IN NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2002) – Eric Norris and Scott Lynch both tasted success in the NASCAR Winston West Series season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 12.

While Lynch notched his first major NASCAR victory with a win in The Orleans 150, Norris clinched the series championship for 2002 with a runner-up finish.

above: A day for first's when Scott Lynch (L) takes his first Winston West

victory and Eric Norris (R) brings home his first series championship

(photo courtesy of Denny Strimple)

Lynch, competing in only his 11th race in the series and just his fifth race this season, took the lead from Norris on lap 84 and pulled away to win by 1.275 seconds. The Burley, Idaho, competitor raced a limited schedule in the series, while also racing this season in Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring Division.

Norris, meanwhile, appeared satisfied with second and securing the title by a 119-point margin. "I wanted the championship," Norris said. "That’s what the big picture was. Scott Lynch had a really good car. We didn’t have a winning car, but we had a second-place car," the Dana Point, Calif., driver said of his JaniKing/Ultra Wheels Ford. "And for us to leave here in second place and win the championship makes for a good night."

Series rookie Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho, nailed down his best career finish – coming home third in the MBNA/Rich Thompson Trucking Chevrolet. Jason Small of Bakersfield, Calif., was fourth in the JRS Motorsports Chevrolet – followed by Brandon Ash of Umpqua, Ore., in the Little Trees/Fuji Film/Auto Marine Ford.

Rounding out the top 10 were Rick Bogart, Johnny Borneman, Mike Duncan, Scott Gaylord and Kevin Richards.

The race featured seven lead changes among six drivers – Lynch, Norris, Brendan Gaughan, Scott Gaylord, Jason Small and Eddy McKean.

Lynch set a new race record with an average speed of 115.188 mph. Although he had the Yerf-Dog/Mr. Gas Chevrolet out front twice to lead a total of 31 laps, it was Brendan Gaughan who captured the Gatorade Front Runner Award by leading 32 laps. Gaughan, who dropped out of the race with mechanical trouble on lap 58, also won the Bud Pole Award with a lap of 164.369 mph in his NAPA Auto Parts/Orleans Hotel & Casino Dodge.

Austin Cameron, who entered the event just 36 points behind Norris in the championship standings, finished 25th after dropping out of the race with an oil leak. He fell to third in the final standings, just four points behind Richards. Borneman of Ramona, Calif., and Duncan of Lamont, Calif., both finished the season with 1,459 points. Borneman was credited with fourth place in the final standings by virtue of a win earlier in the year, with Duncan taking fifth. Completing the top 10 in the final standings were Ash, Mike David, Gaylord, Greg Pursley and Thompson.

Although David finished the race 26th after falling out with an oil leak, he was able to edge Pursley for the Stage 8 Locking Fasteners Rookie-of-the-Year Award. David finished the season with 90 points, over Pursley with 87 and Thompson with 84.

View The Winston West Series On NASCAR.com With Results - Standings & Driver Profiles