Source: NASCAR
Date: 08/18/2006

Rip Michels from San Fernando, Calif. claimed his first career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series victory this past Saturday night at his home track of Irwindale (CA) Speedway in front of more than 5,000 enthusiastic and supportive race fans. Greg Pursley, the 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series National Champion finished second with Eric Holmes, Thomas Martin, and Eddy McKean rounding out the top five finishers in the Stock Building Supply sponsored event.

Greg Pursley claimed his eighth career Bud Pole Award earlier in the evening with a quick lap of 18.035 seconds/99.806 mph around the lightning fast half-mile paved oval. Pursley drew a 6-car invert placing Holmes and two-time series champion Pettit on the front row to start the 100-lap event.

Holmes, who is currently second in the point standings, was unable to lead a lap as Pettit quickly asserted himself at the front to lead lap one. Pettit has faced countless struggles this season and was looking to get his season on track and looked to have the car to do so but quickly fell victim to Michels on lap six.

Michels and Pettit exchanged the lead several time over the next three laps before Michels took command of the race on lap 9. Michels who was winless in his previous 35 starts in the Southwest Series had something to prove. His sponsor, Stock Building Supply, was sponsoring the race and he had come so close on two previous occasions at Irwindale, including the 2005 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

"I have won a lot of races at Irwindale over the years," Michels said. "The 'tour' is tough and this was one that I have wanted since last year."

While Michels controlled the pace out front, former track champion and 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion Greg Pursley was making his first start of the season in the Southwest Series. Pursley started sixth after the invert and through most of the race never fell further than third eventually making a couple of runs at Michels but ended finishing second.

Holmes who was looking to regain the point lead and packing up his second place performance at Stockton last month was never able to mount a charge at Pursley or Michels but had his hands full trying to hold off Pettit early and Thomas Martin as the laps wound down.

Martin who is in his fourth year on the series had the fastest car through the middle part of the race and was looking for his best finish of the year. His stellar run nearly ended on the lap 22 restart when he missed a shift and dropped all the way back to sixteenth before getting back up to speed. Luckily all cars were able to miss his stalled vehicle and after a couple of laps he started moving back towards the front.

Martin would eventually end up finishing in the fourth position to record his best finish of the season. Eddy McKean who has had a very consistent season thus far continued his finishing average by placing fifth for his fifth top five finish of the season.

When the checkered flag dropped after 100 laps, Michels celebrated the nearly perfect victory among his enthusiastic fans and family.

"I just can't believe it," said Michels. "We have tried so hard and had come up short. I am so thrilled for Stock Building Supply and this whole team as we have waited a long time for this. We had a great car tonight and it could not have worked out better."

Finishing second in a new car was Pursley. "I love these cars and I have missed racing this season," Pursley said. "The Star Nursery team put a great car under me and finishing second feels great. I congratulate Rip on picking up his first win."

"We did what we needed to do," said third place finisher Eric Holmes. "The championship is going to come down to the final lap of the final race. We are in position."

Loose is fast but Thomas Martin created a new definition for loose. “My car was fast that is for sure," Martin said. "But at the same time it was a handful to drive most of the race. I am just glad to work my way back to the front to finish well. My team has worked hard all season for this finish."

Rounding out the top five finishers was former champion McKean. "It is another solid finish for us," McKean said. "This place is tricky with set ups, we missed just a bit and the finish keeps us close in the points."

With the win, Michels extends his point lead to 21-points over Holmes. McKean drops to third just eleven points behind Holmes. After finishing 12th, M.K. Kanke maintains fourth but drops 72-points behind McKean. Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year leader David Mayhew climbs one position to fifth just 90-points behind Kanke.

Michels led 92 laps in route to the win with only three caution periods for 19-laps. There were three lead changes between Michels and Pettit. Twenty-five of 29 cars were running at the conclusion of the race with 19 cars running on the lead lap.

Greg Voigt, Thomas Martin, Jim Pettit II, Kevin Vernon, and Kevin Clark round out the top ten in the standings with two races to go to determine the final series champion and the invitation list to the fourth annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown which will be staged back at Irwindale in October.

Martin earned the $300 Featherlite Award for improving the most positions over the previous race (17), while Darrell LaMoure earned the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the race (11). Brandon Loverock was the top finishing Sunoco rookie competitor while Mayhew extended his rookie point lead to 12-points over fellow rookie competitor Loverock.

The next event for the Southwest Series is next Saturday night August 19, 2006 at Colorado National Speedway in the annual running of the United Power/Touchstone Energy "150" in a special combination event with the Midwest Series. For all the latest news and information regarding the Southwest Series log on to www.nascarregionalracing.com.

