WS: Fontana: Goodyear race notes

JASON BOWLES 'EM OVER IN WEST RACE AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

FONTANA, Calif. (Aug. 11, 2007) -- Jason Bowles won his second straight road racing event in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series when he captured the California 125 on the road course at California Speedway.

Bowles' Ford won its third straight road race in the series, cementing its reputation as the West's top road course horse. NASCAR Nextel Cup regular David Gilliland won a West Series road race in the same car earlier this season.

Goodyear is the exclusive tire supplier for the Grand National Division, which also includes the Busch East Series. The bias-ply tires built for the 3,400-pound stock cars are split into groupings determined by track application. Both the West and the Busch East series use tires from each grouping during the season.

Bowles, who lives in nearby Ontario, went the full race distance on one set of left side tires, saving time in the pits by changing only right side tires.

The 2.4-mile road course employed for the race included a large portion of the super speedway. The event was originally scheduled for a 2.8-mile circuit, but NASCAR changed the circuit after two practice sessions and the result was a 42-lap race with just three caution periods. There were nine lead changes.

Bowles averaged 80.194 mph and edged Brian Ickler at the finish by 2.1 seconds. David Mayhew was third, followed by veterans Jim Inglebright and Mike Duncan. Like the winner, Inglebright changed only right side tires. Duncan pitted for fuel only, going the distance without changing tires.

Bowles also won the Bud Pole Award with a lap averaging 119.420 mph.

Mike David finished 11th but still leads Duncan by 95 points with one race remaining on the schedule. David can win the championship by finishing 22nd or better when the West Series competes at Altamont Raceway Park Sept. 15.

More information on Goodyear Racing is available at www.racegoodyear.com. More information on the Grand National Division is available at www.nascarlocalracing.com.

-credit: goodyear racing