SWS: Irwindale II: Race notes

Kanke Conquers Southwest Series Field at Irwindale

IRWINDALE, CALIF. (August 6, 2005) M.K. Kanke from Frazier Park, Calif. has called the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series home for the past twenty years. He scored his 20th career triumph Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway located just East of Los Angeles in front of an enthusiastic crowd in the Stock building Supply "150". Eddy McKean finished 1.4 seconds behind Kanke to record his third straight top five finish with Bud Pole Award winner Dan Holtz finishing third. Auggie Vidovich and Nick Lynch rounded out the top five finishers in the 150-lap event.

Kanke took the lead on the initial start from his outside front row starting position but McKean battled back to lead lap two. Kanke then assumed control of the race on lap three and never looked back. Kanke would dominate the event leading 149 of 150 laps.

Southwest Series point leader Jim Pettit II finished seventh and maintain his point lead over Burney Lamar who finished tenth.

"It feels great to win again," Kanke said. "It seems like such a long time since we have run up front and in position to win, but our team has gotten better and better each week. I need to thank Dan Nicolai and Perricone Juices for their support this season. This is awesome."

"I started to catch M.K. in the middle of the race but he had a great car," McKean said. "I am thrilled that we had another good run and to finish up front at Irwindale is great. We have struggled here in the past and tonight was a big finish for us."

After winning the Bud Pole Award and drawing a 10-car invert, Dan Holtz had to work his way tot the front. "This is awesome to have a top three finish tonight," Holtz said. We have struggled this season and tonight was one of those really fun nights to race."

With three races left to go in the 14-race championship series, Pettit holds a 125-point margin over Lamar. Vidovich closes to within nine points of Lamar for third. Kanke holds down the fourth spot by one point over McKean. Greg Voigt, Greg Pursley, Nick Lynch, Rip Michels, and Thomas Martin round out the top ten position's in the standings.

The Southwest Series next travels to Shasta Raceway Park in Anderson, Calif. Saturday, September 10. For all the latest news and information log onto www.nascarregionalracing.com.

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