FONTANA, Califonia -- NASCAR contender, Bobby Hillis Jr., won the POWERade Power Move of the Race for advancing the most positions in the King Taco 200 at California Speedway, in Fontana, Calif., May 1.
Hillis (No. 27 Wells Fargo Chevrolet) came from 29th on the grid in the 100-lap/200-mile race to finish 17th in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series race.
The challenge of beginning the race at the end of the pack would prove only the beginning of many difficulties for Hillis. Around lap 11, Doug Ingraham #21, went out with engine woes. Ingraham was driving Hillis' back up car.
Hillis' #27 car later began having difficulty with the front shocks. "They weren't adjusted right," Hillis said, "the front end was literally bouncing off the track. It wasn't handling good."
Owner/driver Hillis had to make the decision to drive steady and steer clear of trouble to ensure he'd have at least one car for his next race, or throw all caution to the wind and pound ahead.
He chose the latter.
"I was determined," he said, and so he pressed on - gaining on the other drivers.
Hillis finally was able to pit in lap 71 due to a caution flag and by lap 80 already moved up four more positions from his position at the time of the flag. By the end of the race, Hillis made his way to 17th position of the 29-car line up.
"We finally got the car dialed in right and we smoked 'em!"
The King Taco 200 was the first of seven NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series races broadcast live on HDNet this season. The race is slated to re-air on the SPEED Channel cable network at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 15.
Hillis' next West Series race will be at the Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif. on May 29.
Bobby Hillis Jr. owner/driver of Fierce Creature Racing Chevrolet, exploded into the racing world with a Speed Truck Rookie of the Year title in 1998. In 1999, Hillis won the NASA Regional Championship in road racing. A Phoenix native, with no major sponsorship backing him, Hillis has raced professionally, and continuously, for six years.
He made his West Series debut in 2000 at the Phoenix International Raceway. Competing in only four events that year, Hillis captured his first top 10 finish at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City. 2004 will mark Hillis' third season competing in the West Series.
Last year, Hillis, 42, was the only Arizona resident to qualify for the new championship competition, the 2003 NASCAR Toyota All Star Showdown.
The FCRC team is led by Crew Chief Jon Thwaits, originally from Bullhead City. He is aided by several Phoenix-resident volunteers.
Thwaits is competing in this year's NAPA Auto Parts Super Trucks series.
