In one of the most poignant wins in some time, Frank Maronski Jr. scored his first NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series victory in the Food 4 Less 100 at Irwindale Speedway. Starting from the third position, Maronski, driving the Terry Lumber Chevrolet, led the majority of the laps and held the point for that all-important lap, the last lap.
Competing in the series since 1993, an emotional Maronski said, "We have struggled this season. We have missed a couple of races, but this puts us on Cloud Nine. Everyone worked so hard. It's been tough, but Terry Lumber helped us out a lot."
Maronski, who had taken the Evernham Hawley School at the track a few weeks earlier said, "The track time helped us out a lot here."
Leading most of the race, Maronski lost the lead on lap 88, while attempting to keep a hard-charging Mark Reed behind him. This opened the door for the third place car of Nick Joanides to slip by. Maronski slipped back to third and all the while his spotter was coaching him to stay calm. Reed and Joanides fought for the front position, when with 6 laps to go they made contact coming out of turn four, giving the lead back to Maronski who said of the incident, "I was at the right place at the right time."
Damon Lusk, in the America Online Chevrolet, crossed the finish line in second, for his third top-5 finish of the season and moving him up in the points. "I struggled with a tight car and was praying for a caution. But he (Maronski) won the race and he deserves it." said Lusk. "And I am happy with second."
Two-time Cajon track champion, Mark Meech, brought the Bud's Trucking Chevrolet home in third. This was the second appearance for Meech who began his racing career in 1975. Meech said, "It was good close racing, the guys showed each other a lot of respect. I'm glad we finished third."
Bob Lyon, of Agua Dulce, set quick time for the event and took the Bud Pole award. The quick-time record held by Bryan Germone of Windsor, Calif., who won the inaugural Bud Pole earlier this season still stands. Germone who has 10 career poles, including two he won this season alone for car owner Steve Petty, did not compete in the event, after being released unexpectedly from Petty Racing. Germone was second in the points going into this event.
The winner of the first Inaugural NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series event at Irwindale, Greg Pursley, was also not on hand to repeat his previous accomplishment.
Kurt Busch, the current point leader in the series, suffered serious damage to the rear end of his car when contact from another car sent him into the wall during the Trophy Dash. At the last minute Busch swapped rides with fellow Las Vegas driver, Mike Ray. Although he lost some ground in this event he still maintains the lead in the standings.
A final note of interest, driver, Ed Cougenhour, who did so well in coming in second in the Qualifying race behind winner, Kevin Para, suffered electrical problems before the start of the race and was forced to relinquish his spot in the race to Harry Brady. A disappointment not only for Cougenhour, but also for his Memorex sponsors who were there to support their driver, Cougenhour will be back for the next Irwindale race to try again.
The final finishing order was; Maronski, Lusk, Meech, Crafton, Spangler, McCoun, Nelson, Reed, Lynch, Ingelbright, LaMoure, Joanides, Dyer, Nash, Busby, Petty, Shepherd, Busch, Lyon, Woods, Para, Brady, Lemler, Cummings, Raudman, Shepherd, Schultz, Bechtel, Baker.
