NASCAR WEST NOTES LEAVING PHOENIX

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 01/31/2005

• Gilliland grabs win in season opener... David Gilliland (No. 88 RaceCarCeilingFans.com Chevrolet) won the United Rentals 100 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday. It was the season opening race for the NASCAR Grand National Division and part of the Copper World Classic at PIR. It marked the second career win for Gilliland, who was the 2004 Rookie of the Year in the West Series.

• Bud Pole goes to Gilliland, too ... Gilliland also won the Bud Pole Award at Phoenix, turning in a fast-lap of 127.461 mph around the one-mile D-shaped oval.

• Series return ... Kevin Harvick (No. 92 Groeniger Chevrolet) made his first appearance in the West Series since 2000. Harvick, who won the series championship in 1998, led 77 laps - but finished 13th after making a late-race pit stop for fuel.

• Successful series debut for many ... Several drivers had a successful outing in making their debut in the West Series at Phoenix. Open-wheel star Michel Jourdain Jr. (No. 19 ppc Racing Ford) finished sixth. After turning 18 on Saturday, Spencer Clark (No. 26 Team ASE/Splitfire Sparkplugs Ford) qualified fifth and ran near the front for much of the event before a late-race pit stop left him to finish 14th. Another 18-year-old, Andrew Lewis (No. 18 Teen Arrive Alive Chevrolet), finished 16th. Andrew Myers (No. 44 Toyota of Escondido Chevrolet) finished 17th, meanwhile.

• POWERade Power Move... Scott Lynch (No. 08 Baja Motorsports/Orleans Dodge) nabbed the POWERade Power Move of the Race Award after starting 31st and finishing 10th. Lynch was relegated to the tail of the field after damaging his primary car in qualifying. At each Grand National Division event, POWERade presents the award to the driver who advances the most positions.

• Featherlite Most Improve... The Featherlite Most Improve Driver Award went to Daryl Harr (No. 71 WestWorld Motorsports Chevrolet). Harr, who finished 20th in the final race of 2004, came home from Phoenix in 12th. Featherlite presents the award at each event to the driver who improves the most finishing positions from the previous event.

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