Myers Edges Holmes for Second Win

Andrew Myers held off a determined challenge Saturday night by pole-sitter Eric Holmes to win the $111,453 NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West King Taco 200 at Irwindale Speedway.

Holmes passed Tim Woods III with six laps to go to move into second, then pulled even with Myers on the final lap of the 200-lap race on the half-mile track.

Holmes, though, was unable to take the lead as Myers became the series’ first two-time winner in 2006 in its fourth race.

“I gave it all I had the last three or four laps,” said Holmes, who finished 0.016 of a second behind in the closest of the 14 AutoZone West races at Irwindale. “I’ve never been more bummed out finishing second.”

Holmes also finished second behind Ken Schrader in the season-opening United Rentals 125 at Phoenix International Raceway on Jan. 22.

There were eight lead changes. Myers, who started 12th in the 25-car field, passed Woods on the 136th lap to take the lead and he never relinquished it.

Myers, a Huntington Beach resident, received $7,063 for the victory.

Holmes led for the first 16 laps until being passed by rookie Peyton Sellers. Another rookie, Brian Ickler, took the lead from Sellers on the 66th lap.

Mike David, the series leader, and Ickler exchanged the lead twice. Steve Portenga also led twice until Woods took the lead on the 132nd lap.

There were eight yellow flags covering 60 laps.

In the night’s other race, pole-sitter Travis Thirkettle led wire to wire to win his fourth consecutive race in the late models division. Ryan Partridge was second in the 50-lap race on the half-mile track, 2.014 seconds behind.

“This car is as good as it’s going to get,” Thirkettle said. “This thing is a missile. We’re really clicking as a team.”

Fifteen laps were run under yellow flags. Thirkettle, a Newhall resident, received $1,000 for the victory.