TRACY, California – Long-time friends Eric Holmes and Mike David both had reason to celebrate at Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday night. Holmes scored a dominant win, while Mike David clinched the championship as the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series closed out its 2007 season with the Dan Gamel RV Centers 200.
Holmes, the 2006 champion, took the lead on lap 8 and never looked back as he sailed to victory in one of only four series events he competed in this year.
David, who finished second to Holmes in last year’s championship standings, entered the event with a sizable points lead secured the title by the midway point of the race. Despite losing all but fourth gear in his transmission late in the race, David was able to close out his season with a third-place finish.
“It was shaking and popping and making noises it’s not supposed to,” David said of his transmission. “I just held on to her.”
Series rookie David Mayhew took the runner-up spot with a career-best finish. Kyle Cattanach also had a career-best mark, with a fourth-place finish – while this year’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Jason Bowles, finished fifth. Completing the top 10 were Daryl Harr, Mike Duncan, Alex Haase, Eric Richardson and Eric Hardin.
David finished his season with a 114-point margin over Duncan in the championship standings. Bowles finished third in the standings, followed by Brian Ickler and Johnny Borneman.
With his win, Holmes secured a spot in this year’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown next month at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST SERIES-DAN GAMEL RV CENTERS 200 Results
Saturday
At Altamont Motorsports Park
Tracy, CA
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Chevrolet, 200 laps, 57.297 mph, $6,917.
2. (21) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 200, $4,717.
3. (6) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 200, $3,667.
4. (22) Kyle Cattanach, Redding, Calif., Toyota, 200, $2,400.
5. (5) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 200, $3,517.
6. (17) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 200, $2,717.
7. (8) Mike Duncan, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 200, $3,367.
8. (18) Alex Haase, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 200, $3,767.
9. (10) Eric Richardson, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 199, $3,180.
10. (16) Eric Hardin, Anaheim, Calif., Chevrolet, 198, $3,167.
11. (25) Rick Wall, Irvine, Calif., Ford, 197, $2,167.
12. (3) Justin Lofton, Westmorland, Calif., Ford, 197, $2,017.
13. (14) Jason Fensler, Wilton, Calif., Chevrolet, 196, $1,500.
14. (19) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 195, $2,567.
15. (11) Rick Ruzbarsky, Tracy, Calif., Chevrolet, 194, $1,350.
16. (1) Brian Ickler, San Diego, Calif., Chevrolet, 193, $3,967.
17. (24) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Chevrolet, 192, $1,667.
18. (28) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Ford, 192, $1,200.
19. (26) Ed Vecchiarelli, Sr., Brighton, Colo., Chevrolet, 192, $1,000.
20. (23) Jason Gilbert, Dublin, Calif., Chevrolet, 179, $1,000.
21. (7) Ryan Foster, Anderson, Calif., Chevrolet, 147, steering, $1,417.
22. (12) Ryan Philpott, Tracy, Calif., Ford, 100, oil line, $1,000.
23. (4) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford, 42, accident, $2,167.
24. (9) Jason Patison, Corona, Calif., Ford, 41, accident, $1,000.
25. (27) Thomas Martin, Auburn, Calif., Chevrolet, 30, engine, $1,000.
26. (15) Ben Walker, Santa Clarita, Calif., Chevrolet, 28, brakes, $1,000.
27. (13) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 16, accident, $2,167.
28. (20) Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Ford, 0, accident, $1,417.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 44 minutes 43 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.378 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Ickler (100.346 mph, 17.938 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 45 laps.
Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B.Ickler 1-7; E.Holmes 8-200.
Standings: 1. M.David, 2013; 2. M.Duncan, 1899; 3. J.Bowles, 1871; 4. B.Ickler, 1838; 5. J.Borneman, 1813; 6. J.Lofton, 1742; 7. E.Hardin, 1712; 8. B.Thompson, 1683; 9. A.Haase, 1653; 10. E.Richardson, 1617.
Unofficial