For more information contact:

Derrick Shannon

Media Coordinator

NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series

Cell: 208/870-8066

Email: dshannon@nascar.com

NASCAR Race Number 6

Unofficial Race Results For The Stock Building Supply "100" - 08/12/2006

Irwindale Speedway - Irwindale, CA - 0.5-mile paved oval

Total Race Length 80 K - 100L - 50 M Purse: $56,584

Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Total Award Status

1 4 12 Rip Michels Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory Circle 100 180 $3,400 Running

2 6 70 Greg Pursley Star Nursery.Com/Dr. Q's Garden Products 100 170 2,150 Running

3 1 62 Eric Holmes Paul Oil/Taco Bell/Sunoco Race Fuels Chevrolet 100 165 1,800 Running

4 3 28 Thomas Martin Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet 100 160 1,900 Running

5 9 19 Eddy McKean Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre Pontiac 100 155 1,400 Running

6 16 98 Brandon Loverock * Quick Change Exchange Chevrolet 100 150 975 Running

7 18 94 Darrell Lamoure NAPA Auto Parts/Racing for the Missing 100 146 1,650 Running

8 2 03 Jim Pettit, II Racing for the Missing Ford 100 142 1,275 Running

9 11 02 Dan Holtz A.T. Systems/Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center 100 138 800 Running

10 19 07 Kevin Clark Sirius Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car Audio 100 134 775 Running

11 5 26 David Mayhew * Bryco Funding/Victory Circle Chevrolet 100 130 1,100 Running

12 10 33 M K Kanke Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports Chevrolet 100 127 1,075 Running

13 7 11 Eric Richardson * Grapeking/Green Frog Roasting Ford 100 124 600 Running

14 14 36 Kevin Vernon Jim's Towing Chevrolet 100 121 990 Running

15 13 9 Greg Voigt Auto Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet 100 118 980 Running

16 27 37 Keith Spangler Spangler Motorsports Chevrolet 100 115 570 Running

17 24 2 Daniel Moore Stock Builidng Supply/D&D Construction 100 112 560 Running

18 17 1 Cody Pruitt * Lennox Homes/Codyco Chevrolet 100 109 550 Running

19 23 61 Jason Fraser VRI/Rich's Car Corner Chevrolet 100 106 540 Running

20 21 31 Greg Potts Nascimento Motorsports Chevrolet 99 103 530 Running

21 20 90 Brad Peters Frieght Train Peters Racing Engines Chevrolet 99 100 520 Running

22 22 44 Bobby Lyon Alliance Rentals/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet 98 97 510 Running

23 25 5 Don Campbell GKI/Waterproofing Associates/Chevrolet 97 94 500 Running

24 29 4 Scott Ivie Scott Ivie Racing Chevrolet 96 91 475 Running

25 15 04 Stephan Sadler Padco Carpet Cushion Inc. Chevrolet 95 88 850 Running

26 26 47 Richard Johnson Radcap Products/Shell Dust Inc. Chevrolet 87 85 450 Ignition

27 8 75 Van Knill J&M Construction Chevrolet 61 82 450 Brakes

28 12 91 Dave Finley Tri County Parts Dodge 20 79 450 Handling

29 28 48 Brett Edwards Unlimited Lanscaping/Bad Boy Energy Drink 13 76 450 Overheating

Time of Race:0 hrs., 40 mins, 49 secs Average Speed: 73.499 mph Margin of Victory:.542 Seconds

BUD POLE AWARD: Greg Pursley, 70 Star Nursery.Com/Dr. Q's Garden Products Chevrolet

FEATHERLITE AWARD: Thomas Martin, 28 Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet

POWERADE AWARD: Darrell Lamoure, 94 NAPA Auto Parts/Racing for the Missing Chevrolet

LUNATI CREW CHIEF AWARD: Roger Theobald, 12 Stock Building Supply Chavroelt

Caution Flags: Laps 19-22; 47-52; 90-95. 3 for 16 laps.

Lap Leaders: Jim Pettit, II 1-5, Rip Michels 6, Jim Pettit, II 7, Rip Michels 8-100.

Total Laps Led: Rip Michels 94, Jim Pettit, II 6. 3 changes involving 2 drivers.

Top 10 Driver Points: Rip Michels 985, Eric Holmes 964, Eddy McKean 955, M K Kanke 883, David Mayhew * 793, Greg Voigt 784, Thomas Martin

Sunoco Rookie Points: David Mayhew 56, Brandon Loverock 44, Eric Richardson 41, Cody Pruitt 38.

Next Race: Colorado National Speedway, August 19, 2006

* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender

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