THRILLING REPLACED BORING AT ROSEBURG NASCAR WEST SERIES RACE

Source: Patti Ann Dugan
Date: 07/12/2008

Thrilling replaced boring at Roseburg (Oregon) in the NASCAR Camping World West race. And credit goes to Eric Holmes.

It started out as another humdrum race with Holmes leading lap after lap and no driver with a car strong enough to get by. But just shy of lap 100, Holmes pitted for a tire down. That set the stage for one of the most dramatic finishes ever in the NCWWS.

Holmes stormed through the field, racing to the front, tapping on bumper after bumper as he closed in on the leaders. It was a hold your breath moment when he started thumping on the bumper of the series’ bad boy, Johnny Borneman. But Holmes cleared him on his way to catch the leader, Jason Bowles.

As Holmes began smashing on the lead car’s bumper, Bill Sedgwick did a masterful job of keeping Bowles down low…it came up short however when Holmes dove down to the concrete and triggered an ember filled pass on the inside.

But it wasn’t all easy. Holmes grill was smashed in from the thrashing he did move cars to get by. As the car overheated the suspense grew…including the suspense of whether NASCAR would interfere with the race and black flag Holmes for aggressive driving…they didn’t.

Holmes took the checkers and fans saw the defeater of good old Saturday night racing celebrating in victory lane, smoking car and all.

Immediately some drivers were whining about the way Holmes raced. Ah but that is short track racing at its best. Holmes now replaces Borneman as the series’ bad boy…but did he do anything wrong? Not in the eyes of this fan and apparently not in the eyes of NASCAR.

Homes had the faster car, the laps were winding down and he was able to tap without wrecking to move his car in front that is what goes on at short tracks across the country. Black flags should be reserved for those that get a car loose and then turn them.

There needs to be credit given to Sedgwick for how far he has brought Bowles. Sure Bowles eventually lost the lead, but it would have happened a lot sooner, without Sedgwick’s guidance on the radio. They are a remarkable pair.

The excitement of this race is sure to set the stage for Evergreen Speedway in two weeks, the next race of the NCWWS. But with 22 cars starting a 5/8-miler, it will be a challenge for this race to come even close to what was witnessed at Roseburg, Friday night.

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