TRACY, California M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park, Calif. scored his 21st career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series victory tying Southwest Series legend Rick Carelli for first all-time. Kanke waited until the late laps and made his move into the lead on lap 125 and cruised to a 3.2 second victory over Rip Michels in the 150-lap event. Sunoco Rookie Eric Richardson finished third with Eddy McKean and Thomas Martin rounding out the top five finishers at the newly resurfaced and renovated half-mile paved oval facility.
Michels assumes the point lead over Eddy McKean by ten points with Eric Holmes dropping to third in the standings after a lap 115 altercation with Michels. Kanke remains in the fourth position with the win closing to within 69 points of the points lead. Greg Voigt holds down the fifth spot with David Mayhew, Jim Pettit II, Thomas Martin, Stephan Sadler, and Kevin Vernon rounding out the top ten in the standings after four races.
The race was slowed six times for 31 laps of caution with four lead changes involving four drivers. Eric Holmes led the most laps (91). Jim Pettit II claimed the $450 Bud Pole Award, while M.K. Kanke collected the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the event (12). Greg Potts earned the Featherlite Award for improving the most positions from the previous event (12).
The next race for the Southwest Series is Saturday, July 15 at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif.
Altamont "150"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Altamont Motorsports Park July 2, 2006
Final leaders of Sunday's $56,584.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES stock
car race with driver's starting position in parentheses, hometown, make and model of car,
laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1. (13) M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet, 150, 71.015 mph, $4,150
2. (5) Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $2,100
3. (10) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus, 149, $1,400
4. (4) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac, 149, $1,600
5. (3) Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $1,400
6. (15) Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $1,275
7. (2) Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $925
8. (16) Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 147, $900
9. (17) Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 145, $850
10. (12) Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet, 145, $1,225
11. (8) Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford, 142, $1,650
12. (9) David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 140, $1,150
13. (1) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 115, Accident, $1,125
14. (6) Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 109, $700
15. (14) Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 77, Suspension, $650
16. (11) Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 58, Accident, $1,000
17. (7) Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 43, Accident, $575
18. (18) Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 0, Electrical, $950
Time of Race:1 hrs., 3 mins, 22 secs Average Speed: 71.015 mph Margin of Victory: 3.298 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Jim Pettit, II, 03 Racing for the Missing Ford
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Greg Potts, 31 Nascimento Motorsports Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: M K Kanke, 33 Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Leon Ruther, 33 Sims Trucking Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 46-50; 53-57; 60-62; 71-74; 107-114; 117-122. 6 for 31 laps.
Lap Leaders: Eric Holmes 1-62, Jim Pettit, II 63-85, Eric Holmes 86-114, Rip Michels 115-124, M K Kanke 125-150.
Total Laps Led: Eric Holmes 91, M K Kanke 26, Jim Pettit, II 23, Rip Michels 10. 4 changes involving 4 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Rip Michels 645, Eddy McKean 635, Eric Holmes 629, M K Kanke 576, Greg Voigt 532, David Mayhew * 521, Jim Pettit, II 507,
Thomas Martin 496, Stephan Sadler 454, Kevin Vernon 442
Sunoco Rookie Points: David Mayhew 37; Brandon Loverock 27; Eric Richardson 24; Cody Pruitt 23; Terry Lawrence 15.
Next Race: Stockton 99 Speedway
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
