WS: Iowa II: Jason Bowles race notes

BOWLES ONE STEP CLOSER TO NASCAR CAMPING WORLD WEST SERIES TITLE WITH RUNNER-UP FINISH IN IOWA

Californian expanded points lead to 78 points with one race remaining

NEWTON, IOWA (September 8, 2009) -- Jason Bowles' return visit to the Iowa Speedway on Friday night (September 4) proved highly successful, as the talented American finished second in NASCAR Camping World West Series Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades 125. In doing so, Bowles enters the season-finale in three weeks time with a 78-point advantage in the championship fight.

Bowles entered the penultimate race on the 2009 calendar confident he could challenge for top honors and add to his championship lead. This belief proved justified early on, as the former karting and junior formula car standout was second fastest when the two practice sessions had been completed. While Bowles did not enjoy a perfect run in single-car qualifying, he did position himself for a strong race with the fourth fastest lap, earning a row two starting position.

Returning to the driver's seat of the No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Oakley/Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/GS 610/RPM 12/Justice Brothers/Bell/Ford under the lights in Iowa, Bowles got away cleanly when the green flag waved for the 125-lap race. The rising stock car race pilot, having been part of the lead pack lap after lap, took over the top spot on lap 97, scoring valuable bonus points. The lead was short lived however, with Bowles relinquishing the top-spot to the eventual race winner. Aware that his nearest championship pursuer was back in 10th, Bowles kept the leader within sight for the remainder of the race, running P2 all the way to the checkered flag.

"It was a good night for me and the whole Sunrise Ford team," stated Bowles. "We came into the race knowing we were racing one car and we did what we needed to do. I was lucky to get those bonus points on that restart, but we just didn't have anything for the 17 car. He was really good all night. I have to thank the whole team for giving me great cars all year and putting us in this position for the last race of the season. I think we are going to do a bit of testing before the last race to make sure we are as prepared as possible, and we will see how it plays out."

Bowles and the entire Sunrise Ford crew now have a break until September 26, when the NASCAR Camping World West Series season-finale takes place at All-American Speedway in California. Bowles, having started from the pole position and finished second earlier in the year at the track, and having won at the 1/3-mile oval in 2008, enters the race leading the championship fight by 78 points.

-credit: jbr