STOCKTON, CALIF. (July 15, 2006) M.K. Kanke made history Saturday night by winning his 22nd career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series race to become the series all-time win leader. The win was also Kanke’s second victory in as many races and moves him to within 49 points of current point leader Rip Michels. Eric Holmes finished second with Eddy McKean, Rip Michels, and Joey Zampa rounding out the top five finishes in the final Southwest Series appearance at the historic Stockton 99 Speedway.
Kanke took the lead from Jeff Belletto on lap three and never looked back as he maintained his advantage through four restarts. The win at Stockton allowed Kanke to conquer another milestone and that was to win for the first time at Stockton. Kanke’s Southwest Series career has covered twenty years now only has Phoenix as the only track where he has not won.
“I love racing these short tracks,” Kanke said from victory lane. “I started the year really wanting to win at Altamont, Stockton, and Phoenix. We have accomplished two of the three and we are pretty excited about the rest of the season.”
Holmes tried to close the gap over the closing laps but Kanke was able to dictate the pace and drive his line. “My crew puts great cars under me every race and that makes driving them easy,” Kanke commented.
I”I was not able to get off the corner as good as Mike (Kanke) was able to,” Holmes said. “We are in this for the championship and tonight was a good finish for us. It is going to be close the rest of the year.”
Finishing third for his fourth top five of the season and maintaining second in the point standings is Eddy McKean. “IT was a great night,” McKean said. “The car was a bit loose in the end but I’ll keep taking top three’s. Eric (Holmes) and M.K. (Kanke) were faster so I really did not have much for them on the restart, but were right where we need to be heading into Irwindale.”
Rip Michels collected his second career Bud Pole Award with a quick lap around Stockton of 13.691 seconds/65.737 mph and earning $450 for the award. Steve Belletto collected the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the race (8) while Kevin Clark earned the $300 Feather Award. David Mayhew extended his Sunoco Rookie point lead as he was the top finishing rookie in the race with an eighth place finish.
The race was slowed four times for 31 laps of caution and the there was one lead change between two drivers. Michels holds a five point advantage over McKean in the point standings with Holmes just one point behind McKean. Kanek maintains fourth follwed by Greg Voigt in fifth. Mayhew, Jim Pettit, Thomas Martin, Stephan Sadler, and Kevin Vernon round out the top ten after five races.
The next race for the Southwest Series is Saturday, August 12 at Irwindale (CA) Speedway. For all the latest news and information regarding the Southwest Series log onto www.nascarregionalracing.com.
Race Results
AutoZone "100"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Stockton, CA July 15, 2006
Final leaders of Saturday's $53,834.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
stock car race with driver's hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, winner's
average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.
1. M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, 34.935 mph, $2,900
2. Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $2,000
3. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 105, $1,700
4. Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $2,050
5. Joey Zampa, Napa Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,100
6. Steve Belletto, Modesto Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,750
7. Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,275
8. David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,350
9. Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus, 105, $900
10. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,275
11. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $1,250
12. Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 105, $800
13. Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 104, $1,175
14. Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 104, $750
15. Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 104, $700
16. Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 103, $675
17. Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 101, $650
18. Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 100, $625
19. Wes Miller, Turlock Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 91, Engine, $625
20. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 71, Suspension, $1,025
21. Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 51, Engine, $1,025
22. Jeff Belletto, Modesto Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 35, Brakes, $625
Time of Race:0 hrs., 45 mins, 5 secs Average Speed: 34.935 mph Margin of Victory:.330 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Rip Michels, 12 Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory Circle Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Kevin Clark, 07 Sirius Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car Audio Chevrolet
POWERADE AWARD: Steve Belletto, 30 California Hot Wood/Save Mart Chevrolet
LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Leon Ruther, Sims Trucking Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 30-41; 46-53; 72-77; 94-103. 4 for 36 laps.
Lap Leaders: Jeff Belletto 1-2, M K Kanke 3-105.
Total Laps Led: M K Kanke 103, Jeff Belletto 2. 1 changes involving 2 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Rip Michels 805, Eddy McKean 800, Eric Holmes 799, M K Kanke 756, Greg Voigt 666, David Mayhew * 663, Jim Pettit, II 610,
Thomas Martin 596, Stephan Sadler 578, Kevin Vernon 572
Sunoco Rookie Points: David Mayhew 47, Brandon Loverock 34, Eric Richardson 33, Cody Pruitt 31.
Next Race: Irwindale (CA) Speedway 8/12/06
