ANTELOPE, California — Bill McAnally Racing driver Eric Holmes, pilot of the No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, put the No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry on the pole for the second straight year at Colorado National Speedway. The reigning champion in the NASCAR Camping World Series had the car to beat in Dacono, Colorado as Holmes looked to repeat his win from last season at the 3/8 of a mile track.
The No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota team took to the track working on race setup during the two practice sessions. (The session was delayed due to some sporadic rain.) Qualifying showed just what was in store for the fans that night as Holmes put the No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry once again on the pole breaking his time from the previous year.
Over 1400 NAPA customers, store owners and employees from the Denver area came out to cheer for their teams. Holmes was on hand to sign autographs prior to the 150-lap race event.
Under the lights at Colorado National Speedway with a near capacity crowd on hand; Holmes took the green to start the event. Harraka in the #12 NAPA Auto Care Toyota kept pace behind Holmes as the pair led the pack of cars thru the corners greeted by the crowd as they recorded the first lap. Thru the first 81 laps, Holmes maintained the lead often by as much as a dozen car lengths when he began experiencing a power problem. Crew chief Ty Joiner made the call to bring the No. 20 NAPA Toyota Camry to the garage to change out the battery. Holmes reentered the race two laps down. Harraka took over the lead at lap 109 and never looked back. He ran in the lead with the only challenge being during the final ten laps. Harraka held off the challenger to record his first NCWS West win. Holmes would bring home the No. 20 NAPA entry in ninth narrowing the point’s gap to 37 points on current point leader Jason Bowles.
The Toyota/NAPA “150” will be televised on SPEED’s Racing Across America on August 20th. Please check your local listing for broadcast times in your area. The next event on the schedule for the NASCAR Camping World Series West will be the Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades 125 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on Sept. 4.
For more information on Bill McAnally Racing, Please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com.
