Performance Motorsports rookies Nick DeFazio and Jose Luis Ramirez were excited about their finishes in Erie, Colorado this past Saturday night. Nick Defazio finished just out of the top five in 6th and Jose Luis finished 11th after having to pit for a flat tire.
Qualifying in 8th, driving the Superior Gear, Auto Marine Engineering # 77 Ford Taurus, Nick was patient and ran on the lead lap through out the race. " I had a good car and I knew that we would get a good finish." said Nick. "We got pushed around a few times by some drivers that ended up finishing behind us, but brought our car home in pretty good shape." he added.
Jose Luis had a good run going that was spoiled by a right rear flat tire in the closing laps of the 150 race. "My crew chief, Larry Nava thought that I could have had a top three finish with the way things played out if we didn't have the flat. Obviously I'm happy the way my car ran and the way it handled." said Jose Luis. "I want to thank our engine builder Tom Label for the awesome power that we had."
Jose sits in 10th place in the championship hunt and Nick is only 21 points out of the top ten.
The "Rookies" now head to Bakersfield"s Mesa Marin Raceway for the running of the October Classic on Sunday Oct.17th 2004.
