WS: Bonus program update 2007-07-25

ICKLER TAKES TOP TALLY AS DRIVERS SHARE $50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY IN NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION, WEST SERIES BONUS PROGRAM

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 25, 2007) -- Fifteen drivers of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series are receiving a combined $50,000 in prize money for the second portion of the leader bonus program this season.

The prize money, part of the overall $350,000 point fund award for 2007, is distributed based on championship points accumulated in the sixth through 10th races on this year's schedule.

Bolstered by back-to-back wins at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, Ore., and Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, Brian Ickler (No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet) will receive $10,000 for netting the most points, with 803. In addition to his two victories, the second-year driver from San Diego also placed sixth in two road course races on that portion of the schedule -- Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

Mike David (No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford), who leads the overall championship standings for the season, tallied the second-highest number of points (724) for the five races in the second portion of the bonus program and will receive $6,000. David of Modesto, Calif., had top-five finishes at Colorado National Speedway, Irwindale Speedway and Miller Motorsports Park.

Receiving $4,000 for being third in points during the five-race stretch is Ramona, Calif., driver Johnny Borneman (No. 8 Twisted X Boots/Red Line Oil Ford), who accumulated 713 points. Two-time series champion Mike Duncan (No. 9 Lucas Oil/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet) of Bakersfield, Calif., finished just one point back, with 712, and will receive $3,750. Leading Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Bowles (No. 22 Sunrise Ford/Turbo Torq Ford) of Ontario, Calif., was one point behind Duncan, with 711 points, and will receive $3,500.

Receiving $3,250 is another series rookie -- Eric Richardson (No. 20 GreenFrogRoasting.com Chevrolet) of Bakersfield, Calif. -- with 692 points. Accumulating 675 points, Eric Hardin (No. 5 Alta Dena Dairy Chevrolet) of Anaheim, Calif., will take home $3,000. Series veteran Jim Inglebright (No. 1 Jelly Belly Chevrolet) of Fairfield, Calif., tallied 673 points and will receive $2,750. Rookie Alex Haase (No. 88 Motorway Auto Group of El Paso/Kyle Busch Motorsports Chevrolet) of Las Vegas had 649 points and will receive $2,500. For his 634 points, Justin Lofton (No. 66 Lofton Cattle/Cometic/Klotz/Eibach Ford) of Westmorland, Calif., will get $2,250.

Five other drivers sharing in the prize money include Ryan Foster (No. 21 Golden Gate Petroleum/RCR Chevrolet), $2,000; Brett Thompson (No. 61 Pets Best Insurance/Thompson Motorsports Chevrolet), $1,900; Moses Smith (No. 18 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Chevrolet), $1,800; Stan Silva Jr. (No. 65 A&S Metals/Stan Silva Jr. Trucking Chevrolet), $1,700; and Daryl Harr (No. 71 WestWorld Computers Chevrolet), $1,600.

This is the 10th consecutive year that teams in the West Series are being rewarded for their performance through this program. While drivers receive $50,000 in the first portion of the bonus program and another $50,000 in the second portion, the bulk of the overall point fund will be distributed at the end of the season, based on the final championship standings.

-credit: nascar