KYLE, Texas — For a majority of the race, Eric Holmes had just one car to get around to reach victory lane in the Allstate Texas Thunder 150 at Thunder Hill Raceway.
But because that one car was his teammate, Austin Cameron, Holmes knew it would take a combination of caution and aggression in securing the win in the NASCAR Camping World Series West event Saturday night.
“The car was fast,” Holmes said. “I knew if I got the lead, I could drive away from those guys. I just knew I had to get by him. It’s hard when you’re racing your teammate. You can’t be too aggressive. But lots of times you’ve got to be aggressive, so you don’t make a mistake. You’ve got to be on your game.”
The break Holmes needed came just after a caution. He restarted on the outside lane, but darted to the inside of Cameron coming off turn two to make the pass. “I got a good start that last time and got underneath him and he slipped,” Holmes said of passing his Bill McAnally Racing teamamte.
Although Holmes quickly established a bit of a margin over second place, it was not completely clear sailing to the finish. An overheating engine left him concerned if he would make it to the checkered flag.”
“We started overheating at about lap 50 or 60 and I really didn’t think the motor was going to hold up,” Holmes said. “But the NASCAR spec engine really held together.”
After making the winning pass on lap 132, Holmes went on to cross the finish line with a margin of victory of 1.181 seconds, netting $9,000 in prize money and posted awards.
It was the second win in three races this season by the Escalon, Calif., driver and the fourth of his career.
Cameron finished second, while David Mayhew, Eric Hardin and Jim Inglebright rounded out the top five.
The victory by Holmes gives Toyota three victories in three races in the NASCAR Camping World Series West. Holmes trails Mike David by 17 points in the driver’s standings.
The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed and money won: 1. Eric Holmes, Toyota, 150 laps, $9,000; 2. Austin Cameron, Toyota, 150, $5,050; 3. David Mayhew, Chevrolet, 150, $3,750; 4. Eric Hardin, Chevrolet, 150, $2,800; 5. Jim Inglebright, Chevrolet, 150, $4,000; 6. Jason Bowles, Ford, 150, $2,300; 7. Mike David, Ford, 150, $2,850; 8. Jeff Barkshire, Dodge, 150, $2,515; 9. Mike Gallegos, Chevrolet, 150, $1,675; 10. Jason Patison, Ford, 150, $1,650; 11. Kristin Bumbera, Chevrolet, 150, $1,600; 12. Jim Warn, Chevrolet, 150, $1,575; 13. Brett Thompson, Chevrolet, 150, $2,050; 14. Jeff Jefferson, Chevrolet, 150, $1,500; 15. Wes Banks, Ford, 150, $1,450; 16. Moses Smith, Toyota, 150, $1,900; 17. Pat O’Keefe, Chevrolet, 150, $1,875; 18. Jamie Dick, Chevrolet, 149, $1,850; 19. Jack Sellers, Chevrolet, 148, $1,786; 20. Johnny Borneman, Ford, 145, $1,750; 21. Lloyd Mack, Ford, 100, $1,225; 22. Daryl Harr, Chevrolet, 75, $1,700.