ANTELOPE, California — Eric Holmes, driver of the No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing won the Spokane “200” at Spokane County Raceway.
"The team from BMR wins at Spokane County Raceway."
Holmes held of the rookie pole sitter, Dylan Kwasniewski the last 95 laps to win on the ½-mile oval. This was the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West first visit to the track since 1979. The win put Holmes in third place in the 2001 chase for the series championship and only 39 point out of second.
Holmes qualified the No. 20 NAPA Toyota Camry on the outside of row three for the 200-lap race. By lap 25 he had gained two positions and moved into third at lap 45. “I’m loose everywhere,” he reported in to crew chief Ty Joiner. “There’s not a lot of grip anywhere.” At lap 56, Holmes made a hard charge passing series point leader Greg Pursley to take over 2nd. There was mandatory break at lap 102.
“I had to drive (the No. 20 NAPA Toyota) in hard to get it to turn,” he reported. The team quickly went to work making adjustments, putting on fresh tires and filling the NAPA Toyota Camry with fuel. With a great restart, Holmes put the NAPA Toyota out front until lap 148 but retook the lead two laps later. He would have to battle two restarts to take the checkered flag for the NAPA team’s first victory of the season.
“It’s great to be back,” said Holmes. “That was some good side-by-side racing. Dylan (Kwasniewski) raced me clean. We weren’t easy on each other. I have to say, I am more impressed with him tonight than ever.”
“We’re finally going in the right direction. The NAPA team led by Ty Joiner made all the right changes. It’s magic. Ty reads my mind and gave me what I needed. I am glad to have him back. I am disappointed that it didn’t work out with Duane Knorr. He did a great job. We just didn’t communicate as well as we needed. I wish him nothing but the best.”
“I can’t wait to head to our home track, All American Speedway in Roseville. We always run well there and it will awesome to put the No. 20 NAPA Toyota in Victory Lane in front of all our friends and families.”
