News & Notes: West Series Championship Went Down To Final Race Of The Year

The 2009 season in the NASCAR Camping World Series West featured another close chase for the championship, with the battle coming down to the wire between Jason Bowles (No. 6 Sunrise Ford.com Ford) and Eric Holmes (No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota) for the second consecutive year.

Although Holmes led the championship standings through the first half of the season, Bowles came on strong late in the year and clinched the title in the season finale by a 123-point margin.

West Champion Bowles To Run Phoenix Nationwide Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As the 2009 champions from across North America take the stage for the NASCAR Touring Series Awards Gala in Concord, N.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, Jason Bowles will be more than 2,000 miles away. But the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Series West champion has a great excuse: He’ll be driving in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway.

Jersey Boys: Truex and Harraka Earn Sunoco Rookie Honors

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.– Ryan Truex and Paulie Harraka made a big splash on opposite coasts in the NASCAR Camping World Series – winning races and even a championship in NASCAR’s top developmental series. NASCAR announced today that Truex and Harraka are the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honorees for the 2009 seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Series East and West, respectively.

Truex and Harraka – both from New Jersey – will be officially recognized at the NASCAR Touring Series Gala in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 14.

Bowles Caps Title Run At Roseville

ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Jason Bowles and rookie Paulie Harraka came away as winners in the final race of the NASCAR Camping World Series West season at All American Speedway on Saturday night.

Harraka led 149 of 150 laps en route to winning the Toyota/Copart 150, while Bowles came away with a fourth-place finish to clinch the 2009 series championship.

QUALIFYING: Harraka gets No. 2

ROSEVILLE, Calif. - Rookie Paulie Harraka returned to All American Speedway and picked up his second career NASCAR Camping World Series West pole - matching the one he won at last year's season finale at the northern California track.

Harraka completed the qualifying lap for the Toyota/Copart 150 presented by Golden State Steele & Stair around the .333-mile oval in 13.677 seconds for an average speed of 87.651. Moses Smith qualified second in 13.702 (87.491).

PRACTICE: Bowles Turns Top Time

ROSEVILLE, Calif. -- Jason Bowles topped the speed charts in both practice sessions for the NASCAR Camping World Series West at All American Speedway on Saturday.

Bowles, who hopes to wrap up the 2009 championship in Saturday's Toyota/Copart 150, had the fastest time of the day in the final session when he lapped the third-mile oval at 13.749 seconds (87.192 mph). His fast time in the first practice session was 13.898 seconds (86.257 mph).

News & Notes: Bowles vs Holmes

Jason Bowles (No. 6 Sunrise Ford.com Ford) has a 78-point margin over Eric Holmes (No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota) as the NASCAR Camping World Series West heads to All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., to decide the 2009 championship in the final race of the season.

Bowles, who finished second to Holmes in last year’s title chase, can clinch this year’s championship with a finish of 16th or better in the Toyota/Copart 150 presented by Golden State Steele & Stair on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Drive for Diversity Adapts Academy-Style Training For 2010

The evolution of the Drive for Diversity, NASCAR’s leading on track diversity initiative, will continue in 2010 as competitors relocate to Charlotte and enter “academy-style” development under a single team ownership structure. The 909 Group, which took over operational responsibilities for Drive for Diversity in 2009, will own and operate 10 teams fielding Drive for Diversity competitors. Under the Revolution Racing banner, these minority and female drivers will compete on four NASCAR Camping World Series teams and six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series teams.

Media Members Prepare For Race

Media celebrities from the Sacramento, Calif., market will get a completely new perspective on racing in an upcoming event at All American Speedway. Instead of reporting about the race, members of the media will be behind the wheel of a stock car, competing in the special media event on the third-mile oval in Roseville, Calif.

Mayhew Manhandles Iowa

NEWTON, Iowa – David Mayhew dominated the NASCAR Camping World Series West competition at Iowa Speedway on Friday night en route to winning the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125.

The biggest challenge for David Mayhew and his team appeared to be just getting to the track, as their transporter carrying the race car and equipment encountered a couple of mechanical problems on the way to Iowa.