Kanke Double Downs in Vegas with Second SRL Win of 2009
Bakersfield, CA - SRL Southwest Tour Series veteran Mike Kanke scored his second victory of 2009 by winning Sunday's "Blackjack 121" at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Kanke, who qualified second to Craig Raudman, overcame body damage and a trip to pit road to outdistance an impressive field of SRL Southwest Tour Series teams. Kanke saw the lead on lap 47, but had to pit on lap 51 for repairs. After pitting, it took Kanke another 65 laps to move his familiar RPM-PSI Motorsports #33 back into the lead as he passed leader Troy Ermish on lap 116 of the 121 lap event to score his 24th career Southwest Tour victory. Kanke's win was worth $4,000 including the Ringers Gloves Bonus.
When asked about his run from the rear of the field, Kanke stated, "The car was that good, the guys did a great job adjusting the car to the heat of the day. Once we restarted at the rear, the crew said to be patient and find my rhythm...but I had to run hard to get back to the front. In this series you can have a problem and still come back and get to the front, we only lose three laps per caution, we have the 'lucky dog' and an excellent tire...I've never raced on a better tire...this Hoosier tire makes all the work you put into the car show on the racetrack...not only do they race great, but we practice on old tires with multiple heat cycles and bolt on one set to qualify for the weekend, one set of new tires is all you need with this series."
After fast qualifier Craig Raudman drew a nine car invert, Josh Combs lead the field to the green to lead the first 5 laps. Victory Circle Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Kevin Callahan then drove to the outside to take over the lead for the next 13 laps.
From his sixth starting position, David Mayhew in the MMI/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet worked his way into the lead on lap 19, with Combs making his way back to second. On lap 40, the top five was Mayhew, Combs, Raudman, Kanke and Jim Pettit II.
While under caution on lap 42, Pettit's Golden Gate Petroleum/Top of the Hill Ford began to fill with smoke, as he reached the ramp to pit entrance, the defending series champion stopped the car as the flames and the smoke completely filled the interior of his Port City Ford Fusion.
"I basically thought I'd broken a transmission or rear end...a little bit of white smoke, but no big deal...then the thing really went up in smoke...then I got flames all across the dashboard...I released my two window nets, and released the steering wheel, took the seat belts off...I kept trying to get out but I kept getting hooked on something. Finally, after a number of tries...they dragged me out of the car."
Pettit suffered from considerable smoke inhalation. However, he has been given numerous tests all of which indicate no serious damage to his lungs.
Following the red flag, a mishap on the restart resulted in Kanke and Raudman making contact and Raudman spinning to the inside of turn four.
Combs lead the field once again on the next restart, but within a lap Kanke moved by to take the lead. Kanke then pitted under caution to remove the right front fender that had peeled back to the door which resulted in restarting from the rear of the field.
Darrell LaMoure in the Arizona Components #17 then took the lead for the next nine laps. Troy Ermish moved passed LaMoure on lap 61 and held the lead until lap 70 when Combs move back to the front of the pack, followed by Ermish, Raudman, LaMoure, Callahan, Kanke, David Mantooth, Dave Byrd, Joe Farre' and Todd Bammer.
On lap 79, Raudman moved the Approved Memory #2 into second behind Combs, where he followed the 2008 SRL Rookie-of-the-Year until contact between the two leaders on lap 102 resulted in Combs spinning which brought out the caution. Both Combs and Raudman restarted at the rear of the field.
Ermish's Bob Strandwold Racing #3 was now back in the lead, closely followed by Kanke, LaMoure-who was having a career day, Mayhew and Callahan.
With six laps remaining, Kanke charged under Ermish off of turn four, the two cars touched with Kanke clearing Ermish into turn one to drive to the checkers for his second SRL Southwest Tour Series win of 2009. Ermish second, Mayhew drove from the rear twice to third, Callahan fourth, Raudman moved from eighth to fifth in the final eleven laps, LaMoure a solid sixth, Byrd, Bammer, Mantooth, and Farre' rounded out the top ten.
Check out the "Blackjack 121" in its entirety at www.GoLiveStream.TV. The next race of the 2009 SRL Southwest Tour Series is the "Performance Electrical 110", Saturday, May 23rd at Madera Speedway. For more information go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com or www.racemadera.com.
Race Stats: Blackjack 121 at The Bullring - May 3rd, 2009
Race Leaders: Combs 1-5, Callahan 6-18, Mayhew 19-45, Combs 46, Kanke 47-51, LaMoure 52-60, Ermish 61-69, Combs 70-102, Ermish 103-115, Kanke 116-121.
Lead Changes: 10
Winning Margin: .22 seconds
Fastest Lap of Race: M.K. Kanke 15.208 seconds on lap 109
Time of Race: 56 minutes 19 seconds
Fast Qualifier: Craig Raudman 14.772 seconds
Five Star Race Bodies Hard Charger Award: Jerry Thitchener
Ron's Rear Ends Hard Luck Award: Terry Henry
Top Victory Circle Rookie-of-the-Year contender: Kevin Callahan
2009 Championship Standings*: Kanke 106, Byrd 91, Raudman 87, Bammer 78, Ermish 75, Voigt 74, Farre' 70, Callahan 68, Pettit 63, Spangler 62, LaMoure 59, Potts 52, Mantooth 50, Mayhew 48, Newberry 48, Westmoreland 46, Combs 45, Wood 36, Gilbert 32, Allec 30, Thitchener 26, Sanchez 24, Henry 12, Monroe 12
* The Best 9 of 10 events will determine the championship total points for each driver and owner for 2009.
