SONOMA, California The younger Gilliland, who now competes full-time in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, held off another second-generation West Series competitor, P.J. Jones, to capture his third career series win by 1.246 seconds.
They were followed by road race specialist Boris Said in third. All three drivers are doing double duty on the twisting 1.99-mile road course this weekend, also competing in the NEXTEL Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday.
Although Gilliland won the Bud Pole, it was 17-year-old Joey Logano who dashed into the early lead at Infineon on Saturday. It did not last long, however, as Gilliland took command on lap 3. Pit stops shuffled the lead positions through the midway point of the race, with Gilliland moving back into the lead on lap 35 and never relinquishing the top spot.
Logano had worked his way back up to second later in the race, but his effort ended with engine failure on lap 55. Jones assumed second, but could not get by Gilliland in the closing laps. Said finished third, followed by Eric Holmes and Justin Lofton.
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST SERIES-BLUE LIZARD SUNCREAM 200 Results
Saturday
At Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, CA
Lap length: 1.99 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) David Gilliland, Riverside, Calif., Ford, 64 laps, 57.549 mph, $12,000.
2. (7) P.J. Jones, Torrance, Calif., Ford, 64, $6,500.
3. (3) Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $5,000.
4. (6) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Dodge, 64, $4,000.
5. (20) Justin Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Ford, 64, $4,000.
6. (8) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $5,000.
7. (24) Marc Davis, Mitchelville, Md., Chevrolet, 64, $3,750.
8. (14) Stan Silva, Jr., Castroville, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $3,500.
9. (25) Kenny Shepherd, Merced, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $2,500.
10. (5) Tom Dyer, Corte Madera, Calif., Dodge, 64, $2,250.
11. (17) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford, 64, $3,500.
12. (12) Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $2,300.
13. (23) Ryan Foster, Anderson, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $2,200.
14. (18) Todd Souza, Aromas, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $1,600.
15. (21) Kevin O'Connell, Newport Beach, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $1,500.
16. (10) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $2,925.
17. (22) Rick Wall, Irvine, Calif., Dodge, 64, $1,875.
18. (32) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 64, $2,860.
19. (30) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $2,855.
20. (15) Jose Luis Ramirez, Mexico City, Ford, 64, $1,850.
21. (27) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 64, $2,825.
22. (13) Carlos Contreras, Mexico City, Mexico, Dodge, 64, $1,300.
23. (28) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Dodge, 64, $1,250.
24. (9) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 64, $2,725.
25. (34) Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Ford, 64, $2,700.
26. (38) Victor Pfluger, Morristown, Ariz., Ford, 64, $1,200.
27. (26) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 64, $1,700.
28. (11) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Chevrolet, 63, $1,700.
29. (4) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 63, $2,700.
30. (35) Garland Self, San Jose, Calif., Ford, 62, $1,200.
31. (33) Travis McCullough, Galt, Calif., Chevrolet, 55, engine, $1,200.
32. (2) Joey Logano, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 54, engine, $1,200.
33. (16) Regan Smith, Cato, N.Y., Chevrolet, 48, radiator, $1,200.
34. (31) Dennis Dyer, Palmdale, Calif., Ford, 45, overheating, $1,200.
35. (19) Alex Haase, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 33, engine, $2,700.
36. (37) Scott Ivie, San Ramon, Calif., Chevrolet, 24, engine, $1,200.
37. (36) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 13, oil leak, $1,700.
38. (29) Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Toyota, 1, brakes, $1,700.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 2 hours 12 minutes 47 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.246 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Gilliland (91.979 mph, 77.887 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 22 laps.
Lead Changes: 8 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D.Gilliland 0; J.Logano 1-2; D.Gilliland 3-21; B.Said 22-27; E.Holmes 28; J.Lofton 29; J.Logano 30; M.Smith 31-34; D.Gilliland 35-64.
Standings: 1. M.David, 1090; 2. M.Duncan, 1006; 3. J.Borneman, 966; 4. J.Lofton, 965; 5. E.Hardin, 934; 6. J.Bowles, 926; 7. B.Thompson, 918; 8. R.Foster, 838; 9. B.Ickler, 833;
Unofficial
