MWS: Pikes Peak: Race notes

Fountain, Colorado (July 31, 2004) - Eddie Hoffman, of Wheaton, Illinois, won the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series, Freedom 150 Saturday afternoon at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Hoffman took the lead on lap 59 and survived a late race push from Auggie Vidovich, of Lakeside, California by just .620-seconds to score his first triumph of the year.

"Auggie was faster at the end," said Hoffman. "I'm glad I was able to leg out a good lead, otherwise it would have been tough to keep him back there."

Vidovich's crew changed four tires on his Chevrolet when he made his lone pit stop on lap 51 while Hoffman elected to just change right side rubber. The move cost Vidovich time on pit lane, and positions on the track. But when the final 35 laps were run caution free, Vidovich used the fresher left side tires to make his charge.

"That was hard because I wanted to not drive so hard so I could save the car, but then I wasn't catching him," said Vidovich. "I started to reel him in at the end, but he might have been backing off."

Midwest Series championship point leader, Justin Diercks, of Davenport, Iowa finished third. West Salem, Wisconsin driver Steve Carlson and Colorado Springs, Colorado native Kevin Clark rounded out the top five.

The Midwest Series next travels to Wisconsin International Raceway, in Kaukauna, for the running of the Oneida Bingo & Casino 300, Tuesday night, August 3.

-nascar-