300 Raceway
Win lifts Harris into lead of NASCAR weekly points
From NASCAR reports
Harris celebrates Wednesday's victory. (Paul Misner)
FARLEY, Iowa (Sept. 11) — It’s been back and forth for the last month, so why should the final week be any different? With Philip Morris and Brian Harris tracking each other’s every result and scheduled start, the race for the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series took another turn Wednesday night when Harris picked up his 20th win of the season.
“It was nail-biter,” said Harris who edged Andy Eckrich at the line to win the 35-lap feature at Farley (Iowa) Speedway. “It was absolutely nuts.”
The victory broke the tie for first and unofficially moved Harris seven points ahead of Morris, 953-946. All points totals are unofficial pending review by NASCAR Membership & Points, and the final complete updated standings will be released Sept. 17.
Harris, of Davenport, Iowa, fended off a challenge from Eckrich over the final three laps Wednesday to win the feature, which was held on the first night of the 31st Yankee Dirt Track Classic week at the half-mile high banked clay oval. Eckrich is ranked sixth in the national standings.
Harris started fourth and took the lead with three laps to go. But coming out of turn four headed to the checkered flag, he and Eckrich were side-by-side.
“He had the low line,” Harris said. “I had the momentum and I beat him by a nose. I honestly didn’t know who won until I rolled onto the backstretch and I saw 21 up there on the scoreboard.”
The win allowed Harris to drop the worst of his top 18 finishes — a 48-point night — and replace it with a 55. Harris and Morris entered the final week tied at 946. Harris now has 20 wins and 35 top-fives in 37 starts this season. He has already collected the track titles at Farley and nearby West Liberty, and leads the Iowa state championship race.
Points total is based on a driver's top 18 finishes for the year at any NASCAR-sanctioned track. A driver receives two points for every car they beat — up to 25 cars — and there is a five-point bonus for wins.
Harris said he also found out earlier in the night that Morris, the 2006 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion from Ruckersville, Va., added a trip to Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, N.C., Friday to his schedule. Morris, who wrapped up his sixth championship at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., last weekend, was already planning to run Saturday’s race at South Boston (Va.) Speedway.
Morris’s lowest points finish of his best 18 finishes is a 46, which means he could still pass Harris with another victory. Morris has 12 wins and 21 top fives in 25 starts.
For his part, Harris is still trying to line up an engine or a ride for the three points races (Thursday-Saturday) at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Va. The deadline for points to count toward NASCAR championships is Sunday, Sept. 14.
“I’ve been on the phone all day trying to round something up,” Harris said. “I’ve got a few more people to call in the morning; a couple more options. If anything develops, we’ll be going to Wisconsin. He’s not backing down and we can’t back down either.”
