IRWINDALE, California -- M.K. Kanke from Frazier Park, Calif. has called the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series home for the past twenty years. He scored his 20th career triumph Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway located just East of Los Angeles in front of an enthusiastic crowd in the Stock building Supply “150”. Eddy McKean finished 1.4 seconds behind Kanke to record his third straight top five finish with Bud Pole Award winner Dan Holtz finishing third. Auggie Vidovich and Nick Lynch rounded out the top five finishers in the 150-lap event.
Kanke took the lead on the initial start from his outside front row starting position but McKean battled back to lead lap two. Kanke then assumed control of the race on lap three and never looked back. Kanke would dominate the event leading 149 of 150 laps.
Southwest Series point leader Jim Pettit II finished seventh and maintain his point lead over Burney Lamar who finished tenth.
“It feels great to win again,” Kanke said. “It seems like such a long time since we have run up front and in position to win, but our team has gotten better and better each week. I need to thank Dan Nicolai and Perricone Juices for their support this season. This is awesome.”
“I started to catch M.K. in the middle of the race but he had a great car,” McKean said. “I am thrilled that we had another good run and to finish up front at Irwindale is great. We have struggled here in the past and tonight was a big finish for us.”
After winning the Bud Pole Award and drawing a 10-car invert, Dan Holtz had to work his way tot the front. “This is awesome to have a top three finish tonight,” Holtz said. We have struggled this season and tonight was one of those really fun nights to race.”
With three races left to go in the 14-race championship series, Pettit holds a 125-point margin over Lamar. Vidovich closes to within nine points of Lamar for third. Kanke holds down the fourth spot by one point over McKean. Greg Voigt, Greg Pursley, Nick Lynch, Rip Michels, and Thomas Martin round out the top ten position’s in the standings.
The Southwest Series next travels to Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, Calif. Saturday, September 10. For all the latest news and information log onto www.nascarregionalracing.com.
Stock Building Supply "150"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Irwindale Speedway August 6, 2005
1. (2) M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, 84.034 mph, $4,500
2. (1) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 150, $3,300
3. (10) Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford Taurus, 150, $2,300
4. (15) Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $1,900
5. (5) Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $1,900
6. (8) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $1,100
7. (17) Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 150, $1,400
8. (21) Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,125
9. (18) Craig Raudman, Redding Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $950
10. (4) Burney Lamar, W. Sacramento Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $1,325
11. (14) Gary Lewis, Bothell Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $900
12. (23) Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $875
13. (16) *Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 148, $850
14. (11) *Dustin Jones, Tucson Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 148, $825
15. (19) Tom Dyer, Corte Madera Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 147, $800
16. (22) *Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 146, $775
17. (20) Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 146, $750
18. (24) Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 144, $725
19. (7) Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 142, $1,100
20. (13) Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 95, Radiator, $1,075
21. (9) Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 66, Engine, $1,050
22. (12) Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 52, Engine, $625
23. (6) *David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 30, Suspension, $600
24. (3) Doug McCoun, Prunedale Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 12, Accident, $600
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
Time of Race: 53 mins, 33 secs Average Speed: 84.034 mph Margin of Victory: 1.428 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Dan Holtz, 23 Rialto Concrete Products/Pipeline Carriers Ford
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Nick Lynch, 29 Mr. Gas Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Greg Voigt, 9 Auto Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Leon Ruther, 33 Perricone Juices Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 14-20; 75-79. 2 for 12 laps.
Lap Leaders: M K Kanke 1, Eddy McKean 2, M K Kanke 3-150.
Total Laps Led: M K Kanke 149, Eddy McKean 1. 2 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Jim Pettit, II 1758, Burney Lamar 1633, Auggie Vidovich 1624, M K Kanke 1536, Eddy McKean 1535, Greg Voigt 1506, Greg
Pursley 1440, Nick Lynch 1427, Rip Michels 1319, Thomas Martin 1316
Sunoco Rookie Points: 1. Don Campbell 95, 2. Dustin Jones 73, 3. Stephan Sadler 66, 4. David Mayhew 47, 5. Ryan Foster 47.
Next Race: Shasta Raceway Park, September 10, 2005
