IRWINDALE, Calif. — Jason Bowles led wire to wire to win the Pipe Careers 200 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale Saturday night, giving him a sweep of the NASCAR Camping World Series West events at his home track this season.
His earlier victory there July 4 marked his first victory on an oval track. In his latest win, however, it looked like he owned the half-mile asphalt track, where the 25-year-old raced in the late-model class in 2006.
“I was pretty amazed that we led every lap,” said Bowles. “I didn’t expect that to happen at all. I thought for sure the (car No.) 21 (David Mayhew) was going to be good. I wasn’t sure who else was going to be able to challenge me, but he was my biggest competitor last time we were here. Once I saw him in my mirror, I thought he might give me a run. But he never really put any pressure on me. We had a car that was just great all night.”
The early laps of the event were similar to the last visit by the series to Toyota Speedway, with Bowles and Mayhew leading the way. But unlike the event six weeks before, Bowles never relinquished the lead. The only time he appeared threatened was as he worked lapped traffic.
“We were a bit free in the first half and I was just having trouble getting up off (the corners),” Bowles said. “I just couldn’t get by the lapped traffic as quick as I wanted, but we tightened it up for the second half and I didn’t seem to have any problems with them.”
Bowles beat rookie Jeff Barkshire to the checkered flag by .674 second at a race-record average speed of 76.255 miles per hour. Bowles, who also won the pole, earned $8,550.
Another rookie, Jason Patison, finished third. Brett Thompson and David Mayhew rounded out the top five.
The victory moved Bowles to within nine points of Eric Holmes, who leads the standings.
The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed and money won: 1. Jason Bowles, Ford, 200, $8,550; 2. Jeff Barkshire, Dodge, 200, $3,815; 3. Jason Patison, Ford, 200, $4,000; 4. Brett Thompson, Chevrolet, 200, $1,750; 5. David Mayhew, Chevrolet, 200, $2,000; 6. Johnny Borneman, Chevrolet, 200, $1,910; 7. Chris Johnson, Ford, 200, $1,375; 8. Eric Holmes, Toyota, 200, $1,850; 9. Moses Smith, Toyota, 200, $1,800; 10. Andrew Myers, Toyota, 200, $1,285; 11. Jim Inglebright, Chevrolet, 200, $1,770; 12. Eric Richardson, Chevrolet, 200, $1,250; 13. Terry Henry, Chevrolet, 199, $1,225; 14. Mike David, Toyota, 199, $2,311; 15. Jamie Dick, Chevrolet, 199, $1,700; 16. Jeff Jefferson, Chevrolet, 198, $1,675; 17. Jim Warn, Chevrolet, 198, $1,650; 18. Luis Martinez, Jr., Chevrolet, 198, $1,125; 19. Daryl Harr, Chevrolet, 197, $1,610; 20. Billy Kann, Chevrolet, 196, $1,100; 21. Johnathan Hale, Chevrolet, 194, $1,090; 22. Jack Sellers, Chevrolet, 192, $1,085; 23. Mike Gallegos, Chevrolet, 191, $1,580; 24. Austin Cameron, Toyota, 149, $1,575; 25. Don Holcomb, Chevrolet, 132, $1,070; 26. Brian Wong, Chevrolet, 100, $1,060; 27. Paul Pedroncelli, Jr., Chevrolet, 97, $1,050; 28. Tony Toste, Chevrolet, 88, $1,040; 29. Greg Pursley, Chevrolet, 81, $1,030.