Holmes Brings Home Third Championship Pursley Gets Phoenix Victory In K&N West Finale

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- It may have been the happiest Eric Holmes has been after a 16th-place finish. The Escalon, Calif., driver clinched his third NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship when he started the finale at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday evening. He contended for the lead early in the event before fading late, but that did nothing to dampen his historic accomplishment.
Holmes became seventh driver to win three or more titles in the series' 57-year history.
Greg Pursley won the 3 Amigos Tequila 125, pulling away on a final restart with seven laps remaining. It was Pursley's second win of the year and his first victory at the track he called his 'absolute favorite.' Pursley, who is from Newhall, Calif., but now resides in Parker, Ariz., where his team is based, won the Coors Light Pole Award Thursday with a track-record lap.
Johnny Borneman came through the field late to grab second. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and owner Michael Waltrip passed Ty Dillon on the final lap to take third, while Auggie Vidovich rounded out the top five.
Dusty Davis was sixth, followed by Brennan Newberry, David Mayhew, Michael Self, and Daryl Harr. Mayhew led three times for a race-high 69 laps, while Pursley led twice for 37 laps. 
Holmes finished the year with a 124-point margin over second-place David Mayhew. Holmes' teammates with Bill McAnally Racing, Paulie Harraka and Moses Smith, finished third and fourth respectively in points. Pursley ended fifth in the standings.
The 3 Amigos Tequila 125 will air on SPEED at 3 p.m. PT on Thursday, Nov. 18.

Eric Holmes (left) is congratulated on his third NASCAR K&N Pro Series West title by NASCAR President Mike Helton (center) and Lloyd Dane. Dane was the first three-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion (1954, 1956-57). Getty Images/NASCAR