Winston West

August 22, 1999 - Hello everyone. Yesterday Irwindale Speedway in California hosted its second and final Winston West race of the season. 27 cars took to the field in hopes of reaching the checkered flag first. We all know that only one driver gets the thrill of the victory though. Last night the honor went to Austin Cameron, who won the Snap On Tools 250.

"It was a pretty crazy battle cause they have Hoosier Tires and Goodyear Tires and Hoosier Tires didn't qualify near as well. So you have to start at the back basically, I started 17th," said Cameron, driver of the # 12 Mar-Con/Creative Touch Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Cameron took the lead at lap 118 but the caution flew at lap 119 for a fire that erupted on Manabu Orido's, # 38 Prolong Super Lubricants Ford Taurus. The driver is fine but two crew members were taken to area hospitals with what are believed to be second degree burns to their hands and arms. This caution spawned a red flag in order to save some laps for green flag racing which came at lap 149. This was just one of seven cautions for the night.

Cameron resumed the lead on lap 186 and held on through the final caution of the night and continued on to the checkers. "We made a really good decision to come in the pits right around lap 130. We knew our tires could last a lot longer and we thought we'd start from the back and work our way up and everybody else would have to pit and we'd be out in front and ready to go. And that's how it worked out, it fell right into our hands. It was awesome. First win ever for me, it's been close every time but never got one. Wow. It's unbelievable," said Cameron who is currently 5th in the point standings.

"Things are difficult when you have a good long run setup and you keep seeing yellow after yellow. We were real good on the long runs and you don't want to see yellow. It seems like every time we get a restart it brings another yellow and another yellow and over and over again," said Brandon Ash, driver of the # 23 Big Daddy's BBQ Sauce/Sonoma Spa Ford Thunderbird.

Ash is currently 3rd in the points and took the led at lap 71 and held on to lap 101 when he pitted and came out 10th. He was charging to the front when he was involved in an accident with about six other cars at lap 190.

"At this point I don't see too much caliber for a lot of Winston Cup teams to come out here. The series needs to grow a couple of more steps before we can really be looked upon as an honorable series to go run with Cup," said Ash of the possibility of NASCAR teaming Winston West with more Winston Cup races next season.

Well that's it for this report. Until next time race fans, take care and remember Safety First!

Nikki

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