GILLILAND AND FIREWORKS AT MESA MARIN

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 06/30/2003

BAKERSFIELD, California -- Fireworks were the attraction Saturday night as David Gilliland of Riverside, Calif. collected his second win of the 2003 season when the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series returned to Mesa Marin Raceway for the 16th annual HPS/Victory Circle Chassis Firecracker "150". Gilliland waged a spirited battle with Auggie Vidovich Jr. over the closing laps until contact in turn four allowed Gilliland to claim the victory .309 seconds ahead of Jim Pettit II. Dan Holtz finished third, with Craig Raudman and Nathan Thiesse rounding out the top five finishers. Vidovich crossed the line in the eighth position.

Thirty-three Featherlite Southwest Series cars rolled in the back gate in the early morning heat of Bakersfield and it was Burney Lamar returning to form as he collected his first Bud Pole Award of the season with a quick lap of 18.474 seconds/97.434 mph. After qualifying concluded, five drivers lined up for a 10-lap non-qualifiers race. Darrell LaMoure and Tony Gomez transferred to 150-lap feature, with Trevor Morrical, Richard Johnson, and Stan Silva Jr. failing to qualify.

Ben Walker of Sun Valley, Calif. benefited from an eight-car invert landing the new pilot of the CBA Motorsports Chevrolet on the front row to start the race with Joe Herold of Poway, Calif. on the outside of row one. Gilliland lined up third, followed by Vidovich, Kevin Vernon, Pettit, Brandon Whitt, and Bud Pole Winner Lamar outside of row four. Walker led the first two laps before Gilliland moved to the lead on lap three.

The drivers settled into their rhythm as the first 42 laps went caution free. Several drivers experienced difficulties in the first third of the race including 2002 series champion Eddy McKean of Jerome, Idaho. McKean had a valve spring break ending his night with a 30th place finish and dropping three positions in the point standings. Victory Circle Chassis' Rookie-of-the-Year contender Frank Deiny Jr. had to pit on lap 23 for an oil leak dropping the Mechanicsville, Virginia driver many laps down. Occasional competitor Tommy Fry suffered engine woes that resulted in a 24th place finish.

The first of three cautions flew on lap 43 for an accident involving Darrell LaMoure and Ben Walker. Both cars retired for the evening. Gilliland paced laps 3 through 53 until a fast charging Brandon Whitt took the lead on lap 54. Whitt set a torrid pace and built his lead to as much as three seconds. Vidovich made his way into second place by lap 54. At the 60 lap mark Whitt led Vidovich followed by Gilliland, Pettit, with Burney Lamar in the fifth position. The second five included Holtz, Raudman, Joe Herold, Bryan Germone, and Victory Circle Chassis Rookie-of-the-Year point leader JR Patton running in the tenth position.

Multi-time Mesa Marin Raceway track champion Kevin Vernon retired on lap 71 when his car began to overheat. The second caution flag waved on lap 75 for the spinning car of Greg Potts as he lost the handle in turn two. Whitt led the field to green on the lap 80 restart followed by Vidovich, Gilliland, Pettit, and Lamar. With the prospect a few cautions, many drivers at the rear of the pack began to make a charge to the front, including Eric Holmes who has been a fixture at the front of the field in each race this season found himself in unfamiliar territory as he was running back in the 15 position.

As the Whitt crossed the strip at the 100-lap mark, the top five stayed the same with Holtz leading the second five. Holmes was able to break into the top ten by lap 100, with Danny Burson in 11th, Nathan Thiesse in 12th, followed by Doug McCoun, Steve Belletto, and Bryan Germone falling to the 15th position. The final caution flew on lap 113 for Holmes as he lost a right front tire causing the field to scatter. Holmes made it back to the pits for service, but had to return a lap later when the right rear lost air pressure. The pit stops dropped Holmes three laps down resulting in a 15th place finish.

