ROSEBURG, Ore. — Brian Ickler avoided the bad luck that has plagued him all season, recording his first NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series victory Saturday night in the BI-MART Firecracker 150 at Douglas County Speedway.
Ickler became the third-different driver to pilot the No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to victory lane at Roseburg, giving Bill McAnally Racing wins in four of six West Series races at the fairgrounds facility.
Ickler, who started fourth, picked his way forward to the runner-up spot and then inherited the lead when Mike David’s car faltered on a restart just 15 laps from the finish.
Ickler pulled away to win by 2.417 seconds, netting $6,750. The victory, which came in just his 19th West Series race, secured him a spot in the 2007 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Under the new format introduced this year, only Grand National race winners and champions of the NASCAR developmental series will be locked into the Showdown.
Johnny Borneman charged from 15th on the grid to finish second in the Twisted X Boots/Red Line Oil Ford. He was followed by two series rookies — Jason Bowles in third and Alex Haase in fourth.
The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed, money won: 1. Brian Ickler, Chevrolet, 150, $6,750; 2. Johnny Borneman, Ford, 150, $5,250; 3. Jason Bowles, Ford, 150, $3,650; 4. Alex Haase, Chevrolet, 150, $3,450; 5. Jim Inglebright, Chevrolet, 150, $2,850; 6. Eric Hardin, Chevrolet, 150, $2,150, 7. Moses Smith, Chevrolet, 150, $2,000; 8. Ryan Foster, Chevrolet, 150, $2,312; 9. Eric Richardson, Chevrolet, 150, $2,312; 10. Daryl Harr, Chevrolet, 150, $1,750; 11. Jose Luis Ramirez, Ford, 150, $1,675; 12. Brett Thompson, Chevrolet, 150, $2,100; 13. Kyle Cattanach, Toyota, 149, $1,325; 14. Mike Duncan, Chevrolet, 149, $2,050; 15. Mike David, Ford, 148, $4,000; 16. Mike Gallegos, Ford, 145, $1,950; 17. Stan Silva, Jr., Chevrolet, 127, $1,400; 18. Justin Lofton, Ford, 125, $1,350.