MADERA, California -- The fans at Madera Speedway are used to seeing the 03 in victory lane. That is what they saw Saturday night. Jim Pettit II, who had won many races and 4 track championships while being sponsored by HotWood from 1996-2000, could not have been happier to see HotWood back on the hood of the 03. California HotWood is the largest manufacturer of firewood in the United States and offers customers who like to burn natural firewood the convenience of a small clean package. Jim Pettit Racing and California HotWood teamed up Saturday night in Madera for a win at the AutoZone 125.
Pettit qualified 3rd for the AutoZone 125, but after an invert rolled off in the 8th position for the Round 2 of the AutoZone Southwest Series. Because of the large invert the field stayed bunched up behind the leaders Lamour and Burson for the early going. Jim was able to get around Joe Herold in the #5, and Nick Joanides in the #75 but veteran Bob Lyons was able to stay on the bottom of the racetrack making passing difficult. Looking high to get around the #44 of Lyons cost Pettit a position when past champion Craig Raudman was able to get underneath the 03. Pettit stayed on Raudman's bumper as they made their way to the front of the field passing Kanke, Belleto and Lamour over the next 50 laps.
The two veterans put on a show for the fans until lap 86 when Raudman could no longer hold off the relentless pressure being applied by Pettit. Danny Burson in the 56 had a 5 or 6 car lead on Pettit on lap #87, but the 03 was just too fast. On lap #91 Pettit drove around Burson and took the lead for good. Guilliland who is driving the #88 this year had made his way to second but this night would belong to the 03. On the last restart Pettit pulled away to his largest lead and took the checkered flag in front of a grandstand full of Pettit fans.
With the win Pettit now holds a 15-point lead over Eddie
Mckean going into the next race on March 27th at Mesa Marin.
This marks the first time Jim Pettit II has led the points in
the AutoZone Southwest Series. As always the entire Jim
Pettit Racing team invites all fans to the pits after the
next race at Mesa Marin, Sunday, March 28, 2004.
