Gilliland scores first career win on Featherlite Southwest Series

Irwindale, Calif. (June 9, 2002) David Gilliland from Riverside, Calif. scored his first career Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring victory Saturday night at the half-mile Irwindale Speedway. Gilliland made it six different winners in six events on the 2002 series campaign, and also became the first Rookie-of-the-Year competitor to win this season.

The K & N Performance Filters "150" started 30 cars for the 150-lap sprint which was dominated by Craig Raudman, the 2002 Featherlite Southwest Series champion, who was making his 2002 debut. Raudman led 128 laps until his return effort was spoiled by flat right front tire, eventually finishing in the sixth position.  Gilliland took control of the race and led the final 13-laps in route to payday worth more than $5,425. Following Gilliland to the line was series veteran M.K. Kanke who finished second for his fifth consecutive top-five finish of the season. Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series regular Zach Niessner made the long tow from Washington state to finish third, with Greg Voigt and Doug McCoun rounding out the top five.

By virtue of his eighth place finish, Eddy McKean extends his point lead over new second place Kanke by 15 markers. Sean Woodside falls to third with Burney Lamar and Todd Souza rounding out the top-five. The Featherlite Southwest Series will be off this weekend in preparation for the upcoming Snap-On Tools/Jelly Belly 200 on the 1.949 Road course at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Saturday, June 22.

Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring
K & N Performance Filters "150"
Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, Calif., June 8, 2002
150 Laps/75 Miles on Half-Mile Paved Oval, Purse: $44,700
Finishing position, starting position, driver, car, laps completed, reason out, money won.

   1. (7) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $5,425;
   2. (14) M.K. Kanke, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $3,550;
   3. (4) Zach Niessner, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $2,075;
   4. (20) Greg Voigt, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,500;
   5. (15) Doug McCoun, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,550;
   6. (5) Craig Raudman, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,600;
   7. (10) Auggie Vidovich Jr., Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,000;
   8. (3) Eddy McKean, Pontiac, 150, Running, $1,525;
   9. (27) Rod Johnson, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $900;
   10. (19) Keith Spangler, Chevrolet, 149, Running, $850;
   11. (21) Brandon Whitt, Chevrolet, 149, Running, $1,050;
   12. (26) Scott Busby, Chevrolet, 149, Running, $775;
   13. (8) Jason Allen, Pontiac, 149, Running, $750;
   14. (17) Jimmy White, Chevrolet, 149, Running, $725;
   15. (9) Steve Belletto, Chevrolet, 149, Running, $1,025;
   16. (10) Frank Maronski Jr., Chevrolet, 148, Running, $940;
   17. (18) Jim Pettit II, Ford, 147, Running, $920;
   18. (12) Tony Toste, Chevrolet, 147, Running, $650;
   19. (16) Greg Potts, Chevrolet, 146, Running, $630;
   20. (28) Greg Fowler, Chevrolet, 145, Running, $610;
   21. (6) Todd Souza, Ford, 145, Running, $850;
   22. (13) Bob Lyon, Chevrolet, 144, Running, $840;
   23. (11) Joe Herold, Chevrolet, 142, Fuel Leak, $830;
   24. (23) Nick Joanides, Chevrolet, 140, Accident, $820;
   25. (29) Chris Hines, Chevrolet, 135, Handling, $560;
   26. (25) Sean Woodside, Chevrolet, 134, Running, $800;
   27. (30) Clint Curry, Chevrolet, 104, Brakes, $540;
   28. (2) Burney Lamar, Chevrolet, 75, Running, $880;
   29. (1) John Baker, Chevrolet, 36, Accident, $1,120;
   30. (24) Rocky Nash, Pontiac, 0, Rearend, $510;

# Rookie-of-the-Year Contenders
Failed to Qualify:  Danny Burson, JR Patton, Bob McCoun, Scott Calvin, Tony
Gomez, Scott Schmidt, Todd McLauchlan, Mike Ledbetter

TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 3 minutes, 30 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED:  70.866 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY:  .480 seconds
GATORADE FRONT RUNNER AWARD:  Craig Raudman, Ted Davidson Equipment
Chevrolet
ROOKIE-OF-THE-RACE AWARD: David Gilliland, Lukes Transmission Chevrolet
CAUTION FLAGS:  Five for 31 laps (14-17, 29-32, 38-47, 129-136, 143-147)
LAP LEADERS: Burney Lamar (1-9), Craig Raudman (10-137), David Gilliland
(138-150)