IRWINDALE,California -- Austin Cameron claimed an emotional victory in the inaugural NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Saturday at Irwindale Speedway. Cameron, a NASCAR Grand National Division, Winston West Series competitor from El Cajon, Calif., missed four races during the 2003 season while undergoing cancer treatments. Cameron’s performance once he returned to the track was enough to clinch the 15th and final Winston West invitation to the Toyota All-Star Showdown, where he won $26,000 in prize money and the keys to a new Toyota Tundra pickup truck, which he will use for one year.
Joining Cameron as a race winner was Ron Breese Jr., of DeKalb, Ill., who won the 100-lap NASCAR Elite Division portion of the event and took home $14,500 in prize money along with the use of a Toyota Tundra pickup for one year.
“We didn’t have a chance to win the championship this year due to some small ‘hiccups’ in my career and my life,” said Cameron. “But, this is the best championship I could’ve won this year. We’re back and we’re here to stay.
“To be in the situation I’ve been in all year, basically fighting for my life, and come here and win the biggest race of the year, it’s everything I could’ve wanted.”
Cameron’s victory was a redeeming moment for the “home standing” Winston West Series teams, who were upstaged by the visiting Busch North Series teams throughout the All-Star event. On Wednesday, Mike Stefanik’s No. 55 Busch North Series team won the Ringer’s Glove pit stop contest, which featured the pit crews from the top-three Winston West and Busch North Series teams in a tire-changing/pit stop contest against the clock. On Friday, both twin 50-lap qualifying races were won by Busch North Series drivers and the Busch North Series was also the winner of Saturday’s “team” race segment, which scored the two series as “teams” for the opening 100-lap segment of the 125-lap feature race. Fifteen Busch North Series drivers were awarded with an additional $2,000 apiece as “team” victors in the event.
Breese’s victory, ahead of Featherlite Southwest Series driver Jim Pettit II, put an exclamation point on his series’ dominance of the Elite Division race. Breese competes in the NASCAR Elite Division, International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series, whose drivers claimed five of the top-10 finishing positions and were also scored as the “team” race winners in the opening segment of the Elite Division race.
For More Information, Contact:
Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 681-4173 or jdavidson@nascar.com
NOTE: UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS FOR THE NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION AND NASCAR ELITE DIVISION RACES ARE LISTED BELOW, SHOWING FINISHING POSITION, DRIVER NAME, HOMETOWN, MANUFACTURER, LAPS COMPLETED AND MONEY WON.
Irwindale Speedway November 8, 2003
1. (1) Ron Breese, Jr., DeKalb Ill., Chevrolet, 100, $14,350
2. (2) Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford, 100, $8,350
3. (9) David Gilliland, Riverside Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $6,000
4. (7) Ryan Hanson, Beloit Wis., Ford, 100, $8,750
5. (15) Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet, 100, $8,500
6. (3) Burney Lamar, Chino Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $5,250
7. (11) Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet, 100, $8,000
8. (20) Auggie Vidovich, Jr., Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $4,750
9. (4) Jon Lemke, Greenfield Minn., Chevrolet, 100, $7,500
10. (21) Charlie Bradberry, Chelsea Ala., Chevrolet, 100, $5,750
11. (23) Tim Schendel, Sparta Wis., Chevrolet, 100, $7,000
12. (13) Craig Raudman, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $3,800
13. (16) Brian Hoppe, Madison Wis., Chevrolet, 100, $6,700
