DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2002) – New season … new driver … same result. That could easily sum up Austin Cameron’s victory in the NASCAR Winston West Series season-opening Winter Heat 150 Presented by Bosch at Phoenix International Raceway on Feb. 2.
While it marked the start of a new season and the first race since Cameron took over driving duties in the NAPA/Martin Senour Chevrolet – the outcome was much the same for the Bill McAnally-led team that has won three consecutive series championships.
Cameron, the 1998 Rookie of the Year, had competed in 50 NASCAR Winston West Series races while driving for his family-owned team. For 2002, he moved into the seat vacated by two-time champion Brendan Gaughan, who graduated to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season.
"I knew this thing was good," Cameron said. "So, there was some pressure to fill the shoes of Brendan Gaughan. Bill McAnally has put together an unbelievable team," he continued. "I just can’t say enough about the crew and the teamwork that really made it happen this weekend. We really jelled and came together."
After starting on the outside of the front row, Cameron charged into the lead on lap 17 and set the pace for the rest of the race. "All I did was be nice and conservative – roll on the throttle and roll off the throttle," Cameron said. "(Crew chief) Chuck (Carruthers) kept telling me every lap, ‘Take care of the tires.’ So, that’s what I was doing. I was keeping it on the bottom and turning the wheel as little as possible and just easing it in there."
Cameron won in dominating fashion – with a margin of victory of 14.795 seconds, while setting a race record average speed of 101.868 mph. The 25-year-old from El Cajon, Calif., collected $19,605 in prize money and posted awards – including the Gatorade Front Runner Award for leading the most laps.
Sammy Potashnick of Sikeston, Mo., crossed the finish line second in the Lucas Oil Chevrolet. Eric Norris of Dana Point, Calif., was third after capturing his first career Bud Pole Award with a run of 129.129 mph in the JaniKing/Ultra Wheels Ford. Fourth-place went to Sean Woodside of Saugus, Calif., in the Team Walker Motorsports Chevrolet while series rookie Greg Pursley of Newhall, Calif., finished fifth in the Food 4 Less Ford. Rounding out the top 10 were Kevin Richards, Hershel McGriff, Johnny Borneman, Ken Schrader and Tim Woods III.
The race was slowed by four cautions for just 21 laps.
Cameron’s win propelled him into the early lead in the championship standings with 185 points. Potashnick and Norris follow with 170 each. Woodside is fourth with 160, while Pursley is fifth at 155. Richards trails with 150 – followed by McGriff with 146, Borneman with 142, Schrader with 138 and Woods with 134.
Pursley has taken the early lead among a talented class of freshman drivers in pursuit of this year’s Rookie-of-the-Year Award. Pursley has 10 points – followed by Mike David of Modesto, Calif., with nine; Scott Lynch of Burley, Idaho, with eight; Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho, with seven; and G.J. Mennen Jr., of Austin, Texas, with six.
The next event on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule will be at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on April 13.
