DACONO, Colorado — NASCAR K&N Pro Series West driver Eric Holmes' dream season continues and now he has 10,000 more reasons to smile.
The two-time series champion drove his No. 20 NAPA Toyota around Luis Martinez Jr">Luis Martinez Jr. for the lead on Lap 107 and held on during a 10-lap shootout to win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge 150 Saturday night at Colorado National Speedway">Colorado National Speedway.
The win also gave Holmes a $10,000 bonus as he won his third race in the five-race Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Challenge. Holmes won earlier this season at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore., and Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, Mont., to become eligible to win the bonus Saturday.
The win was the second in a row and fourth of the year for the Escalon, Calif. driver who has also finished in the top-10 in eight of the nine races this season and now has 13 career series victories.
Paulie Harraka almost made it two wins in a row at CNS as he finished second to Holmes. Martinez, the leading contender for this year's Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award finished a career-best third. Greg Pursley and David Mayhew completed the top five.
The race was slowed six times by caution with the only multi-car incident of the race occurring during the final caution on Lap 136 after Michael Self and Blake Koch collided while racing in the top 10. The final incident set up the sprint to the finish.
Martinez started from point after winning his first 21 Means 21 by Coors Brewing Company and led early in the race until Holmes, who started on the outside pole, made the pass on Lap 3.
Holmes remained out front until Martinez got back around after a restart on Lap 78. Martinez set the pace while going after his first career win; however, Holmes was able to pass Martinez for the lead on Lap 107 and stayed out front the rest of the way.
In his quest for a third series championship, Holmes now holds a lead of 114 points over Mayhew.
The Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Bonus Challenge from CNS will air on SPEED on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 12 for the running of the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts Challenge at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.
UNOFFICIAL
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST-TOYOTA/NAPA AUTO PARTS BONUS CHALLENGE 150 Results
Saturday
At Colorado National Speedway
Dacono, CO
Lap length: 0.375 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 150 laps, 56.517 mph, $6,500.
2. (6) Paulie Harraka, Wayne, N.J., Toyota, 150, $3,700.
3. (1) Luis Martinez, Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Ford, 150, $5,475.
4. (3) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford, 150, $3,250.
5. (9) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $2,575.
6. (11) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 150, $1,800.
7. (5) Michael Self, Park City, Utah, Chevrolet, 150, $2,200.
8. (14) Todd Souza, Aromas, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $3,600.
9. (15) Troy Ermish, Fremont, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $1,525.
10. (10) Blake Koch, West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 150, $2,000.
11. (16) Justin Funkhouser, Paradise, Calif., Chevrolet, 150, $1,450.
12. (13) Travis Milburn, Eagle, Idaho, Chevrolet, 150, $1,925.
13. (8) Jonathon Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho, Chevrolet, 148, $1,900.
14. (18) Greg Rayl, Roseville, Calif., Ford, 148, $1,875.
15. (4) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 147, $1,850.
16. (12) Taylor Barton, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 139, $1,325.
17. (7) Travis Bennett, Ellensburg, Wash., Ford, 126, fuel pump, $1,800.
18. (17) Thomas Martin, Auburn, Calif., Chevrolet, 111, suspension, $1,772.
19. (19) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 1, ignition, $1,760.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 59 minutes 43 seconds
Margin of Victory: .580 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: L.Martinez, Jr. * (81.517 mph, 16.561 seconds)
Caution Flags: 6 for 25 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: L. Martinez,Jr. 1-2; E. Holmes 3-77; L. Martinez,Jr. 78-106; E. Holmes
107-150.
Standings: 1. E. Holmes, 1482; 2. D. Mayhew, 1368; 3. P. Harraka, 1289; 4. L.
Martinez,Jr., 1258; 5. J. Gomez, 1254; 6. M. Smith, 1237; 7. B. Koch, 1223; 8. M. Self,
1204; 9. G. Pursley, 1162; 10. T. Souza, 1148.
