#25-Bobby Hamilton Jr. won the Saturday’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway, after a nearly 2-hour rain delay. Pole-winner #21-Kevin Harvick dominated early, but when Hamilton Jr. made his way to the lead on Lap 60, he relinquished it for only two laps the remainder of the race. NASCAR officials cut 10 laps off the 200-lap race because of the late hour, but it wasn’t necessary. The race was halted a final time after 181 laps for rain again, with Hamilton in the lead. The NASCAR Busch Series win is Hamilton Jr.’s fourth of the season – the most of any driver – and the fifth of his career. All four of Hamilton Jr.’s wins this season have come since the addition of crew chief Harold Holly in May. Harvick finished second, #5-Brian Vickers third, #87-Joe Nemechek fourth and #2-Ron Hornaday completed the top five. Harvick’s #21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, with which he shared driving duties this season with Johnny Sauter, continues to hold a hefty advantage in the series’ car owner points, providing the distinct possibility of a split championship this season. The series’ drivers’ race took another wild turn as #10-Scott Riggs, with his sixth-place finish, moved back into the lead, holding a 17-point advantage over Hornaday with two of 34 races remaining. Vickers moved from fifth to third in points, while #37-David Green, who led entering the race, finished 16th and fell to fourth. Sixty points separate the top five drivers – the closest race in series history with two races left. The race was slowed five times by caution for 34 laps. There were five lead changes among three drivers.(ThatsRacin.com)
For race results see ThatsRacin.com, BGNRacing.com, Motorsports One or NASCAR.com.(11-1-2003)
