HOLTZ BATTLES BACK FROM PENALTY TO WIN STAR NURSERY 200

Source: Gary Jacob
Date: 03/24/2003

Holtz never paced a lap until he gained the top spot with 50 rounds to go after race leader and defending series champion Eddy McKean from Idaho was spun out of the lead by eventual second place finisher Auggie Vidovich Jr. Holtz' first win on the Southwest Series was worth $4,325 and 10th starter Vidovich collected $2,700 for second. Part time series competitor Eric Holmes continued his love affair with the fast Mesa Marin half-mile as he finished a $1,750 third after lining up third. Having run a few tour events in 2002 to tune up for a rookie of the year run in 2003, former Irwindale champion Greg Voigt, also a former dirt modified and dirt late model star, came from provisional land (27th starting) to finish a solid 4th. Vidovich, Holmes and Voigt all wheel Chevys while Todd Souza became the 2nd highest Ford with his 5th place run after timing 6th fast. Minnesota's Nathan Thiesse only beat two cars in time trials, but he won the B Main then drove from 29th starting to place 6th. David Gilliland also turned in a passing clinic as he came from 24th to place 7th ahead of the disappointed McKean. Young Thomas Martin also impressed with his drive from 28th to round out the lead lap finishers in 9th.

Always a great qualifier, Holtz paced the 35 car field through time trials with a 19.016 lap for a 94.657 mph average. Raudman was just a tick back at 19.079 and Holmes ran a 19.140 lap in his Taco Bell sponsored mount. Always a top runner at Mesa Marin, series veteran Doug McCoun had a 19.162 and New Mexico teenager J R Patton turned in a 19.175. Souza clicked off a 19.177 and Steve Belletto was 7th at 19.299. Many time Mesa Marin champion Kevin Vernon had a 19.327 and Jim Pettit II put his Ford in 9th at 19.368. Recent Phoenix winner Bryan Germone could only manage 23rd slot with his 19.735 run. The 23 fastest were joined by five provisionals and the remaining 7 cars dueled for two spots in the B Main. Thiesse and Michael Price advanced from the B Main. Drivers missing the feature were Stan Silva Jr, Dennis Dyer, Chris Hines, Richard Johnson and Joe Herold.

The 200 lapper was started straightup off the qualifying runs putting Holtz and Raudman in the front row. Raudman beat Holtz into the first corner and he paced the first 74 laps of the race. Holtz fell back to third on lap 41 and fourth on lap 43. The first caution flag ate up laps 10-17 and another yellow dropped from lap 51-58. When the third caution dropped on lap 74, both Raudman and Holtz elected to make pit stops. Both ended up pitting twice and Holtz ran a stop sign at the end of pit road returning from his second stop. Raudman ended up losing a lap doing his pit work and the stop and go penalty put Holtz one lap down also. McCoun gained the lead and set the pace through lap 118 before making contact with the fence in turn 1. This put McKean out front and he set the pace up to his incident with Vidovich on lap 151. The caution filled race saw several drivers eliminated by accidents as Tommy Fry lost his brakes early in the race and the accident route eliminated Price, Eric Schmidt, Mike Ledbetter, Danny Burson, Germone, Frank Deiny Jr, Belletto and Brandon Whitt.

Once back on the lead lap, Holtz climbed to 5th on lap 132, fourth on lap 135 and third when Deiny Jr pitted on lap 144 during a yellow. Holtz was dueling with leaders Vidovich and McKean on that restart and he emerged with the lead when Vidovich turned McKean. The green flag only appeared briefly in the final 58 laps as only 30 of those laps were raced under green. The teams battled with very slippery track conditions as the tires used by the trucks were not compatable with the Southwest Series rubber.

The top nine finishers were all on the lead lap with Holtz winning ahead of Vidovich, Holmes, Voigt, Souza, Thiesse, Gilliland, McKean and Martin. McCoun paced the group that were one lap down in 10th as Vernon, former Perris dirt tracker Tony Gomez and Raudman made up that group. Both Burney Lamar and Randy Nelson were two laps down at the checkered flag.

This was the second event on the 2003 schedule and Vidovich left Mesa Marin with a 23 point lead on McKean. Raudman is third in points, 42 behind McKean.

After an off weekend, the teams run leg 3 of the schedule at Cajon Speedway on April 5.

Summary Fast Time-Dan Holtz 19.016 Main-Holtz, Auggie Vidovich Jr, Eric Holmes, Greg Voigt, Todd Souza, Nathan Thiesse, David Gilliland, Eddy McKean, Thomas Martin, Doug McCoun, Kevin Vernon, Tony Gomez, Craig Raudman, Burney Lamar, Randy Nelson, Darrell LeMoure, Greg Fowler, Jim Pettit II, Ryan Arciero, Scott Busby, Brandon Whitt, Steve Belletto, J R Patton, Frank Deiny Jr, Bryan Germone, Danny Burson, Mike Ledbetter, Eric Schmidt, Michael Price, Tommy Fry.

See Also .:

• Dan Holtz Driver Card

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