DUNCAN'S TWO-YEAR REIGN AS WEST CHAMP ENDS WITH ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN

Source: Palm/MB Duncan Motorsports
Date: 10/19/2006

BAKERSFIELD, California -- Mike Duncan climbed out of his banged up Lucas Oil/Ron's Rear Ends/Greenfrogroastingco.com Chevrolet in Altamont last Sunday, and his crew, fans and sponsors were there to congratulate him on many fronts.

First, there were the immediate kudos for not only surviving an incredibly unfortunate afternoon in Northern Cal - Duncan was hit from behind, sideways and nearly head on - but for finishing on the lead lap and taking a seventh place finish. "Amazing . . . incredible . . . an awesome job!" These were just some of the superlatives being heaped on Duncan, as everyone at Altamont watched the 2004/2005 Grand National Division, West Series champion deal with the unusual amount of bad luck that came his way.

Secondly, as Eric Holmes was being named the 2006 west champ, team owners, drivers, NASCAR offiicials, fans, vendors and anybody else within earshot of Duncan came over to congratulate him on two great years as the series champion. As a two-year, back-to-back champ, Mike Duncan was an exceptional spokesperson for NASCAR's top division in the west. This was not lost on any of the top NASCAR officials working at Altamont. Stated one NASCAR official, "Mike Duncan is the epitome of what a racing champion should be: Composed, competitive, well-spoken and always trying to make the series the best possible series it can be - for the drivers, the teams, the sponsors and the fans".

As Duncan obliged the nice comments, he could already be heard talking about this weekend's Toyota All-star Showdown and what it was going to take to win it. "Well, I hope our team was able to learn whatever we could from (a day like) today for Irwindale next weekend", Duncan said, as he headed for a hot shower in his hauler.

Dealing with a nasty head/chest cold, Duncan stopped long enough to hug his crew and thank them for an oustanding effort all season long. Duncan explains, "I have so much respect for any team's crew that is committed to winning like my guys are . . .we've enjoyed two great years on top, and we know what it feels like to enjoy the perks of being champions of this series; like parking in the first slot at the tracks, going to New York ( NASCAR Champions Weekend), the awards party in Vegas (West Series) and the overall feeling of being involved in the series as a championship team . . . it's been a great experience."

Yet, even as Duncan reflects on the past, two championship seasons, there was no disguising his intense competitive drive heading into this weekend's Toyota Allstar Showdown. " If we can go down to Irwindale and win the Showdown . . .well, that's what every diver wants to win, and we feel that our compilation of notes at Irwindale - combined with not having the rabbit's foot all of this season - hopefully we can finish the year off with this big win."

The 2006 season finished with Duncan third in points, but the season did have a major bright spot: Duncan's huge September win at California Speedway. The Relocate Here 200 was Duncan's first superspeedway win of his career, and it was the obvious highlite of a year that seemed to never really take off. As Duncan stated, "It takes so many variables to win championships, and this season was an example of that with Eric's (Holmes) team. They were fast at every track, his support system was in place and they had a bit of good luck from time to time . . . he's a great champion."

It takes one to know one.

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