Whitt's time at the front ended on the lap 117 restart when the rear end on the McMillin Homes Pontiac broke getting up to speed. Whitt finished with a 22nd place finish in front of his new hometown fans. Vidovich took the point and quickly demonstrated why he is the series point leader. He negotiated traffic to perfection and positioned lapped cars between himself, Gilliland, and Pettit. Pettit moved into second on lap 120, with Gilliland in third, Holtz to fourth, and Raudman running fifth.

Gilliland moved back by Pettit on lap 128 and began to mount a charge on Vidovich. During the closing laps Vidovich began to move his car up the race track and use the top groove to save his corner speed and slammed the door on Gilliland as the duo exited the turns. Each time Gilliland looked to have a run; Vidovich used his momentum to cross the stripe by a car length. In the final ten laps Vidovich and Gilliland had the crowd on their collective feet as the pair raced side by side, but each lap Vidovich covered the spot. Vidovich gave Gilliland plenty of room on the low side but on the final turn of the final lap, Gilliland dove to the inside of Vidovich and the pair touched as they exited out of turn four. The contact sent the series point leader spinning allowing Gilliland to claim the victory ahead of Pettit. Holtz crossed the line in third, with Raudman finishing fourth, and Victory Circle Chassis' Rookie-of-the-Year contender Nathan Thiesse rounding out the top five finishers.

JR Patton increased his rookie point lead and jumped to fifth in the overall standings after a six place performance. Joe Herold had his best run if the season finishing in the seventh position, followed by Vidovich in eighth, Danny Burson in ninth, and 1997 series champion Bryan Germone rounding out the top ten.

"I am thrilled to win this race for the whole team," Gilliland said. "I am so happy for Rich (Fountain) and this team for all their hard work. We are making a lot of progress and win goes along way in reaching our goals."

Jim Pettit II of Prunedale, Calif. continues his quiet march to the top of the standings with his second place performance. "This is the type of finish were capable of," Pettit said. "We knew we had a great car today and when I qualified third quick, I knew the race would fall in our favor. My car was real good on the long runs, but when that last caution came out if took me longer to get the car to come back in, but I am happy with second tonight."

"We turned lemons into lemonade tonight," Holtz said after finishing third. "I lost a cylinder about lap 47 and had to drive the car a lot more aggressively then I would have liked, but it worked out. This finish really helps us in the championship as it gives us the confidence we need for the second half of the season."

Rounding out the top five finishers was Nathan Thiesse who has had difficulty qualifying but looks to brighter days ahead. "This series is very tough," Thiesse said. "I think we are finally are on the right track and our qualifying package is a lot better. I am learning more than I ever thought and just am so thankful to the entire team for all their support and dedication."

A disappointed Vidovich had little to say after finishing eighth. "I don't get it, I gave him the bottom of the track and he still had to hit me," Vidovich said. "I know better. It is just frustrating to loose that way."

Vidovich maintains the point lead by 72 markers over Pettit. Eric Holmes drops to third, with Holtz improving to the fourth position, and JR Patton jumping into the fifth position. Bryan Germone stays in sixth, with Eddy McKean falling to seventh. Craig Raudman improves one position as he holds down the seventh spot, with David Gilliland joining the NASCAR Top 10 in the ninth position. Todd Souza rounds out the top ten in the standings after seven of 14 races.

The race took 55 minutes, and 49 seconds to complete at an average speed of 80.621 mph. The action was slowed for three caution flag totaling 12 laps. There were four lead changes between four drivers with Brandon Whitt leading the most laps (63). Burney Lamar won the Bud Pole Award and the $325 bonus from Budweiser with a lap of 18.474 seconds/97.434 mph. Thomas Martin collected the Powerade Power Move-of-the-Race and the $750 bonus from Powerade for improving the most positions during the event. Martin started 28th and finished in the 11th position. Nathan Thiesse won Victory Circle Chassis' Rookie-of-the-Race honors for being the top finishing rookie candidate with his fifth place performance.

The Featherlite Southwest Series takes three weeks off before returning to action Saturday, July 26 at Madera Speedway in Madera California. For all the latest news and information regarding the Featherlite Southwest Series log on to www.nascartouring.com/featherliteswseries .

See Also .:

• David Gilliland Driver Card
• Mesa Marin Raceway Track Page

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