WS: Roseville: Jason Bowles race notes

Podium finish and lap record for bowles at all American Speedway Camping World West battle; Title contender sets a new qualifying mark prior to a runner-up finish in Round Two

ROSEVILLE, CALIF. (April 4, 2009) -- NASCAR Camping World West Series title contender Jason Bowles certainly know the fast way around the All American Speedway oval. As part of the Toyota/NAPA Auto Parts 150 event on Saturday (April 4), the Californian set a new qualifying lap record prior to finishing an impressive second in the feature race of the night.

Bowles traveled to Roseville, Calif., for the second round of the NASCAR Camping World West Series confident he could challenge for top honors, given he had previously sat on the pole and scored a NASCAR win at the 0.333-mile All American Speedway. Piloting the No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Oakley/Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/GS 610/RPM 12/Justice Brothers/Bell/ Ford, the former karting and formula car standout immediately showed this confidence was well placed, turning some very fast times in the two timed practice sessions.

The six-time series race winner promptly built on that momentum in single-car qualifying. Setting a new lap record of 0:13.589 (88.218), Bowles secured his second Coors Light Pole Award at All American Speedway, and the seventh P1 starting spot of his career.

When Bowles returned to the cockpit of his Ford a few hours later, he enjoyed a good clean start, holding the point position through turn one. One lap later however, the Californian was P2, via a daring move by two-time series champion Eric Holmes. Bowles remained glued to the rear of the leader's bumper lap after lap, however the tight confines of the All American Speedway oval provided little opportunities to pass. Forced to defend his position from a hard charging Paulie Harraka in the closing stages of the 150-lap race, Bowles eventually crossed the stripe in second place, giving the talented driver a second consecutive podium finish in Roseville, Calif., and the eight top-three result of his NASCAR Camping World West Series career. With the result, Bowles advances to fourth in the championship standings, only seven points adrift of the third.

"It was a good points night for us," stated Bowles. "We led a lap and got the five bonus points and we were able to bring the car home in one piece with second place points. I really wanted to win and beat Eric, but our car was just a little tight all night. With how Texas went, this was the kind of night. We needed to get us back on track. Now we can go to Phoenix and continue to work our way forward."

Bowles returns to the cockpit of his No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Oakley/Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/GS 610/RPM 12/Justice Brothers/Bell /Ford on April 16, with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 Presented by Shamrock Fans at Phoenix International Raceway. Last year at the Arizona oval, Bowles advanced an impressive 16 positions.

-credit: jbPR