HOLMES WINS RACE BUT MICHELS CLAIMS CLOSEST SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 09/24/2006

TRACY, California -- Eric Holmes from nearby Escalon, Calif. won his third NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series race of the season but it was not enough to claim the final series championship as Rip Michels from San Fernando, Calif. finished second in the race and won the championship by the closest margin in the series 21-year history by a mere one point. Long-time series veteran M.K. Kanke finished third with Greg Voigt and 2006 Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year winner David Mayhew rounding out the top five finishers in the 150-lap event.

Holmes won the Bud Pole Award earlier in the afternoon with a quick lap of 17.406 seconds/103.413 mph around the fast and tricky half-mile paved oval to lead all qualifiers. Michels, Jason Fensler, Stephan Sadler, and Jim Pettit II rounded out the top five qualifiers. Holmes drew a 6-car invert to start the race putting Eddy McKean on the front row to start the race.

Eddy McKean led a majority of the race and looked to be cruising to his first victory of the season when two lapped cars tangled in front of the leader and took McKean out of contention with only 15 laps to go. While McKean ended his night on the hook and a third place final point's finish, Holmes assumed the lead of the race and held off a determined Michels at the finish line

While Michels celebrated the championship, Holmes was disappointed but will now focus his attention on the NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series which will compete in Kyle, Texas this next weekend. Holmes currently leads the point standings in the AutoZone West Series with only two races to go.

Joining Michels, Holmes, and McKean at the fourth annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be M.K. Kanke, David Mayhew, Jim Pettit II, Thomas Martin, Kevin Clark, and Kevin Vernon who all finished in the top ten final point standings and will represent the Southwest Series at this star studded event broadcast live on SPEED Channel October 20-21 from Irwindale (CA) Speedway.

Race Results

AutoZone "150"

NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES

Tracy, CA September 23, 2006

Final leaders of Saturday's $56,584.00 NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES

stock car race with driver's hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, winner's

average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.

1. Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, 64.163 mph, $3,850

2. Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,100

3. M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $2,550

4. Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $1,900

5. David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 150, $1,400

6. Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford Taurus, 150, $1,375

7. Kyle Cattanach, Redding Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $925

8. Jason Fensler, Wilton Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $900

9. Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 149, $850

10. Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 148, $1,225

11. Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 147, $1,200

12. Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 146, $1,150

13. Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 146, $725

14. Scott Ivie, San Ramon Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 136, $700

15. Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac Grand Prix, 134, Accident, $1,050

16. Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 133, Accident, $600

17. Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif., Ford Taurus, 132, Accident, $575

18. Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 112, Suspension, $550

19. Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 97, Engine, $540

20. Travis McCullough, Lodi Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 80, Suspension, $530

21. Don Campbell, Campbell Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 29, Engine, $520

22. Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 29, Accident, $510

23. Greg Potts, Manteca Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 5, Accident, $500

Time of Race:1 hrs., 10 mins, 8 secs Average Speed: 64.163 mph Margin of Victory:.062 Seconds

BUD POLE AWARD: Eric Holmes, 62 Paul Oil/Taco Bell/Sunoco Race Fuels Chevrolet

FEATHERLITE AWARD: Greg Voigt, 9 Auto Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet

POWERADE AWARD: M K Kanke, 33 Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports Chevrolet

Caution Flags: Laps 6-9; 15-20; 53-56; 58-63; 134-137. 5 for 24 laps.

Lap Leaders: Jim Pettit, II 1-11, Jason Fensler 12-26, Eddy McKean 27-65, Eric Holmes 66-102, Eddy McKean 103-133, Eric Holmes 134-150.

Total Laps Led: Eddy McKean 70, Eric Holmes 54, Jason Fensler 15, Jim Pettit, II 11. 5 changes involving 4 drivers.

Top 10 Driver Points: Rip Michels 1325, Eric Holmes 1324, Eddy McKean 1228, M K Kanke 1198, David Mayhew * 1113, Greg Voigt 1082, Jim Pettit, II

1062, Thomas Martin 1007, Kevin Clark 960, Kevin Vernon 950

Sunoco Rookie Points: David Mayhew-2006 Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year

Next Race: NASCARToyota All-Star Showdown

* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender

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