KALISPELL, Montana — Eric Holmes added a new track to his résumé of wins as he took the victory in the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge 150 in the inaugural visit by the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West to Montana Raceway Park on Saturday night.
The two-time champion from Escalon, Calif., used a long green-flag run at the start of the race to move up from his starting position of seventh and set up his charge for the lead. After a debris caution on Lap 103 bunched the field, Holmes worked past David Mayhew on Lap 113 and took the race lead – a spot that he would not relinquish the rest of the night.
It was Holmes’ third win of the season and the 12th of his series career. As the current leader in the championship standings, he was able to pad his points with just four events on the schedule in his quest for a third series title.
Mayhew, who led a race-high 94 laps, settled for a second-place finish and now trails Holmes by 79 points in the standings. Moses Smith finished the race in third. Jonathon Gomez and Gary Lewis finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Daryl Harr, Blake Koch, Michael Self, Luis Martinez Jr">Luis Martinez Jr. and Todd Souza made up the remainder of the top-10 finishers.
In qualifying earlier in the evening, Greg Pursley collected his second Coors Light Pole Award. He was caught up in a late-race incident, which ended his night with an 18th-place finish.
The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge 150 from Montana Raceway Park will air on SPEED on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. PT.
The next event on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule is the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge 150 at Colorado National Speedway">Colorado National Speedway in Dacono, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 14.
UNOFFICIAL
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST-TOYOTA/NAPA AUTO PARTS BONUS CHALLENGE 150 Results
Saturday
At Montana Raceway Park
Kalispell, Mont.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (7) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 150 laps, 50.130 mph, $7,500.
2. (3) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $5,000.
3. (13) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 150, $5,600.
4. (4) Jonathon Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho, Chevrolet, 150, $3,000.
5. (10) Gary Lewis, Bothel, Wash., Chevrolet, 150, $2,500.
6. (8) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 150, $2,250.
7. (12) Blake Koch, West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600.
8. (2) Michael Self, Park City, Utah, Chevrolet, 150, $2,825.
9. (5) Luis Martinez, Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Ford, 150, $2,409.
10. (16) Todd Souza, Aromas, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $2,350.
11. (6) Paulie Harraka, Wayne, N.J., Toyota, 150, $2,300.
12. (9) Travis Bennett, Ellensburg, Wash., Ford, 150, $2,250.
13. (14) Justin Funkhouser, Paradise, Calif., Chevrolet, 149, $1,700.
14. (11) Thomas Martin, Auburn, Calif., Chevrolet, 148, $2,150.
15. (20) Greg Rayl, Roseville, Calif., Ford, 147, $2,100.
16. (15) Travis Milburn, Eagle, Idaho, Chevrolet, 147, $2,050.
17. (17) Troy Ermish, Fremont, Calif., Chevrolet, 144, $1,500.
18. (1) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford, 127, accident, $3,575.
19. (18) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 111, engine, $1,950.
20. (19) Carl Harr, Edmonton, Alberta, Toyota, 13, brakes, $1,425.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 44 minutes 53 seconds
Margin of Victory: 1.007 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: G.Pursley (65.350 mph, 13.772 seconds)
Caution Flags: 3 for 20 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: G. Pursley 1-18; D. Mayhew 19-112; E. Holmes 113-150.
Standings: 1. E. Holmes, 1292; 2. D. Mayhew, 1213; 3. J. Gomez, 1130; 4. P. Harraka, 1119; 5. M. Smith, 1119; 6. B. Koch, 1089; 7. L. Martinez,Jr., 1088; 8. M. Self, 1058; 9. T. Souza, 1006; 10. G. Pursley, 1002.
