NASCAR Home Tracks

Five To Watch: David Faces Several Tests In Quest For Repeat

By Kevin W. Green
March 27, 2008 - 5:45pm

Northern California is buzzing in anticipation of the NASCAR Camping World Series West opener Saturday at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. It will be the West’s first trip to the 1/3-mile oval since it was just a 1/4-mile in 1982. The 55th season of the West also kicks off a new era under the NASCAR Camping World Series banner.

There are numerous changes throughout the series and a number of drivers ready to challenge for the championship. Here are five drivers to keep an eye on as the 2008 season takes the green flag:

MIKE DAVID
Modesto, Calif.
Mike David returns to defend his NASCAR Camping World Series West championship in the No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford he drove to the title in 2007 for car owner Randy Lynch. David established an early lead in the championship standings last year, by opening his season with four straight podium finishes. The team, led by crew chief Mario Isola, provided a consistently strong car that allowed David to maintain a solid point margin throughout the year. Gaining an early points lead again this season could pave the way for the 41-year-old driver to win a second consecutive championship. But with the strong competition he faces, David may find it tough to repeat.

ERIC HOLMES
Escalon, Calif.
After focusing much of his racing effort on the East Coast last year, Eric Holmes has returned to his native California. He would love nothing more than to capture another NASCAR Camping World Series West championship to go with the title he won in 2006. Holmes will need to adjust to a new environment, however. The 33-year-old second generation driver was named to drive the NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored entry this year for the championship team of Bill McAnally Racing. In addition to a new team and new sponsor, Holmes will also be with a different car manufacturer – with BMR switching to Toyota this year. If everything jells, however, Holmes could be successful in his quest for another championship trophy.

JASON BOWLES
Ontario, Calif.
Hardly anybody in the NASCAR Camping World Series West knew who Jason Bowles was when he joined the circuit as a rookie a year ago, but he needed no introduction by the time the final checkered flag fell 13 races later. The 25-year-old former open-wheel competitor demonstrated the poise of a veteran as he sailed through his freshman season. In addition to winning the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award and scoring two wins, Bowles finished third in the overall championship standings. The eight top-five finishes he tallied were second only to champion Mike David. Piloting the No. 22 Sunrise Ford/Turbo Torq Ford again for car owner Bob Bruncati, Bowles is expected to be a serious contender for the championship in 2008.

JOHNNY BORNEMAN
Ramona, Calif.
Since joining the ranks of the NASCAR Camping World Series West in 2000, Johnny Borneman has displayed the potential to be a contender for the championship. The 30-year-old second generation driver – who drives the No. 8 Twisted X Boots/Red Line Oil Ford – has finished in the top 10 of the championship standings in each of his five full seasons of competition, finishing as high as fourth in 2002 and fifth in 2007. He kicked off his racing effort this year by competing in two NASCAR Nationwide Series races (Fontana and Las Vegas). Experience gained in those two events may give Borneman and his family-owned team, headed by crew chief Kevin Cram, the boost to be a top contender for this year’s championship.

DAVID MAYHEW
Atascadero, Calif.
David Mayhew may be considered by some as a sleeper in the NASCAR Camping World Series West in 2008. He raised some eyebrows early last season, when he nearly won the second race of the year at Phoenix. Limited resources left him sidelined for much of the year, however. Car owner Jim Offenbach tabbed the 26-year-old Mayhew to drive the No. 21 BayBioDiesel Chevrolet late in the season and they closed out the year with back-to-back podium finishes. Offenbach’s Golden Gate Racing Team, which operates as a driver development program with Richard Childress Racing, aims to build on that momentum in challenging for the championship in 2008.