NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WINSTON WEST SERIES
Date Posted — July 28, 2003
- Seven races, seven different winners. The seven Grand National
Division, Winston West Series races this year have produced seven different
race winners.
- Rookie challenge. Raybestos Brakes Rookie of the Year contender
Scott Lynch (No. 08 Yerf-Dog/The Orleans Dodge) is challenging for the lead
in the overall championship chase. With his victory at Irwindale (Calif.)
Speedway, he moved within one point of the points lead. Only one driver in
the history of the series was able to win the championship in his rookie
year - Lance Hooper in 1996.
- Tops among rookies. Lynch continues to dominate in the chase for
this year's Raybestos Brakes Rookie of the Year Award. The 23-year-old from
Burley, Idaho, was the top finishing rookie in six of the seven races so far
this season.
- Streak continues . Steve Portenga (No. 77 King Taco Ford) finished
seventh in the King Taco 200, to extend his string of top-10 finishes this
year. He is the only driver in the series to finish in the top 10 in all
seven races so far this season.
- Leading money winner. Portenga continues to be the leading money
winner in the series this year. With his winnings from Irwindale, including
the $10,000 Winston bonus he received prior to the race - his winnings for
the season hit $48,602.
- Biggest move. Scott Gaylord (No. 00 Oliver Gravity
Separators/Denver Seminary Chevrolet) became the first driver this season to
win the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award more than once. Gaylord
advanced the most positions at Irwindale - starting 14th and finishing
fourth.
- First top-10 finish. Brandon Miller (No. 68 Lucas Oil Chevrolet)
crossed the finish line in ninth to net his first career top-10 finish.
- Tight overall points battle. The overall battle for the
championship this year in the Winston West Series continues to be one of the
closest in the history of the series. Only 93 points separate the top seven
drivers in the standings.
- Owner standings . Car owner Christina Adair (No. 3 Royal Bath & Body
Products Pontiac) continues to lead in the championship standings among
series car owners. She holds a 14-point margin over Joe Nava (No. 77 King
Taco Ford) - 1,082 to 1,068.
- Close chase for Manufacturers' Championship. The chase for the
Manufacturers' Championship in the series has turned into a wide open
challenge - with all four makes visiting victory lane this season. Pontiac
leads the way with 45 points, followed closely by Chevrolet with 44. Ford
trails with 34, while Dodge has 31.
- Air time . The King Taco 200 at Irwindale Speedway is scheduled to air on the SPEED Channel cable network at 8 p.m. ET and at 10 p.m.. ET on Aug. 18.
