McCoun ends drought takes win

at Mesa Marin Raceway

Bakersfield, Calif. - Doug McCoun of Prunedale, Calif. made it eight winners in eight races this season on the Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring circuit. McCoun returned to victory lane after a nearly four year drought which catapulted the series veteran into the top-five season point standings.

Following McCoun to the finish line was Auggie Vidovich Jr., who recorded his best finish of the season. Frank Maronski Jr. came home third, with Keith Spangler in fourth, and Bud Pole Winner Burney Lamar rounding out the top five. Jim Pettit II led the second group of five in sixth, with Todd Souza, Joe Herold, M.K. Kanke, and Frank Deiny Jr. rounding out the top-ten finishers.

Burney Lamar won his second Bud Pole Award of the season and the Gatorade Front Runner Award for leading the most laps(87), but had to settle for fifth in the final run down. Steve Belletto was the Rookie-of-the-Race for the second race in a row and clipped one point off of Brandon Whitt's ROTY lead.

It took just a little over one hour to complete the 150-lap distance, which was slowed seven times for cautions totaling 39 laps. A red flag on lap 136 brought out by oil on the racing surface, changed to outcome of the race. The car of Rocky Nash dropped rear end grease that collected then leaders Dan Holtz, M.K. Kanke, and Burney Lamar. The trio spun in turn one and the rest of the field weaved through. Kanke and Lamar were able to re-fire and join the pack on the lead lap, while Holtz retired on the hook.

McCoun found himself in the lead after working his way into the top-ten from his 19th starting position. On the restart, McCoun was able to hold off all challengers and go on to win and receive a very enthusiastic reception from the more then 4,000 area fans.

The Featherlite Southwest Series will take three weeks off before heading to Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif. Saturday, July 20.

Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring
Community Recycling Firecracker "150"
Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield, Calif., June 29, 2002
150-Laps/75-Miles on Half-Mile Paved Oval, Purse: $38,600
Finishing position, starting position, driver, car, laps completed, reason
out, money won.

   1. (19) Doug McCoun, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $4,525;
   2. (14) Auggie Vidovich Jr., Chevrolet, 150, Running, $2,300;
   3. (6) Frank Maronski Jr., Chervolet, 150, Running, $1,950;
   4. (30) Keith Spangler, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,200;
   5. (1) Burney Lamar, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $2,250;
   6. (18) Jim Pettit II, Ford, 150, Running, $1,225;
   7. (25) Todd Souza, Ford, 150, Running, $1,175;
   8. (9) Joe Herold, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,100;
   9. (8) M.K. Kanke, Chevrolet, 150, Running, $1,050;
   10. (11) Frank Deiny Jr., Chevrolet, 149, Running, $750;
   11. (13) David Gilliland, Chevrolet, 149, Running, $700;
   12. (26) Steve Belletto, Chevrolet, 148, Running, $925;
   13. (24) Sean Woodside, Chevrolet, 148, Running, $875;
   14. (22) Scott Schmidt, Chevrolet, 147, Running, $600;
   15. (12) Bob Lyon, Chevrolet, 146, Running, $915;
   16. (10) Eddy McKean, Pontiac, 145, Running, $1,080;
   17. (15) Jimmy White, Chevrolet, 144, Suspension, $570;
   18. (16) Rocky Nash, Pontiac, 142, Rear End, $560;
   19. (5) Dan Holtz, Ford, 135, Accident, $540;
   20. (4) Zach Niessner, Chevrolet, 116, Running, $530;
   21. (27) Mike Ledbetter, Chevrolet, 114, Running, $770;
   22. (2) Craig Raudman, Chevrolet, 113, Electrical, $510;
   23. (20) Scott Busby, Chevrolet, 97, Accident, $500;
   24. (17) Kenny Shepherd, Chevrolet, 88, Engine, $500;
   25. (10) Greg Voigt, Chevrolet, 80, Handling, $500;
   26. (7) Brandon Whitt, Chevrolet, 63, Suspension, $750;
   27. (29) Rod Johnson, Chevrolet, 25, Differential, $500;
   28. (21) Tony Toste, Chevrolet, 8, Differential, $500;
   29. (23) Nick Joanides, Chevrolet, 7, Accident, $750;
   30. (28) Greg Fowler, Chevrolet, 1, Electrical, $500;

# Rookie-of-the-Year Contenders
Failed to Qualify:  Scott Brandt, Todd McLauchlan, JR Patton, Greg Potts,
Danny Burson, Scott Calvin

TIME OF RACE: 1 hour, 10 minutes, 16 seconds
AVERAGE SPEED:  64.041 mph
MARGIN OF VICTORY:  .341 seconds
BUD POLE AWARD:  Burney Lamar, TRI-C Mfg. Chevrolet  18.389/97.885 mph
GATORADE FRONT RUNNER AWARD:  Burney Lamar, TRI-C Mfg. Chevrolet
ROOKIE-OF-THE-RACE AWARD: Steve Belletto, California Hot Wood Chevrolet
CAUTION FLAGS:  Seven for 39 laps (10-19, 35-38, 51-55, 66-72, 78-83,
116-119, 137-139)
LAP LEADERS:  Burney Lamar 1-87, Craig Raudman 88-111, Dan Holtz 112-135,
Doug McCoun 136-150