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NASCAR Winston West Series Report and Results and Standings from Las Vegas

27 February 1998

Las Vegas, NV - Kevin Harvick, of Bakersfield, CA picked up his first
career NASCAR Winston West Series victory and moved in to the series points
lead at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Feb. 25.

Harvick started on the pole in his Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet Monte
Carlo after setting fast time in time trials with a speed of 163.820 mph
around the 1.5 mile oval to claim the Bud Pole award.

Starting the 100 lap event from the pole, Harvick immediately took charge,
and attempted to pull away from the pack. Four cautions in the first half
of the race slowed the pace and allowed the field to bunch up behind the
leader.

Harvick was able to maintain the lead until he headed to the pits on lap 46
under caution. Brendan Gaughan in the Orleans Chevrolet worked his way from
ninth starting position into second by lap 40 while the biggest charge
through the field was accomplished by Gary Smith who was forced to take a
provisional to start 32nd and then by lap 60 was in the runner-up position.

When Harvic relinquished the lead T.J. Clark took over briefly on the point
before he also pitted his 30th starting Mountasia/ASE Chevrolet. Jeff Davis
then inherited the lead on lap 49 and held on through the halfway mark to
claim the Gatorade Front Runner Award on lap 56. 

One lap later Harvick charged back into the lead while Davis began to fade
back in the field. Series rookie Tony Toste of Pismo Beach, CA worked his
way into second spot as the laps began to wind down followed by Jerry
Glanville of Roswell, GA in the Unifirst Uniforms Ford.

When a caution came out with one lap remaining it was a dash to the white
and yellow flags and Harvick was the leader as they crossed under the
flagstand. Toste ended up in second with Glanville right on his bumper to
nab third. Fourth went to Randy Nelson of El Cajon, CA in the Rhino Linings
Ford with Boris Said of Carlsbad, CA in the Federated Auto Parts Ford
rounding out the top five.

In the NASCAR Winston West Series points standings, Harvick is now the
front runner with 314 points followed by Sean Woodside at 298, Gary Smith
and Kelly Tanner are tied for third at 296 and Butch Gilliland is fifth
with 295.

NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES RESULT

pos Driver              Hometown            Laps    Purse    Car
1.  Kevin Harvick       Bakersfield, CA     100     $15,850  Chev
2.  Tony Toste          Pismo Beach, CA     100       9,940  Chev
3.  Jerry Glanville     Roswell, GA         100       8,210  Ford
4.  Randy Nelson        El Cajon, CA        100       6,000  Ford
5.  Boris Said          Carlsbad, CA        100       5,700  Ford
6.  Gary Smith          Malahat, BC         100       4,588  Pont
7.  Kelly Tanner        Woodinville, WA     100       3,750  Pont
8.  Jeff Davis          Anaheim Hills, CA   100       4,488  Ford
9.  Sean Woodside       Suagus, CA          100       4,838  Pont
10. Ron Burns           Phoenix, AZ         100       3,475  Ford
11. Rick Scribner       Loomis, CA          100       3,488  Chev
12. Darrel Krentz       Sparks, NV          100       2,800  Ford
13. Kenny Smith         El Monte, CA        100       4,288  Chev
14. Scott Gaylord       Lakewood, CO        99        4,188  Chev
15. Craig Raudman       Redding, CA         99        2,600  Chev
16. Butch Gilliland     Anaheom, CA         98        2,988  Ford
17. Davey Manthei       W Richland, WA      97        2,300  Chev Accdnt
18. Bruce Bechtel       Corona, CA          97        2,200  Chev
19. Brendan Gaughan     Las Vegas, NV       96        2,100  Chev
20. Wayne Jacks         Las Vegas, NV       96        3,588  Chev
21. Bill McAnally       Elverta, CA         96        3,488  Chev
22. Pappy Pryor         Priest Lake, ID     95        3,388  Chev
23. Blair Aiken         Lakeport, CA        94        1,700  Chev
24. T.J. Clark          Chandler, AZ        91        1,600  Chev
25. Kevin Culver        Portland, OR        81        3,088  Chev Trmsn
26. Billy Kann          Tempe, AZ           70        2,088  Chev Ful Ln
27. Lance Norick        Oklahoma City, OK   69        1,500  Chev Accdnt
28. Larry Gunsleman     Sierra Village, CA  45        3,088  Ford Radtr
29. Brandon Ash         Umpqua, OR          43        2,088  Ford Accdnt
30. Kevin Richards      Spokane, WA         32        2,088  Chev Axle
31. Gary Collins        Bakersfield, CA     19        2,088  Chev Suspn
32. Austin Cameron      Santee, CA          16        1,500  Chev Accdnt
33. Michael Alsup       Bakersfield, CA     4         2,500  Ford Ignitn
34. Bob Howard          Colorado Springs,CO 1         1,500  Chev Accdnt
35. Craig Rayburn       Simi Valley, CA     1         3,088  Chev Accdnt

Time of Race: 1 hr 21 min 21 secs
Margin of Victory: Under Caution
Cautions: 7 for 29 laps
Lap Leaders: Harvick, Clark, Davis

NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES POINTS

1. Kevin Harvick                314
2. Sean Woodside                298
3. Gary Smith                   296
4. Kelly Tanner                 296
5. Butch Gilliland              295
6. Tony Toste                   288
7. Craig Raudman                261
8. Davey Manthei                246
9. Scott Gaylord                242
10. Gary Collins                240

John Kaiser -- The Auto Channel