Antelope-CA- Rookie NASCAR West Series driver Andrew Lewis continued to maintain the lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year points after a 12th place finish in the NAPA AUTO PARTS 150 presented by NAPA Belts & Hose at Pikes Peak International Raceway.
Lewis qualified the #18 Teen Arrive Alive/Nitro-2-Go Chevrolet on the inside of the third row in fifth. Lewis maintained that position until lap 23 when he was passed by veteran driver, Johnny Borneman. The motor began to lose horsepower at lap 21 and the #18 Teen Arrive Alive/Nitro-2-Go Chevrolet slipped back to 11th when the first caution came out. During the caution, the team went to work making adjustments and taking on fresh tires. Lewis restarted the race in 12th and held on to finish the race one lap down as the race leader and teammate Steve Portenga passed the #18 Teen Arrive Alive/Nitro-2-Go Chevrolet with less than ten laps to go of the 150-lap race.
“It was a tough race the #18 Teen Arrive Alive/Nitro-2-Go team,” said Lewis. “We did what we could. We gained some in the chase for the rookie title by getting by the #44 of Andrew Meyers. I’m looking forward to heading closer to home and racing the big track at California Speedway. Our crew chief, Duane Knorr and the BMR team are up for the challenge of putting us in the top-five in the overall West Series point standings. We’ll get it done at California.”
The #18 Teen Arrive Alive/Nitro-2-Go team next heads to race for the first time under the lights at California Speedway on September 2nd. The race will be broadcast live on HDNET. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please log on to www.billmcanallyracing.com.