14. (31) Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $4,600
15. (12) Chris Hart, Yakima Wash., Chevrolet, 100, $5,000
16. (22) Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill., Chevrolet, 100, $6,400
17. (6) Jeremy Lepak, Wausau Wis., Chevrolet, 100, $6,300
18. (5) Steven Howard, Greer S.C., Pontiac, 100, $4,700
19. (35) AJ Frank, Bluffton S.C., Chevrolet, 100, $4,600
20. (30) Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif., Ford, 100, $3,000
21. (25) Jason Hogan, Cleveland Ga., Chevrolet, 100, $4,500
22. (19) Gary Lewis, Bothell Wash., Pontiac, 100, $4,500
23. (28) Steve Belletto, Modesto Calif., Chevrolet, 100, $3,000
24. (24) JR Patton, Las Cruces N.M., Chevrolet, 100, $3,125
25. (34) Justin Wakefield, Woodstock Ga., Ford, 99, $4,625
26. (33) Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac, 99, $3,000
27. (36) John Bender, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet, 99, $4,500
28. (39) Jason Jefferson, Yakima Wash., Dodge, 99, $4,625
29. (37) Kevin Hamlin, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet, 99, $4,500
30. (27) Johnny Brazier, Lickskillet Ala., Ford, 99, $4,500
31. (26) Cecil Chunn, Spring Hill Tenn., Chevrolet, 99, $4,500
32. (40) Joe Benedetti, Auburn Wash., Pontiac, 99, $4,500
33. (29) Steven Howard, Roy Wash., Chevrolet, 99, $4,500
34. (32) Rick Suran, Estacada Ore., Pontiac, 99, $4,500
35. (17) Jeff Bailey, Kennewick Wash., Chevrolet, 98, $4,500
36. (10) Eric Fransen, West Bend Wis., Chevrolet, 96, $6,125
37. (14) Jeff Fultz, Cincinnati Ohio, Chevrolet, 94, $4,500
38. (18) Jeff Jefferson, Naches Wash., Chevrolet, 84, $4,500
39. (38) Dusty Williams, Garden City Ga., Chevrolet, 80, $4,500
40. (8) Kevin Prince, Wilmington N.C., Chevrolet, 51, $4,500
1. (13) Austin Cameron, El Cajon Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $26,000
2. (2) Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Maine, Chevrolet, 125, $20,350
3. (5) Mark Reed, Bakersfield Calif., Pontiac, 125, $11,000
4. (3) Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet, 125, $14,000
5. (23) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 125, $14,000
6. (7) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet, 125, $12,500
7. (1) Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet, 125, $12,350
8. (6) Ryan Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet, 125, $11,750
9. (8) Kelly Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet, 125, $11,000
10. (17) Brian Hoar, Williston Vt., Chevrolet, 125, $10,500
11. (4) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet, 125, $10,250
12. (15) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet, 125, $10,000
13. (11) Brett Thompson, Jerome Idaho, Chevrolet, 125, $5,500
14. (16) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $5,250
15. (12) Johnny Borneman, Ramona Calif., Ford, 125, $5,000
16. (9) Steve Portenga, Sparks Nev., Ford, 125, $4,500
17. (10) Mike Duncan, Lamont Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $4,500
18. (22) David Eshleman, Fontana Calif., Chevrolet, 125, $4,750
19. (27) Barney McRae, Colchester Vt., Chevrolet, 125, $8,500
20. (24) Kevin Richards, Spokane Wash., Chevrolet, 125, $4,500
21. (20) Carey Heath, Essex Mass., Chevrolet, 124, $8,000
22. (26) Mark Durgin, Lynn Mass., Chevrolet, 124, $8,000
23. (21) Jack Sellers, Sacramento Calif., Chevrolet, 124, $4,000
24. (29) Scott Gaylord, Lakewood Colo., Chevrolet, 123, $4,000
25. (28) Bobby Hillis, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet, 122, $4,000
26. (14) Dale Quarterley, Westfield Mass., Chevrolet, 108, $8,000
27. (18) Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford, 71, $8,000
28. (19) Scott Lynch, Burley Idaho, Dodge, 24, $4,000
29. (25) Jeff Davis, Anaheim Calif., Chevrolet, 15, $4,000
30. (30) Gene Woods, Ontario Calif., Dodge, 0, $4,000
