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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Keeping Pace

NCWS West Recap: Bowles Edges Park For Phoenix Win

Jason Bowles (6) leads the pack at Phoenix International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for NASCAR) (The Spokesman-Review)
Jason Bowles (6) leads the pack at Phoenix International Raceway. (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for NASCAR) (The Spokesman-Review)

Six drivers from the Northwest and Western Canada qualified for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 presented by Shamrock Farms. The top regional finisher of the event was Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho (9th) followed by Oregon's Jim Warn (11th). Alberta's Daryl Harr finished 13th and Ellensburg native, Travis Bennett came home 20th.

Courtesy: NASCAR

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jason Bowles had one shot at Steve Park and made it count. Bowles jumped to the lead going into Turn 1 at Phoenix International Raceway at the start of a green-white-checkered finish, and rolled the No. 6 Sunrise Ford Ford to the victory Thursday in the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 presented Shamrock Farms.

It was Bowles’ seventh career victory and first of the season in the NASCAR Camping World Series West. His previous best finish at Phoenix was 11th last year. Thursday’s win also earned Bowles a secure spot in the starting lineup for the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

Bowles led four times for 86 laps at the one-mile oval Thursday. He briefly lost the lead to Park’s No. 35 Waste Management Recycle America Chevrolet following a lap-139 restart. Bowles managed to get by Park with five laps to go, but a late-race spin gave Park another shot at Bowles. This time, the 25-year-old Ontario, Calif., driver got the jump he needed.

Points leader Eric Holmes also got by Park in a wild scramble on the final restart to grab second. Park came home third, followed by Mike David and Greg Pursley. Pursley had won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day with a record lap of 27.784 seconds.

The NASCAR Camping World Series West will travel to Madera (Calif.) Speedway Saturday, April 25.

Unofficial
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD SERIES WEST-JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUNDATION 150 by Shamrock Farms Results
Thursday
At Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix AZ
Lap length: 1 mile
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (4) Jason Bowles, Ontario, Calif., Ford, 151 laps, 80.212 mph, $15,000.
2. (8) Eric Holmes, Escalon, Calif., Toyota, 151, $11,600.
3. (5) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 151, $8,000.
4. (16) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Toyota, 151, $7,500.
5. (1) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Chevrolet, 151, $7,500.
6. (12) Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Toyota, 151, $5,500.
7. (15) Blake Koch, West Palm Beach, Fla., Chevrolet, 151, $5,825.
8. (21) Paulie Harraka, Fairlawn, N.J., Toyota, 151, $4,750.
9. (7) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet, 151, $4,250.
10. (9) Terry Henry, Bakersfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 151, $3,350.
11. (10) Jim Warn, Aurora, Ore, Chevrolet, 151, $3,700.
12. (26) Todd Souza, Aromas, Calif., Chevrolet, 151, $4,250.
13. (25) Daryl Harr, St Albert, Alberta, Chevrolet, 151, $3,175.
14. (3) David Mayhew, Atascadero, Calif., Chevrolet, 151, $2,500.
15. (17) Austin Dillon, Lewisville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150, $2,475.
16. (11) Moses Smith, Tempe, Ariz., Toyota, 150, $2,950.
17. (23) Keith Spangler, Chatsworth, Calif., Toyota, 150, $2,400.
18. (27) Wes Banks, Oakdale, Calif., Ford, 150, $2,375.
19. (20) Jonathon Gomez, Twin Falls, Idaho, Chevrolet, 150, $2,820.
20. (18) Travis Bennett, Ellensburg, Wash., Chevrolet, 149, $2,250.
21. (24) Kyle Kelley, Huntington Beach, Calif., Chevrolet, 149, $2,225.
22. (30) Kristin Bumbera, Sealy, Texas, Chevrolet, 149, $2,200.
23. (29) Billy Kann, Mesa, Ariz., Chevrolet, 146, $2,150.
24. (31) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet, 144, $2,600.
25. (33) Brian Jackson, Colton, Calif., Chevrolet, 137, $2,050.
26. (14) Ryan Foster, Anderson, Calif., Ford, 134, parked, $2,000.
27. (6) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Chevrolet, 132, accident, $2,475.
28. (19) Chris Johnson, Claremont, Calif., Chevrolet, 98, engine, $1,950.
29. (22) Jamie Dick, Albuquerque, N.M., Ford, 39, accident, $2,425.
30. (13) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet, 26, engine, $2,400.
31. (28) Johnathan Hale, Rio Linda, Calif., Chevrolet, 16, suspension, $1,875.
32. (2) David Gilliland, Riverside, Calif., Toyota, 4, accident, $1,850.
33. (32) Phil Dugan, Meridian, Idaho, Ford, 0, oil leak, $1,825.

Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 52 minutes 57 seconds
Margin of Victory: .532 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: G.Pursley (129.571 mph, 27.784 seconds)
Caution Flags: 9 for 39 laps.
Lead Changes: 9 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: G. Pursley-grid; D. Gilliland 1-3; J. Bowles 4-62; E. Holmes 63-85; S. Park 86-117; J. Bowles 118-138; S. Park 139-144; J. Bowles 145-148; S. Park 149; J. Bowles 150-151.
Standings: 1. E. Holmes, 535; 2. J. Bowles, 503; 3. G. Pursley, 490; 4. M. David, 457; 5. D. Mayhew, 441; 6. B. Koch, 431; 7. M. Smith, 427; 8. P. Harraka, 419; 9. B. Thompson, 411; 10. J. Warn, 376.



Keeping Pace

Motorsports correspondent Doug Pace keeps up with motorsports news and notes from around the region.