ANTELOPE, Ca — May 19, 2012) – Iowa Speedway hosted the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Combination race May 19 in Newton Iowa where Eric Holmes and the No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota team came away with a finishing position of ninth of the West Series teams.
"Driver Eric Holmes and the team from BMR are en route to Brainerd, Minnesota"
Practice began at 11 am on race day. The NAPA team made several adjustments to the Toyota Camry through both practice sessions. The qualifying times where close with only a .414-second difference between first place and 20th. Holmes would begin the race on row ten. The green flag fell just after 7 pm. Fans were treated to side-by-side racing as Holmes began his march towards the front of the field. The first caution came out at lap 25 at which time Holmes radioed to the NAPA Toyota team that the car was ‘loose everywhere’. Green flag racing resumed at lap 33. Two laps later, the No. 20 NAPA Toyota had a right front flat tire veering the car into the wall coming out of turn two. The No. 20 Toyota Camry was brought to the garage. Never ones to give up, the NAPA team went to work to make repairs. Holmes returned to competition now in 35th. He would gain two positions before the checkered flag. Holmes is fifth in the chase for the championship and only nine points out of second place.
“I knew something was not right when we took the green to restart the race after the caution,” said Holmes. “The NAPA team did an awesome job getting us back out there and we were able to better our finishing position into ninth of the West Series teams. It was a team effort to be sure.” (The championship points are tallied separately for the East and the West Series. The highest finishing driver and owner are credited with a win regardless of their finishing position overall in the event.)
The Graham Tire “150” is a 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series Combination race will be televised on SPEED Channel on Thursday May 31st at 3 pm EST. Please check your local listings.
Brainerd International Raceway this season will host it’s first-ever NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race. The Brainerd “125” will highlight a speed-filled Memorial Day weekend. Joining NASCAR on the 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course will be the Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) Harvey West Classic. NASCAR hasn't held a race at BIR since 2004, when the NASCAR Elite Division came to town for a single race.
“I’ve never seen Brainerd International Raceway,” said Holmes. “I know its beautiful country up in Minnesota and the teams from BMR are looking forward to racing there. We would love to be able to bring home the inaugural win on the road course.”
About Brainerd International Raceway:
Opened in 1968 as Donnybrooke Speedway there were no safety barriers, run-out areas, grandstands or even restrooms. George Montgomery and Bud Stall cleared the racetrack through a wooded area on the south side of North Long Lake. With the help of St Paul Sports Promoter Dennis Scanlan It hosted a 2 heat USAC Indy Car race in 1969. The heats were won by Gordon Johncock and Dan Gurney. In 1973 Jerry Hansen bought the track and re-named it Brainerd International Raceway. In the summer of 2006, Jed and Kristi Copham of Forest Lake, Minnesota, became the new owners of Brainerd International Raceway. The 2009 racing season was the first for the 2.5 mile road course which was completed the previous summer.
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