Holmes Faces Challengers to 4th West Title
Eric Holmes returns to Phoenix International Raceway with fond memories of his 2010 trip to the Valley of the Sun. The Escalon, Calif. driver got his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship run started with a win at Phoenix last April, and then lifted his third championship trophy when the series finished the season at the track in November.
Holmes is back in the No. 20 NAPA Toyota, hoping to successfully defend his championship for the first time as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will kick off its 2011 season at Phoenix International with the 3 Amigos Organic Blanco 100 on Thursday, Feb. 24.
The event, the first of a 14-race schedule, marks the start of the 58th season for the West's oldest stock car racing circuit.
Holmes has won championships in 2006, '08 and '10. He was second in 2009 and ran only a partial schedule in 2007 while running the East as well. With another West title, Holmes would join exclusive company. Only three drivers in the series have won more than three championships: Ray Elder with six (1969-72, 1974-75), and Bill Schmitt (1977, 1979, 1989-90), and Roy Smith (1980-82, 1988) with four apiece.
He'll face plenty of competition, with nine of the top 10 drivers from last year returning.
After finishing second in the championship standings last year - David Mayhew (No. 17 MMI Services/Ron's Rear Ends/KHI Chevrolet) of Atascadero, Calif., is looking to make another run at the title.
Greg Pursley (No. 26 Gene Price Motorsports Ford) of Newhall, Calif., finished off his 2010 season by winning two of the final three races.
Other series veterans aiming to challenge for the championship include Moses Smith (No. 16 HASA Pool Products/White Flyer Toyota) of Tempe, Ariz.; Brett Thompson (No. 61 Rich Thompson Trucking Chevrolet) of Jerome, Idaho; and Daryl Harr (No. 71 WestWorld Computers Chevrolet) of Edmonton, Alberta. Smith, a three-time winner of the Most Popular Driver Award, is returning for his fifth straight full season in the series. Thompson, who has competed in the series since 2000, is returning to a full-time schedule after running select events in 2010. Harr - who at times has competed as part of a two-car team with his father, Carl - is also returning to a full schedule after running limited events last year.
A strong challenge is also expected from some second-year drivers who finished in the top 10 of the final standings last year. They include last year's Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Luis Martinez Jr. (No. 6 King Taco/Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil Ford) of Long Beach, Calif.; Jonathon Gomez (No. 22 Heritage Cattle/Century Boatland Chevrolet) of Twin Falls, Idaho; Michael Self (No. 21 Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Chevrolet) of Park City, Utah; Todd Souza (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Chevrolet) of Aromas, Calif.; and Travis Milburn (No. 14 Cooks Collision Toyota) of Eagle, Idaho.