ANTELOPE, California — 2010 NASCAR Pro Series West champion Eric Holmes, who drives the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing won Saturday’s NASCAR Race at All American Speedway in Roseville. For Holmes, 36 years old from Escalon, California, the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Pick-n-Pull victory was his second straight series win and fourth in eight starts at All American Speedway, his adopted home track.
"The NAPA Toyota is in Victory lane two races in a row. "— Eric Holmes
His victory did not come easy, however. In qualifying earlier in the day, Holmes had the fastest time for much of the session until the final car went on the track and 18-year-old Jacob Gomes nabbed the pole position.
Gomes gained the early lead and Holmes hounded the teen through the early stages of the event, until finally getting by on Lap 31. Another teenager, 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Dylan Kwasniewski, had ideas of his own, however, and took the lead from Holmes on Lap 68. Later fifteen-year-old Cameron Hayley, also driving for Bill McAnally, took the lead. Holmes retook the lead on Lap 140 and then was able to hold off Greg Pursley, who clinched the 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship at Saturday’s race, over the final 12 laps of competition.
“Tonight, we had a great car,” Holmes said. “We had to give up the lead there for a little while. We lost the brakes – had a little brake issue. But we got it dialed in and saved the car for the end. The NAPA Toyota is in Victory lane two races in a row. I’ve got to thank everybody on the team.
With his win, Holmes moved into second in the championship standings behind Pursley – 2,220 point to 1,902.
Greg Pursley came in second, Cameron Hayley closed out the race in the third position followed by Luis Martinez Jr. and Chad Boat in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Toyota/NAPA AUTO PARTS 150 presented by Pick-n-Pull will air on SPEED on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
