RAUDMAN RALLIES FOR THIRD AT TOYOTA IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY

IRWINDALE, California -- It was a battle of former Southwest Tour champions for Craig Raudman of Redding, Calif. in the Flashco SRL Southwest Tour Series 100-lap Andersen Windows and Doors 100 at Toyota Speedway Saturday night in an event that was won by two-time champion Jim Pettit II. Raudman crossed the line third behind Pettit and 2006 champion Rip Michels.

Raudman made the most of his 12-hour drive was among the fastest cars all weekend but only timed in with the fifth fast time putting him on the outside of row three to start the 100-lap race after an invert of ten set the field.

100 laps can go by quickly at Irwindale and Raudman knew if he was going to stay atop the leader board he would have to set a blistering pace. Even though his car did not fall off during the course of the race, lapped traffic proved to be a difficult challenge on this night and could never mount a serious challenge to the leaders.

“I think we are just a bit off on the set up,” Raudman stated. “This has become a very competitive series and if you are not exactly right then it can make for a long race. We had a great car but we are just a tick off. We will have to go back and do our homework.”

Raudman has started the season off with two straight top four finishes and feels confident that victory lane is just around the corner. “I am happy for the whole team so far but we want to win,’ Raudman continued. “I am happy for Jim (Pettit) and he is certainly setting the bar this season. I am looking forward to Tucson and the rest of the season and I am confident we can get into victory lane soon.”

The finish added to Raudman’s career stats where he has 162 combined (NASCAR and SRL) Southwest Tour starts where he has claimed 17 victories, 31 quick time awards, 62 top five finishes and 93 top ten performances in a Southwest Tour career going back to the early 1990’s.

Raudman drives a Bob Strandwold Racing Chevrolet and is sponsored by Performance Electrical Company, Approved Memory, J&s Plastering, ERC Fuels, Redline Oil, Swendeman Hardware, Ringers Gloves, and NGK Spark Plugs.

The next event for Raudman and the SRL Southwest Tour will be Saturday, May 10 at Tucson (AZ) Raceway Park.

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