Bean Wins Winston West Race at Irwindale

Joe Bean of San Diego drove the race of his life Saturday night.

After falling down a lap, Bean got it back and blew past Brendan Gaughan on lap 202 to win the Home Depot 250 NASCAR Winston West race before 5,711 at Irwindale Speedway.

Bean, driving the Food 4 Less Ford Taurus, had to pit on lap 85 to replace a blown right-front tire. That was caused when John Metcalf rear-ended Sammy Potashnick exiting turn four. Potashnick spun in front of Bean, causing him to check up, and his right-front fender rubbed against the back of another car, puncturing the tire. He got the lap back on lap 147 and had to start 16th on the lap 153 restart. During the caution period, Bean fueled up and got right-side tires.

The win was Bean’s second in the series and first since Bakersfield in 1996. Bean, who started 13th, picked up $16,750. Bill Sedgwick of Acton finished second and Scott Gaylord of Lakewood was third.