AVONDALE, Arizona — It may have been the happiest Eric Holmes has been after a 16th-place finish. The Escalon, Calif., driver clinched his third NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship when he started the finale at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday evening. He contended for the lead early in the event before fading late, but that did nothing to dampen his historic accomplishment.
Holmes became seventh driver to win three or more titles in the series' 57-year history.
Greg Pursley won the 3 Amigos Tequila 125, pulling away on a final restart with seven laps remaining. It was Pursley's second win of the year and his first victory at the track he called his 'absolute favorite.' Pursley, who is from Newhall, Calif., but now resides in Parker, Ariz., where his team is based, won the Coors Light Pole Award Thursday with a track-record lap.
Johnny Borneman came through the field late to grab second. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and owner Michael Waltrip passed Ty Dillon on the final lap to take third, while Auggie Vidovich rounded out the top five.
Dusty Davis was sixth, followed by Brennan Newberry, David Mayhew, Michael Self, and Daryl Harr. Mayhew led three times for a race-high 69 laps, while Pursley led twice for 37 laps.
Holmes finished the season with a 124-point margin over second-place David Mayhew. Holmes' teammates at Bill McAnally Racing, Paulie Harraka and Moses Smith, finished third and fourth respectively in points. Pursley ended fifth in the standings.
The 3 Amigos Tequila 125 will air on SPEED at 3 p.m. PT on Thursday, Nov. 18.
UNOFFICIAL
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES WEST-3 AMIGOS TEQUILA 125 Results
Saturday
At Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix AZ
Lap length: 1 mile
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford, 125 laps, 64.646 mph, $11,700.
2. (15) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $6,000.
3. (7) Michael Waltrip, Owensboro, KY, Toyota, 125, $4,000.
4. (10) Ty Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 125, $3,300.
5. (21) Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $3,150.
6. (4) Dusty Davis, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 125, $3,000.
7. (9) Brennan Newberry, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $2,950.
8. (3) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $3,925.
9. (30) Michael Self, Park City, Utah, Chevrolet, 125, $3,700.
10. (11) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 125, $2,800.
11. (28) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 125, $3,250.
12. (27) Jonathon Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho, Chevrolet, 125, $3,125.
13. (33) Robbie Brand, Barstow, Calif., Ford, 125, $2,600.
14. (38) Troy Ermish, Fremont, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $4,450.
15. (22) Todd Souza, Aromas, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $2,900.
16. (13) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 125, $2,850.
17. (26) Jacob Gomes, Manteca, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $2,300.
18. (35) Justin Funkhouser, Paradise, Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $2,250.
19. (12) Patrick Long, Thousand Oaks, Calif., Ford, 124, $2,700.
20. (19) Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que., Chevrolet, 122, $2,150.
21. (32) Travis Milburn, Eagle, Idaho, Ford, 121, $2,600.
22. (31) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Ford, 122, accident, $2,550.
23. (6) Justin Johnson, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet, 113, accident, $2,000.
24. (5) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 106, accident, $1,975.
25. (29) Brian Wong, Newport Beach, Calif., Dodge, 106, accident, $1,950.
26. (25) Paulie Harraka, Wayne, N.J., Toyota, 106, accident, $2,400.
27. (34) Toni Marie McCray, Highland, Calif., Chevrolet, 106, accident, $1,850.
28. (23) Zach Germain, Bexley, Ohio, Toyota, 106, accident, $1,800.
29. (18) Luis Martinez, Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Ford, 106, $2,250.
30. (2) Tom Dyer, Corte Madera, Calif., Ford, 95, accident, $1,700.
31. (16) Timmy Hill, Port Tobacco, Md., Chevrolet, 94, accident, $1,650.
32. (36) Cody Cambensy, Tucson, Ariz., Ford, 70, accident, $1,600.
33. (14) Jeff Barkshire, Auburn, Wash., Dodge, 63, accident, $1,550.
34. (24) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 56, suspension, $1,500.
35. (39) Carl Harr, Edmonton, Alberta, Chevrolet, 52, suspension, $1,450.
36. (40) Paul Pedroncelli, Jr., Sonoma, Calif., Chevrolet, 42, accident, $1,400.
37. (37) Greg Rayl, Roseville, Calif., Ford, 41, accident, $1,850.
38. (8) Stan Silva, Jr., Castroville, Calif., Chevrolet, 40, accident, $1,300.
39. (20) Jamie Dick, Albuquerque, N.M., Chevrolet, 16, engine, $1,750.
40. (17) Gary Lewis, Bothel, Wash., Chevrolet, 2, engine, $1,200.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 56 minutes 1 second
Margin of Victory: Under Caution
Fastest Qualifier: G.Pursley (129.964 mph, 27.7 seconds)
Caution Flags: 11 for 49 laps.
Lead Changes: 7 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: G. Pursley 1-24; D. Mayhew 25-44; P. Harraka 45-46; P. Long 47-57; D. Mayhew
58-69; E. Holmes 70-75; D. Mayhew 76-112; G. Pursley 113-125.
Standings: 1. E. Holmes, 1942; 2. D. Mayhew, 1818; 3. P. Harraka, 1704; 4. M. Smith, 1674; 5. G. Pursley, 1641; 6. J. Gomez, 1627; 7. L. Martinez,Jr., 1590; 8. M. Self, 1548; 9. T. Souza, 1493; 10. T. Milburn, 1412.
