 1 hour 8 minutes 52 seconds
Margin of victory: 1.156 seconds
Caution flags: 8 for 37 (46-50, 54-58, 61-66, 72-74, 76, 79-82, 132-138, 141-146)
Lead changes: 5 among 4 drivers
Lap leaders: Mike Duncan-grid. Andrew Myers 1-13, Duncan 14-41, Mike David 42-43, Steve Portenga 44-69, Duncan 70-107, Portenga 108-150.
NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Championship Standings: 1. Scott
Lynch 844, 2. Steve Portenga 798, 3. Mike Duncan 776, 4. David Gilliland
741, 5. Mike David 720, 6. Brett Thompson 683, 7. Scott Gaylord 631, 8.
Andrew Myers 631, 9. Tim Woods, III 629, 10. Andrew Lewis 616
