HOLMES DOMINATES SOUTHWEST SERIES CLASH IN THE DESERT

PHOENIX, ArizonaEric Holmes of Escalon, Calif. scored a dominating victory Sunday afternoon and second of the season in NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series competition at Phoenix International Raceway. Holmes scorched the field and cruised to a 9.33 second victory over Craig Raudman. Two-time Phoenix winner Eddy McKean rallied to finish third, with Burney Lamar and series points leader Jim Pettit II rounding out the top five finishers in the JC Glass "100".

Holmes was thrilled with the performance of his team and new car. "This is by far the best car I have ever raced," Holmes said. "We rolled off the truck fast and this has been the biggest win of my career. My hats off to Allen Beebe (owner) and the entire crew. When you can beat Eddy (McKean) here at Phoenix, it is something."

Twenty-four of thirty starters were running at the conclusion of the event that saw Holmes lead all laps from the pole position. The action was only slowed one time for five laps. Jim Pettit II collected the PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the event (19) and Joe Herold won the Featherlite Award for improving the most positions from the previous event (12). Rip Michels was the top finishing rookie with a eighth place finish.

Pettit maintains his point lead over Raudman by ten points after his fifth place performance. Lamar, Holmes and McKean maintain their respective positions in the top five. Joe Herold, Greg Voigt, Doug McCoun, Todd Souza, and Rip Michels round out the top ten in the championship standings after eleven races.

The next race for the AutoZone Southwest Series is Saturday, October 16 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. For all the latest news and information log onto www.nascarregionalracing.com .

NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series JC Glass "100" Phoenix Int'l Raceway, Phoenix, Arizona., October 3, 2004

100-Laps/100 miles on a One-Mile Paved Oval, Purse: $81,294

Finishing position, starting position, driver, car, laps completed, reason out, money won.

			
1. (1) Eric Holmes, Chevrolet, 100, Running, $7,350;			
2. (2) Craig Raudman, Chevrolet, 100, Running, $5,500;			
3. (4) Eddy McKean, Pontiac, 100, Running, $4,200;			
4. (10) Auggie Vidovich Jr., Chevrolet, 100, Running, $3,200;

5. (24) Jim Pettit II, Ford, 100, Running, $3,000;			
6. (3) Burney Lamar, Chevrolet, 100, Running, $2,000;			
7. (8) Joey Miller, Chevrolet, 100, Running, $1,350;			
8. (9)# Rip Michels, Chevrolet, 99, Running, $1,750;			
9. (6) Danny Burson, Chevrolet, 99, Running, $1,700;			
10. (16) Kevin Clark, Chevrolet, 99, Running, $1,150;			
11. (13) Stan Silva Jr., Chevrolet, 99, Running, $1,100;

12. (20) Greg Voigt, Chevrolet, 99, Running, $1,550;			
13. (17) Joe Herold, Chevrolet, 99, Running, $1,800;			
14. (15) Brandon Riehl, Chevrolet, 99, Running, $975;			
15. (29) Nick Joanides, Chevrolet, 98, Running, $1,425;			
16. (28) Greg Fowler, Chevrolet, 98, Running, $875;			
17. (23) Jeff Seifert, Chevrolet, 98, Running, $1,325;			
18. (19) Todd Souza, Chevrolet, 96, Running, $1,300;			
19. (27) Mike Price, Chevrolet, 96, Running, $790;			
20. (12) Darrell LaMoure, Chevrolet, 96, Running, $1,275;

21. (14) Thomas Martin, Pontiac, 94, Running, $1,260;			
22. (21) Justin Martz, Chevrolet, 94, Running, $750;			
23. (30) Richard Johnson, Chevrolet, 93, Running, $1,230;

24. (22) Stephan Sadler, Chevrolet, 92, Running, $720;			
25. (26) Randy Nelson, Ford, 80, Exhaust, $700;			
26. (18) Doug McCoun, Chevrolet, 72, Ignition, $1,190;			
27. (25) Tommy Fry, Chevrolet, 42, Engine, $675;			
28. (5) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 36, Ignition, $1,160;

29. (11) Dan Holtz, Ford, 23, Suspension, $1,150;			
30. (7) #Nick Lynch, Chevrolet, 17, Handling, $1,150;			

Failed to Qualify: None TIME OF RACE: 53 minutes, 25 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED: 112.324 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 9.337 seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Eric Holmes, KENKO Chevrolet 27.656 seconds/130.171 mph

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Jim Pettit II, California Hot Wood Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE AWARD: Joe Herold, Quality Racing Chevrolet
AUTOMETER ROOKIE-OF-THE-RACE AWARD: Rip Michels, Stock Building Supply Chevrolet
CAUTION FLAGS: One caution for 5 laps (5-9)
LAP LEADERS: No Lead Changes . Eric Holmes 1-100