Antelope-CA- Steve Portenga and the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/NAPA Belts & Hose scored their second win of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series for 2005 and their first win ever at Pikes Peak International Raceway. This win moved the BMR team to third in the championship point race and moves them within 44 points of second in the team’s chase for the series championship. There have been only three previous West Series events held at Pikes Peak International Raceway. This win puts Portenga in the company of past winners Michael Waltrip (1997), Kevin Harvick (1998) and Mike Wallace (1999).
Under the cloudy skies of Fountain Colorado, the #16 NAPA team qualified on the outside of row two. By lap two of the race, Portenga had gain a position and by lap 23, the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet was in second. At lap 52 while under caution, the team pitted for fuel and left side tires. Back under way, Portenga took the lead at lap 62 but would move into second at lap 67. Under the second caution, the #16 NAPA Chevy pitted for right side tires. Rain on the back stretch delayed the race from going back green for over ten laps. Portenga radioed the team at lap 126 that he thought he had a left rear tire going down. After examination by both the spotter and crew chief, Dusty O’Connell, it was determined that the tire was fine. With less than twenty laps to go and running in second, the leader of the race began dropping back because of electrical problems and the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS once again was on top of the board. Portenga and the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/NAPA Belts & Hose team went on to take the checkered flag.
“Wow,” said Portenga. “This win really shows that the hard work by the BMR team pays off. Dusty and the boys have been putting in some late hours getting the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet ready for this race. We won because of them and the great support we get from our race partners. The folks at NAPA AUTO PARTS and NAPA Belts & Hose were like an extra team member in the pits with us getting the job done. I had a great time with the over 250 NAPA customers, store owners and employees at the NAPA Hospitality tent before the race. Earlier this week, we spent some time at Gates headquarters of NAPA Belts & Hose in Denver and got to show fans some of the ways that our race partners contribute to our success on the race track. Thank you to our race partners and to the fans for all your support.”
The #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS 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.
