ROSEBURG, Ore. — Eric Holmes rebounded from a flat tire to battle past Jason Bowles with seven laps left to win Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Series West event at Douglas County Speedway.
Although Holmes had the dominant car, he had to make a late charge through the field to secure his fourth victory of the season.
Holmes was strong throughout the event, setting a track record of 90.168 miles per hour in winning his fourth pole of the season. He led the first 98 laps, but his run at the point came to a halt when he suddenly slowed with a flat right-front tire on his Toyota.
Holmes managed to stay on the lead lap, however, dashing to the pits as the caution flag waved. The 2006 champion quickly returned to the track and began a blistering charge through the field. He was up to second in the late stages of the event and began nipping at the back bumper of Bowles, who was attempting to score his third-consecutive win.
Sparks flew as Holmes charged to the inside going into turn one on lap 143. As Bowles slid through turn two, Holmes pulled away.
“I leaned on everybody a little bit and they gave me plenty of room,” Holmes said. “They knew I was faster. Jason Bowles did an awesome job protecting his line. He did everything he could. He was making it really tough on me. I got my nose under him two times. I had to go for it. Once I committed, I had to go. That’s good hard racing on a good old short track.”
Bowles had a different perspective on the incident, however. “I knew Eric had a good car and I knew he was coming,” Bowles said. “But there was no way he was getting by me without moving me. When he tried to turn me down the straightaway, there was not much I could do.”
Johnny Borneman also got by Bowles to take second. Bowles was third, with David Mayhew and Jeff Barkshire rounding out the top five.
Holmes extended his lead in the standings to 71 points over Bowles.
The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed and money won: 1. Eric Holmes, Toyota, 150, $9,050; 2. Johnny Borneman, Ford, 150, $4,000; 3. Jason Bowles, Ford, 150, $3,400; 4. David Mayhew, Chevrolet, 150, $3,300; 5. Jeff Barkshire, Dodge, 150, $3,565; 6. Jim Inglebright, Chevrolet, 150, $3,000; 7. Moses Smith, Toyota, 150, $2,750; 8. Jim Warn, Chevrolet, 150, $2,700; 9. Jonathan Gomez, Chevrolet, 150, $2,100; 10. Jack Sellers, Chevrolet, 150, $3,555; 11. Mike Gallegos, Chevrolet, 148, $2,250; 12. Daryl Harr, Chevrolet, 147, $2,630; 13. Jason Patison, Ford, 144, $2,030; 14. Paul Pedroncelli, Jr., Chevrolet, 142, $1,450; 15. Jamie Dick, Chevrolet, 137, $1,925; 16. Jeff Jefferson, Chevrolet, 102, $1,900; 17. Mike David, Ford, 69, $2,475; 18. Austin Cameron, Toyota, 68, $1,850; 19. Jonathan Hale, Chevrolet, 66, $1,350.