Catchfence

PHOENIX – 3 Amigos Tequila, a sponsor new to NASCAR racing, got its money’s worth at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday night as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West put on a slam bang show with multiple yellow flags, three red flags, and three-wide racing in front of the Bobby Allison Grandstand between turns one and two. The checkered and caution flags flew together at the race’s end as Greg Pursley took the win.

Pursley, who started on the pole, had to survive 125 miles with barely a vehicle finishing without damage. David Mayhew’s MMI Services/Ron’s Rear Ends/KHI Chevrolet led most of the second half of the race. But, leader Mayhew chose the outside lane for a restart on lap 111, and Pursley slipped by to take the point on the next pass by the start/finish line. On lap 118 restart, Pursley also took the outside lane in his GPM Performance Parts/Star Nursery Ford and made it work as a rallying Johnny Borneman battled Ty Dillon side-by-side for second.

Patience counted on Saturday night, which Pursley acknowledged: “We had to take our time making our way up to the front.”

Borneman took second place as Dillon slipped back to fourth. Mayhew finished eighth.

Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, the most experienced driver in the event, rallied from an early pit road mishap with Wes Banks’ Nuclear Sonics/Adams City Speedway Ford. Waltrip piloted his NAPA/Pick-N-Pull/Wolfley’s Toyota from 31st place to a finish of third.

“I might have won in one more lap,” Waltrip said. “It was getting to be fun at the very end.”

Fans can expect another exciting race to cap the Kobalt 500 weekend at PIR on Sunday. Tickets remain for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series battle that will pit the tightly-packed trio of drivers Denny Hamlin, Jimmy Johnson, and Kevin Harvick, each of whom has a chance to leave Phoenix with the points lead. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.phoenixraceway.com/tickets or call 866-408-RACE (7223) today!

About Phoenix International Raceway

Since 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has served race fans as the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest. Watch the brightest stars in NASCAR take on PIR’s famed one-mile oval – including four-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Stewart and many more – on November 14, 2010 in the Kobalt Tools 500. Tickets for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 weekend at Phoenix International Raceway can be purchased online at PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 1-866-408-RACE (7223). For more, visit PhoenixRaceway.com, Facebook.com/PhoenixRaceway and Twitter.com/PhoenixRaceway.

- Phoenix International Raceway Press Release