Portenga Charges to Win in Feature

In the 2 1/2 months the NASCAR Grand National West was idle, Steve Portenga said he told himself he was going to win when racing resumed at Irwindale Speedway.

Portenga fulfilled that vow Saturday night by winning in King Taco 150.

“I came here very confident and pretty determined,� said Portenga, who was third, fourth, sixth and ninth in the series’ first four races this year.

“I learned a long time ago -- in 1988 -- the hardest person to beat on a race track is the person who thinks he can’t be beat. That was my attitude tonight. I don’t know why I don’t take that attitude everywhere, but I just had extra confidence here tonight.�

Portenga, who won the first series race at Irwindale in 1999, passed pole sitter Mike Duncan on the 108th lap and kept the lead for the rest of the 150-lap race on the half-mile track. The race was stopped in the 143rd lap after a collision between cars driven by Jason Small and David Eshleman. Eshleman, a former Fontana mayor, was taken from the track by ambulance. Eshleman was not seriously hurt or hospitalized, track officials said.

Racing under a green flag resumed with four laps to go, with Portenga holding off Scott Lynch, who finished second, 1.156 seconds behind.

Sarah Fisher finished eighth, her best finish in her six races on the Grand National West circuit. The five-time Indianapolis 500 competitor started 21st, and was the final driver on the lead lap.

Travis Thirkettle won the Auto Club Late Models race, finishing 0.558 ahead of Mike Johnson. The first four finishers were within 0.928 of Thirkettle.