KYLE, Texas — Greg Pursley charged into the lead in a wild last-lap scramble to win the Allstate Texas Thunder 150 at Thunderhill Raceway on Saturday and record his first career win in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.
Pursley was running third in the closing stages of the event, when a late caution led to the race distance being extended for a green-white-checkered finish.
On the restart, race leader Mike David and Eric Holmes roared side-by-side around the tight 3/8-mile with Pursley nipping at their heels. The trio took the white flag and charged into Turn 1. David’s car spun as they came through Turn 2, leaving Pursley to take the lead.
He took the win by a margin of .847 seconds over a hard charging Moses Smith, with a career-best finish, followed by Homes in third. Jamie Dick was close behind in fourth, with Brett Thompson in fifth. David Mayhew, who won his first career Coors Light Pole Award and led 78 laps early, was sixth – while David came around to finish seventh. Jonathon Gomez, Jason Bowles and James Warn completed the top 10.
The event, which kicked off the 2009 season for the NASCAR Camping World Series West, marked Pursley’s full-time return to the series and his 17th career start overall. Although he raced the entire 2002 season, the Newhall, Calif., driver who won the 2004 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national title, had competed on a limited basis in the West Series in recent years.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES WEST
ALLSTATE TEXAS THUNDER 150 Results
Saturday
At Thunderhill Raceway
Kyle, TX
Lap length: 0.375 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Chevrolet, 155 laps, 57.836 mph, $7,000.
2. (11) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 155, $6,000.
3. (2) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 155, $3,850.
4. (7) Jamie Dick, Albuquerque, N.M., Chevrolet, 155, $2,800.
5. (3) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 155, $3,050.
6. (1) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 155, $3,800.
7. (8) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Toyota, 155, $2,250.
8. (15) Jonathan Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho, Chevrolet, 155, $2,525.
9. (12) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 154, $2,175.
10. (10) Jim Warn, Aurora, Ore, Chevrolet, 154, $2,150.
11. (4) Blake Koch, West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 154, $2,100.
12. (13) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Ford, 153, $2,075.
13. (19) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 152, $2,050.
14. (9) Johnathan Hale, Rio Linda, Calif., Chevrolet, 152, $2,000.
15. (14) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $1,950.
16. (16) Bow Carpenter, San Antonio, Texas, Chevrolet, 147, $1,900.
17. (6) Paulie Harraka, Wayne, N.J., Toyota, 106, engine, $1,875.
18. (18) Phillip Hollis, Evadale, Texas, Chevrolet, 29, fuel pressure, $1,350.
19. (17) Jim Marchino, Modesto, Calif., Ford, 5, ignition, $1,286.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 18 seconds
Margin of Victory: .847 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Mayhew (89.203 mph, 15.134 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 38 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D.Mayhew 1-34; E.Holmes 35-36; D.Mayhew 37-80; M.David 81-154; G.Pursley 155.
Standings: 1. G.Pursley, 185; 2. M.Smith, 170; 3. E.Holmes, 170; 4. J.Dick, 160; 5. D.Mayhew, 160; 6. B.Thompson, 155; 7. M.David, 151; 8. J.Gomez, 142; 9. J.Bowles, 138; 10. J.Warn, 134.
Unofficial
