BMR x 5 at NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown DJ Kennington – NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion leads the way with a 2nd place finish
Antelope, CA – Canada was well represented with the No. 17 Castrol Edge/Northern Provincial Pipeline Toyota Camry piloted by the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion, DJ Kennington. He qualified the BMR entry in 15th to start the 225-lap race dubbed the “Daytona 500” of the West and broke into the top-ten by lap 25.
At the first break at lap 100, Kennigton had moved to seventh often running door-to-door with NASCAR Nationwide driver Steve Wallace. By the second break at lap 200, he was knocking on the door of the top-five and finished the race in second.
“The car was too tight at the end to get the leader,” said Kennington. “We had a great car. I’m really proud of all the guys on this team. This was a lot of fun.”
Three-time Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Moses Smith qualified mid-pack. He sustained some front end damage navigating thru a multi car crash at lap 26 that required him to come to pit road for repairs to the No. 16 Hasa Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota Camry.
“The first 100-laps were a crash fest out there,” said Smith. The second half, Smith experienced some handling problems telling his crew chief that the car ‘no forward bite’. During the second 100 laps, Smith began to make his way thru the field that often went three wide. The last 25-laps, Smith would pilot his Camry from 13th to as high as 5th at lap 218. He was in ninth as the checkered was displayed.
“I was glad to be towards the front at the end. On to Phoenix to begin our 2011 race for the series championship,” added Smith.
The two-time NASCAR Mexico Series and reigning champion, German Quiroga was a fan favorite piloting the No. 2 telcel Toyota Camry to a twelfth-place finish. Quiroga qualified in 25th and moved to 15th after the first 50-laps. He suffered a right front flat tire at lap 60 requiring him to come to pit road at lap 61 while under a caution. He would return at lap 65 and restart the race now in 27th. At lap 100, he came in for his mandatory pit stop now in 25th. He went a lap down at lap 169 running in 20th but was back on the lead lap at lap 207. He would gain seven positions before taking the checkered flag.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West driver Paulie Harraka driver of the No. 12 NAPA Gold Filters Toyota Camry was the first car out for qualifying. In the heat of the day, he would start his second NASCAR All-Star Showdown on the outside of row 12. He strategized with his team during the first 100 laps on what changes they would make to the entry from BMR as he moved all the way thru the field to 8th on the scoring pylon before lap 100.
“Our Toyota is getting better and better,” he radioed in to his team at lap 100. At lap 165, the No. 12 NAPA Gold Filters car had rocketed to the top-five and took the lead at lap 194. He asked for only small adjustments during the final break at lap 200.
The race changed for Harraka early in the final 25 laps as the No. 44 turned him around. NASCAR put the No. 44 to the rear of the field for ‘aggressive driving’ but the damage was done. Harraka restarted in 13th and at lap 213, came to pit road with a right rear flat finishing the race in 16th one lap down.
“We had the best car here,” said Harraka.”24th to the lead says it all. I was turned and there wasn’t any more that I could have done. I’m really disappointed.” The 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion, Eric Holmes and the No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota team’s day ended at lap 27 after he qualified in eleventh. Several cars got into each other giving Holmes nowhere to go. Contact was made with the No. 39 of Brennan Newberry and then with teammate Moses Smith. He brought the damaged race car to the infield. The NAPA team began assessing the damage but it was too severe to return to the race. He finished in 35th.
The 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series season opener will be with the top three national touring series at Phoenix International Raceway on February 24th. Great seats are available at www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com.
For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com. Become a fan of Bill McAnally Racing and follow us on our Facebook Fan page. We can also be followed on Twitter at BMR_NASCAR.
