SWS: Altamont: Race notes

Kanke King of Altamont

TRACY, CA. (July 2, 2006) M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park, Calif. scored his 21st career NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series victory tying Southwest Series legend Rick Carelli for first all-time. Kanke waited until the late laps and made his move into the lead on lap 125 and cruised to a 3.2 second victory over Rip Michels in the 150-lap event. Sunoco Rookie Eric Richardson finished third with Eddy McKean and Thomas Martin rounding out the top five finishers at the newly resurfaced and renovated half-mile paved oval facility.

Michels assumes the point lead over Eddy McKean by ten points with Eric Holmes dropping to third in the standings after a lap 115 altercation with Michels. Kanke remains in the fourth position with the win closing to within 69 points of the points lead. Greg Voigt holds down the fifth spot with David Mayhew, Jim Pettit II, Thomas Martin, Stephan Sadler, and Kevin Vernon rounding out the top ten in the standings after four races.

The race was slowed six times for 31 laps of caution with four lead changes involving four drivers. Eric Holmes led the most laps (91). Jim Pettit II claimed the $450 Bud Pole Award, while M.K. Kanke collected the $750 PowerAde Award for improving the most positions in the event (12). Greg Potts earned the Featherlite Award for improving the most positions from the previous event (12).

The next race for the Southwest Series is Saturday, July 15 at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif.

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