WILTON, Ca — The FLASHCO SRL Southwest Tour Series started 2008 loaded with talent, including veterans, young up and comers and numerous former champions.

When the checkered flag fell on the series finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway">The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it was two-time NASCAR Southwest Tour champion Jim Pettit II defeating another former champ Craig Raudman for the 2008 FLASHCO SRL Southwest Tour Series title.

Raudman, one of the regions most renowned short-track drivers had all the tools in place for a championship run in 2008, first class equipment, the support of team owner Bob Strandwold and the experience of over 160 Southwest Tour stock car starts. However, two consecutive race incidents at Altamont Raceway Park slowed Raudman’s championship run.

As it turned out, Raudman would have had to be near perfect in 2008 to beat Pettit for the SRL crown, as Pettit, who carries a racing resume loaded with 15 championships and a fully committed race team, was as close to perfect as possible in racing. Pettit’s team put themselves in position to win each race and came away from the 2008 SRL Southwest Tour Series with four wins and never placing outside the top three with an unheard of 1.5 finishing average for the year.

Finishing third in the championship standings was Greg Voigt. Voigt proved to have one of the fastest cars in 2008, winning the SRL Qualifying Championship by being the season’s top qualifier, including a series high two poles.

Another NASCAR veteran Keith Spangler put his #37 Monte Carlo consistently at the front of the field with an 8.5 finishing average to secure fourth place in the standings.

Troy Ermish kicked off his 2008 SRL Southwest Tour season with a big win at All-American Speedway, where he lead wire to wire for his first career SRL victory. Ermish would finish the year with two top fives and four top tens to secure a place in the top five.

Rookie Josh Combs of Sacramento turned many heads in 2008 by being among the top drivers on the speed charts at each race. Combs scored two top fives and won the coveted Rookie-of-the-Year title in route to sixth place in the final standings.

2007 SRL champion Dave Byrd never finished a race outside the top ten, to place seventh in 2008.

Todd Bammer also never finished outside the top ten in the Moeller Brothers Chevrolet to claim eighth place in the point standings.

Joe Farre’ traveled all the way from Henderson, NV for each race and challenged for the Rookie-of-the-Year title while placing ninth in the championship.

“We are looking forward to coming back in 2009 and making the full tour again, with the same team and more sponsorship.” stated Farre’.

Another rookie, Justin Westmoreland of Madera, CA had one top five and one top ten in route to tenth in points.

Westmoreland summarized his season by saying, “It was a good year performance wise especially with the budget our team was on. The season ended with several disappointing DNF’s that kept us from getting finishes that reflected our performance. All in all it was just great to be competitive in a series that has a history of fierce competition.”

Saturday these drivers will be honored for their outstanding 2008 season at the FLASHCO SRL Southwest Tour Series Championship Awards Banquet hosted by the Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace in Bakersfield. For more information regarding the SRL, or the championship banquet, please call the SRL office at 916-687-7284.