ERIC HOLMES BACK IN VICTORY LANE -- THIST TIME AT SKAGIT WEST RACE

The Podium and the Hooter's Trophy Girls

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash — – Eric Holmes looked to the past to stem the tide of newcomers dominating the action in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

Holmes behind the wheel of his No. 20 NAPA Toyota survived two restarts in the final 20 laps and held off rookie driver Dylan Kwasniewski, winner of the last two series races, to win the Spokane 200 on Saturday evening at Spokane County Raceway. It was the defending series champion’s first win of the 2011 season and first since Oct. 16, 2010 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. It marked his 15th career series win.

For the Spokane event, Holmes, the three-time series champion out of Escalon, Calif., reunited with crew chief Ty Joiner, who helped lead Holmes to his titles in 2006 and 2008.

Holmes charged past Kwasniewski, the 16-year-old out of Las Vegas, Nev., just after a midway break on Lap 104. Kwasniewski battled back on a later restart and edged his No. 03 Rockstar/Royal Purple Ford out front for a couple of laps. The two cars were side-by-side for six laps, but the teenager could not hold off the determined veteran.

Over the rest of the way, Kwasniewski took several runs at the lead, but Holmes was able to keep him at arm’s length in the first K&N Pro Series West event at the Eastern Washington track since 1979.

Points leader Greg Pursley battled to a third-place finish followed by Luis Martinez Jr. and Moses Smith in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Michael Self, Brett Thompson, Jonathan Gomez, Carl Harr and Travis Milburn rounded out the top 10.

Cameron Hayley, the 15-year-old out of Calgary, Alberta, started from the outside pole position but experienced a broken A-arm in the first half of the race and finished 18th.

Earlier in the day, Kwasniewski collected his second career Coors ’21 Means 21’ Pole Award.

Pursley increased his lead over Smith in the championship point standings to 294 points, meaning that he will only have to take the green flag on Oct. 15 at All American Speedway to clinch his first series title based on a 24-car field.

The Spokane 200 from Spokane County Raceway will air on SPEED on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. PT.

The next event on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule is the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 15.