WS: Phoenix: Jason Bowles race notes

Bowles Scores Camping World West Win in Phoenix; Californian leads 86 laps en route to first victory of 2009

PHOENIX, ARIZ. (April 16, 2009) -- NASCAR Camping World West Series standout Jason Bowles made his first-trip to victory lane this season on Thursday night (April 16), when he captured a dramatic win in the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 presented by Shamrock Farms at Phoenix International Raceway.

After starting from the pole position and finishing a close second in the previous Camping World West Series race in Roseville, Calif, Bowles traveled to Phoenix International Raceway for Round Three of the 13-race schedule poised to further establish himself as a title contender and race winner. The talented Californian promptly got off to a good start, turning some laps in the afternoon practice sessions, prior to earning a fourth place qualifying position in the evenings single-car qualifying.

Come race time, Bowles wasted no time charging to the front, advancing up to first position by lap four. While Bowles was the driver to watch for the majority of the 151-lap affair in his No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Oakley/Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/GS 610/RPM 12/Justice Brothers/Bell/Ford, leading 84 laps, the race came down to a green-white-checker finish due to a late race spin by another competitor. Holding off both championship leader Eric Holmes and former race leader Steve Park, Bowles captured his seventh career NASCAR Camping World West Series win.

"I am still in a bit of shock after this win. I have to hand it to my team, we had some problems in the last practice after posting the fastest time early and they worked hard to get it all sorted out and gave me a good car. The car was good from the start and on the long runs we were real good. I was a little worried at the end with the green-white-checkered finish, but I have to thank Steve Park he raced me real clean and is a class act. I also have to thank my guys in the shop this is the car I wrecked at the showdown and it has been a huge effort to get it back to this point and roll off the trailer as good as it did."

Bowles with the victory earns a place in the post-season NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown event, where he finished third this past year, and advances to second in the championship fight.

The Californian race winner returns to the cockpit on April 25th, with the NAPA Auto Parts/Toyota 150 presented by Exclusive Energy Drink at Madera Speedway. The event will mark the first NASCAR Camping World West Series start by Bowles at the California oval.

Additional information on Bowles 2009 season can be obtained from the series website @ localracing.nascar.com/series/8. For direct contact, please contact Jason Bowles @ bowlesjason@mac.com.

-credit: jbPR