Jonathon Gomez Consistent at Idaho 200

Gomez Scores Two Top Five and Three Top Ten Finishes in Three Races
TWIN FALLS, IDAHO (August 3, 2010) Jonathon Gomez of Twin Falls, Idaho wanted nothing more than to win this past weekend at the Stateline Stadium Speedway Idaho 200 in Post Falls, Idaho. The 27-year racer suited up for three big races over the weekend but was shut out of victory lane in front of his former hometown friends and family.

Gomez stated the weekend in fine fashion taking fast time honors for the 100-lap INSSA Duel for the 200. The invert for the race would be 14 setting him on the outside of row seven for the feature.

As quickly as Gomez started slicing through the field his momentum was slowed after several cars made contact with his Diane's Tavern Chevrolet and his was forced to pit several times for repairs to the front of the vehicle.

On two occasions he had to come from the tail of the field but he persevered and was able to make it inside the top ten by lap 90. Over the final ten circuits his forward assault eased and he settled for a fourth place finish. His finish would lock him into Sunday's Idaho 200.

On Saturday night, he strapped into his CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series machine for its maiden voyage of the season. Gomez is the track record holder at Stateline but was only able to log the third best time in qualifying for the 100-lap RMCS NAPA Duel for the 200.

Gomez started 18th in the fully inverted field and quickly moved up through the field. While Friday nights race was caution filled, Saturday nights affair only had three quick caution periods for one car spins. Unfortunately, one of those spins was Gomez as he had to hit the binders to avoid a slowing car.

Gomez damaged the front end of his Chevrolet and needed to pit for repairs. His car was never the same after the contact and he soldiered his way to a tenth place finish.

On Sunday Gomez had one more chance at victory lane in the 22-car Idaho 200 field. The field included racers from all over the northwest vying for the opportunity to end Gary Lewis' streak of consecutive Idaho 200 victories. Gomez started in the 12th position and ran in the top ten for most of the event.

Like the previous two nights, his car sustained some damage as he was like a magnet for the action but he held the upper hand and moved his way into the top five late in the event where he finished. While winning eluded him, his determination earned him solid finishes among his peers.

"The weekend really did not turn out like we planned," Gomez said. "I am disappointed that we did not run better and contend for the win but it was a lot of fun racing for three days. I am happy I was able to reconnect with family and friends and I know all the great fans at Stateline saw some real good racing."

Next up for Gomez is the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race this Saturday night at Montana Raceway Park in Kalispell, MT then its onto Colorado National Speedway August 14 for the NKNPS. "August is going to be busy as we are racing every weekend," Gomez stated. "I love it and I am having a great time this season."

Gomez sits in the fourth position in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series-West standings, just 19-points out of third place and 137-points behind the series leader. After seven races he has scored two top five and four top ten performances with his best finish this season of second place at Iowa Speedway back in May. In the SRL Southwest Tour, Gomez is second in the standings just seven points out of the lead on the strength of two dominating wins this season.

Jonathon Gomez is in his fourth year of competitive racing having won local track titles at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls and competed in various Late Model events the past couple of seasons. He has started 15 NASCAR K&N Pro Series races since 2008 scoring eight top ten finishes and is in his first full-time season in the NKNPS. Gomez will contend for championships in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series as well as the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour this season.

Jonathon Gomez is supported by Heritage Cattle Company, Century Boatland, J&C Custom Harvesting, United Oil, Modern Machinery, DJ Safety, and Gomez Farms. The next event on the SRL schedule is September 4 at Toyota Speedway. The CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series event for Gomez will by August 21 at Rocky Mountain Raceways in SLC, UT. For more information on Jonathon Gomez, please log onto his website at www.jonathongomez.com.