KANKE MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO SRL

MK Kanke celebrating the moment of victory

BAKERSFIELD, California — After being forced out of the 2008 SRL Southwest Tour season due to a work related injury, M.K. Kanke returned to competition Saturday night to lead wire-to-wire to win the “Riebes Auto Parts 125 presented by AmeriPride Uniform Services”.

Climbing from his familiar red #33 RPM Motorsports Monte Carlo, the winningest driver in Southwest Tour history had an ear-to-ear grin. "The Southwest Tour is back and better than ever...the SRL does such a great job with this series…I have to give a big thanks to Dan and my entire team for giving me such a great car,” Kanke said from the All-American Speedway winner's circle in front of a sell out crowd. “This is a great way to come back."

A wire-to-wire victory may sound like the race lacked excitement, but behind Kanke, the 125 lap race was nothing but excitement.

Fast qualifier Dave Byrd started from the 4th position and never ran deeper than 5th, before moving his #1 Bob Strandwold Racing/Faith Bumper Services Monte Carlo up to 2nd on lap 80 where he stayed until the checkered flag.

Defending series champ, Jim Pettit, worked his way up from his 11th starting position to 2nd to challenge Kanke in a fierce battle for the lead from lap 50 to 79. On lap 79, as the leaders negotiated lapped traffic, Pettit made heavy contact with fourth place Greg Voigt, which resulted in a spin into Troy Ermish. Pettit’s Golden Gate Petroleum/Top of the Hill Ford suffered major body damage and restarted in 6th. Later Pettit pitted for repairs and again charged through the field to muscle past Voigt on the last lap for 3rd.

Voigt had moved from his seventh starting position to 3rd when the contact with Pettit damaged the #4 Auto-Pro/Voigt Motorsports Chevy’s handling and Voigt hung on to a hard fought 4th.

Todd Bammer started 8th but ran only ran a few laps outside the top five the entire race to bring home the Moeller Brothers Chevy to a 5th place finish.

Keith Spangler battled among the top 10 all-night in a car he bought just one week before the race. Starting 13th, Spangler drove to an impressive 6th place.

Joe Farre’ had to avoid the red flag incident that involved Tyler Monroe and Scott Sanchez, which resulted in Farre’ being shuffled to the rear of the field, but worked hard to move back up to 7th before the finish.

Craig Raudman had both a night to be proud of and to forget. Raudman charged to the front early to challenge Kanke for the lead, and held 2nd position from lap 2 to 46. Just past half-way, Raudman’s Valvoline Easy Care Centers Monte Carlo suffered a flat tire to go one lap down, but was awarded the “Lucky Dog” on the next caution to get back on the lead lap. From that point, Raudman pulled the sell out crowd to the edge of their seats as he used both the high and low lines to battle his way through the field. With only a hand full of laps remaining Raudman went off track in an attempt to pass for a top five position, which ultimately resulted in an 8th place finish.

Gregg Potts and Jason Gilbert persevered throughout the night and secured their spot in the top ten finishing order at ninth and tenth respectively.

The next race for the SRL Southwest Tour Series will be the $4,000 to win “Blackjack 121”, May 3rd at “The Bullring” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For more information on the SRL Southwest Tour Series go to www.SRLSouthwestTour. com