Harraka Grabs First Camping World Series West Win

Drive for Diversity’s Paulie Harraka, driving the No. 12 NAPA AutoCare Toyota, held off a fierce charge by Jim Warn in the closing laps of the Toyota/NAPA 150 at Colorado National Speedway on Saturday to capture his first career win in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.

“It’s awesome to bring home my first Camping World Series West win and to bring the Drive for Diversity program its first NASCAR touring series win,” said Harraka. “It was a great night; we’ve been working really hard all season to get to this point and it’s great to get this win for my team, NAPA and the D4D program.”

It was the first NASCAR Camping World Series victory for a Drive for Diversity participant. With the victory, Harraka also earned a secured spot in January's postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown in Irwindale, Calif.

Harraka - a 19-year-old from Fairlawn, N.J., and entering his sophomore year at Duke University this fall – was making just his 14th start in the series. Last year, Harraka won the first track title for the D4D program when he captured the Late Model championship at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif.

He ran second to his teammate Eric Holmes through the first half of the race on Saturday. Another series rookie, Blake Koch, used the high groove to charge by Harraka for second and then sailed on by Holmes on lap 82. Jason Bowles took first from Koch on lap 99, only to have Harraka get by him 10 laps later. Harraka then held off repeated charges by Warn to take the victory.

Following Harraka and Warn across the finish line were Moses Smith, Greg Pursley and Jeff Jefferson.
Rounding out the top 10 were Travis Milburn, Jamie Dick, Johnathan Hale, Holmes and Drive for Diversity's Phil Dugan.

D4D NEWS AND NOTES:
Mackena Bell had a record-breaking night at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., on Saturday night. Bell, driving the No. 30 Position One Motorsports Chevrolet, finished sixth in the first Super Late Model division race – her seventh consecutive top 10 – and scored her first top five of the season in the second race with a third-place finish. Bell is now the highest finishing female driver in the Super Late Model division at the historic half-mile track. Bell also gained two spots in the Super Late Model standings, moving her to eighth.

Michael Cherry was at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C., on Saturday night, driving the No. 34 Nationwide Insurance Toyota for Addis Motorsports. Cherry finished seventh in the Late Model division feature. He is currently sixth in the Greenville-Pickens Speedway Late Model standings.
Katie Hagar was back in action at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, Calif., driving the No. 14 Golden State Racing Chevrolet. Hagar scored seventh and eighth-place finishes in the Twin 50 Late Model events.

Laura Hayes was also on-track on Saturday night, competing in the Late Model division at South Boston Speedway. Hayes finished 16th and 21st in the No. 22 peoplefinders.com Chevrolet for James Racing. Hayes is currently 13th in the Late Model division standings.

Juan Pitta was at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., on Saturday night. Pitta, driving the No. 16 101.9 The Wolf Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing, finished eighth and sixth in the twin late model events. Pitta is fourth in the All American Speedway Late Model standings.

Natalie Sather returned to action at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., on Saturday night. Sather, driving the No. 94 Total Velocity Motorsports Toyota, finished fifth in the Super Late Model event. Sather is fourth in the Evergreen Speedway Super Late Model standings.

Emily Sue Steck was at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway in West Salem, Wisc., on Saturday night. Steck finished ninth in the No. 6 DMT Motorsports Chevrolet after lining up 12th for the main event. Steck remains ninth in the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway Late Model division standings.

Tiff Daniels and Jonathan Smith were at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., on Saturday for the final road-course race of the NASCAR Camping World Series East season. Smith, driving the No. 16 Fadden Racing Chevrolet finished 15th after a late race incident spoiled a solid top-10 finish. Daniels suffered engine issues with her No. 94 Hamilton Racing Dodge and retired to the garage after just 19 laps. She was credited with an 18th-place finish.