Michels Edges Pursley for First Southwest Series Win

Driving a new car, Rip Michels added another victory to his Irwindale Speedway record Saturday night.

Michels held off Greg Pursley, a rival during their days as full-time drivers at Irwindale Speedway, to win the $54,584 NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series Stock Building Supply 100, his first victory in the series in his career.

“I never thought it was going to happen,” said Michels, who entered the race as the series leader, with two second-place finishes, a fourth, fifth and sixth in the opening five races. “He’s been on the tour a long time, I’ve been on it for a while and we just hadn’t gotten over the hump.... Right now, I’m totally relieved.”

Michels started fourth in the 29-car field, took the lead on the sixth lap, when he passed Jim Pettit II, and kept it for the rest of the 100-lap race on the half-mile track.

Pursley, who had lost his sponsor and was racing for the first time since the Nov. 12 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway, posted the fastest qualifying time but spun a six on the wheel determining the starting grid and started sixth. He moved into second on the 23rd lap when he passed Pettit.

There were three yellow flags, the last when Brad Peters spun on the 89th lap. Green-flag racing resumed on the 96th lap, but Pursley couldn’t catch Michels.

Michels received $5,000 for the victory, his 43rd at Irwindale Speedway, which opened in 1999.

Pole-sitter Tim Huddleston won the 40-lap late models race, his second consecutive victory and third in the division’s 11 races this season.

Division leader Travis Thirkettle, a seven-time winner this season, finished third.

-- Steven Herbert