Bowles Returns to NASCAR Camping Word West Victory Lane at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, CA (June 22, 2009) - American Jason Bowles is back in victory lane, following a dramatic finish in Saturday’s (June 20) Round Seven of the NASCAR Camping World West Series at Infineon Raceway. The title contender was awarded the win following a post-race penalty to his Sunrise Ford teammate, giving Bowles his second win of the season.

Going up against not only his fellow NASCAR Camping World West regulars, but also NASCAR Sprint Cup and leading sports car drivers, Bowles commenced the two-day event at Infineon Raceway with a pair of practice sessions. While the former formula car and karting standout did not post the leading times he desired, he was among the front-runners in both sessions, ending sixth and fourth on the time charts.

Bowles, continually working on the setup of his car and fine-tuning his driving style to the conditions, showed his true speed in single-car qualifying around the 1.99-mile road course in Northern California. When the checkered flag waved on Friday afternoon (June 19), the defending race winner had narrowly missed the pole position, turning the second fastest time, just behind his teammate.

Returning to the cockpit of his No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Oakley/Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/GS 610/RPM 12/Justice Brothers/Bell/Ford one day later, Bowles enjoyed a clean start when the green flag waved for the seventh race of the 2009 campaign. Showing good speed throughout the race, Bowles only dropped out-side of the top-three during the pitstop periods. It appeared Bowles was headed towards a strong third place finish, when things changed dramatically in turn 11 of the final lap. Sprint Cup rookie star Joey Logano was leading the race, when he was struck by Bowles’ teammate Patrick Long. While Long was able to continue to the checkered flag, the sports car standout was immediately penalized for the last lap incident, promoting Bowles, who had avoided the contact, to the win. The Californian pulled into victory lane, earning his second consecutive victory at Infineon Raceway, and second win of 2009.

“It was a great result for the whole Sunrise Ford Team today,” said Bowles. “We didn't want to win the race that way, but you have to put yourself in those positions and take them how you can get them. It was a good points day for us and we showed as a team that we have a great group, and I can’t thank them enough. I would really like to thank the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, who had several representatives in attendance, for their support. I am happy we could put the car in victory lane with them on the hood.”

Bowles, who currently lies second in the championship standings, a mere 16 points behind the leader, resumes his 2009 NASCAR Camping World West Series campaign on July 4, with Round Eight at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Bowles has won the previous two series races at the California oval from the pole position.

Additional information on Bowles 2009 season can be obtained from the series website @ localracing.nascar.com/series/8. For direct contact, please contact Jason Bowles @ bowlesjason@mac.com.

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About Jason Bowles:
A native of Ontario, Calif., Bowles began his motorsports career behind the wheel of a kart at the age of 11. Immediately showing talent, he promptly won several junior class races and championships, before moving up to the senior classes. Retaining his winning ways, the talented young race pilot became one of the drivers to beat in shifter kart competition. Following in the footsteps of established racing stars, Bowles began racing cars in 2004. Competing in the highly competitive Cooper Tires F2000 Championship he promptly won Rookie of the Year honors. While the Californian found continued success in the pro F2000 ranks and subsequently got the chance to test an Atlantic Championship car, funding prevented him from advancing up the open-wheel motorsports ladder. Thanks to some established relationships within motorsports his career aspirations were soon revived in the stock ranks. While Bowles was initially viewed as a road course specialist, he has since established himself as complete driver, winning on variety of courses. In 2009, Bowles will contest the entire 13-race NASCAR Camping World West Series schedule behind the wheel of a Sunrise Ford/Oakley/Joe Gibbs Racing Oil/GS 610/RPM 12/Justice Brothers Ford entry.