ROCKLIN, California -- More than 350 NAPA store owners, employees and customers were at hand for the NAPA AUTO PARTS 200 at the Stockton 99 Speedway as the lights went out during the NASCAR Grand National Division West Series race.
Driver Austin Cameron qualified the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS/NAPA Belts & Hose Chevrolet in the fifth spot and by lap 24, Cameron was running in third. Four laps later, as the race leader was coming through turn four, he was bumped by a competitor. He tried to compensate but lost control of his car at the start finish line. With nowhere to go, the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet made contact causing severe damage. The #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS team went to work during the caution and never went a lap down in the process. Eleven laps later, the race would return to green with the #16 running in 15th. A powerful explosion could be seen from turn four causing the Stockton 99 Speedway at lap 42 to go black. Cameron avoided hitting any cars but scrapped the wall in turn four before coming to a stop at the start-finish line. Twenty minutes later, light was restored to the track. The race was red flagged and NASCAR gave permission for teams to evaluated and repair any damage to their cars as NASCAR went to work to reset the field for a restart. The entire BMR team was quick to get both the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS and the #20 NASCAR Select by NAPA Filter/NAPA Belts & Hose cars repaired. After the restart, Cameron climbed through traffic and nine laps later, the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet was running in 6th. At lap 92 and running in 4th, Cameron would attempt a pass for position causing the car to hit the outside wall and finish the night for the team. The team finished in 17th place and remains in second in the points standings.
Driver Kerry Earnhardt in the #20 NASCAR Select by NAPA Filter/NAPA Belts & Hose team qualified in 9th in the NAPA AUTO PARTS 200. Running in 8th when the track’s lights went out on lap 42, the #20 NASCAR Select by NAPA Filter/NAPA Belts & Hose Chevrolet made contact with another competitor. Under NASCAR’s watchful eye, the #20 NASCAR Select by NAPA Filter team quickly went to work assessing and repairing the damage. The team would go 2 laps down before reentering the race. Earnhardt and the #20 NASCAR Select by NAPA Filter team would make a valiant effort but Earnhardt would eventually pull off to the garage with sever overheating problems. The team finished in 20th place but would climb one position to 22nd in the point standings with the goal of qualifying for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown this November.
The NAPA AUTO PARTS 200 can be seen on SPEED Channel on Saturday September 11 at 9 am PST. The BMR team next travels to the Rocky Mountain Speedway in Salt lake City, Utah on Labor Day. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing, please consult our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com.
