For the third time in Steve Portenga’s race career he has finished third in the chase for the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series championship point standings. Ironically the last time he made a run for the title was in 2003 in which he took third place honors behind the very same drivers that bested him this season, Mike Duncan and Scott Lynch. (Duncan won the championship in 2005 and Lynch took the title in 2003).
The #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/NAPA Belts & Hose team came to the NASCAR West Series race ready to win. They did the math and knew that they still could win the championship but it was going to be one of the hardest races of their year. The #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet was quickest in the first practice and 2nd quick in the second and final practice of the day. The times being recorded were close to the polesitter’s time at the series race event in the spring. Portenga qualified the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS fourth with a time of 19.270 which would have put him on the front row for the previous race. Duncan would for a second time at Mesa Marin this season take the Bud Pole Award. Portenga started the Ford Motorcraft Parts 150 presented by 3M on the second row in fourth alongside the series championship point leader, Scott Lynch.
The final race to be held at the historic Mesa Marin raceway took the green with Portenga on the outside of row two. He was quick to make a charge to the front when the first of 11 cautions came out at lap 2 when cars at the back made contact. The caution lasted ten laps and went back to green at lap 12. Green flag racing would only last for five laps before a second caution came out with cars two cars spinning. A light rain began to fall over the track. Back to green flag racing at lap 34 for only two laps as cars on the track got loose from oil on the track. The red flag was shown on lap 37 for the track to be cleaned. Back at full speed at lap 41 and in heavy traffic, Portenga looses a couple of positions and is now running in 5th. At lap 58, Portenga gets a good run and takes over fourth with the leader, Duncan just a few car lengths ahead. Caution is out during lap 65 as a car spins. Racing resumes at lap 72 at which time the #88 of David Gilliland takes the lead. Portenga is now running in 3rd. At lap 89, the #2 of Mike David passes the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet. Caution out at lap 94. Portenga and crew chief made the call to come in and pit at which time they put on right side tires. Racing resumed at lap 111 when there was a crash in turn four at lap 114. Racing resumes at lap 122 for three laps. Racing resumes at lap 132. Portenga, who is running in 9th, is turning laps faster than the leader and takes over 7th during lap 143 of the 150-lap race after the #2 of Mike David takes over the lead. Caution is out at lap 147 as the series point leader, Lynch makes contact with another car. It is a green-white-checkered finish with the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet crossing the finish line in 6th. Duncan wins the NASCAR West Series Championship and Scott Lynch moved into second. Though Portenga closed the gap in championship points, he finished the season just 16 points out of second and only 43 points out of first.
The #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/NAPA Belt & Hose team will be back running at the front as they take part in the 3rd annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown televised LIVE on SPEED Channel on November 12th. The race will return to Irwindale where the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/NAPA Belt & Hose team look to record their second win and second title as the NASCAR Grand National Series Champions.
The Ford Motorcraft 150 presented by 3M will be shown in an enhanced replay on November 11 at noon PST. Check your local listings. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please logon on to our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com.
