Holmes Turns Heads with Top-Five Finish in ARCA Debut

“I feel really good about it honestly,” said Holmes.  “We were one spot away from keeping the track record in qualifying.  Not many people can say they qualified second, broke the track record and finished fifth in their ARCA debut, so I’m happy for the day and the rest of the team.”

Holmes started the 200-lap event from the outside of the front row and raced in the top three for the first 10 laps.  He then made a move to the front of the field to lead laps in his first-ever ARCA race.  Holmes, however, quickly encountered lap traffic soon after taking the lead.  The lapped cars proved tricky to maneuver around and Holmes relinquished the lead a handful of laps later.

“It was a little frustrating but that’s part of racing,” said Holmes.  “I’ve never had to deal with it that much in late models, even when we have been leading, but it happens.  They told me going into this event this was going to happen.  I wish I would have made a little different decision at the start, maybe gone three wide at the start there to lead more laps.  But it happens, we learn from it, it’s our first race.”

Holmes continued to race in the top five until the caution flew around lap 100.  All cars came to pit road and the leaders, including Holmes, took two tires, meaning they were saving four tires for another caution later in the race.

When the field returned to green Holmes lined up deeper in the top 10, but quickly made his way back into the top five.  The race ran under green-flag conditions for the final 100 laps, which played against the team’s strategy to pit later in the race for four fresh tires.  The Auburn University student held his position in the top five, however, to bring home a solid finish is his ARCA Racing Series debut.

“To be honest, I think we could have gotten a top three or a win out of it if we would have gotten a caution there at the end,” said Holmes.  “We were so much better on new tires than the rest of the field was.  I couldn’t ask for a much better car in my debut.  I just need to thank all my guys and GMS and Grant (Enfinger), guys even on my LM team, my friends and family that were here, I’m just glad everything worked out and we kept the nose clean.”

Holmes will get back behind the wheel of his No. 2H Pro Late Model next weekend at Five Flags Speedway.  He has seen success at the Pensacola oval over the last few years, but a win still eludes him.

“I’ve never won there, which is frustrating,” said Holmes.  “I finished second there last year, third in the Snowflake, third two times earlier last year, so we are right there and I think we have a good shot at it.”

For more information on Bret Holmes, visit his website at www.bretholmes.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter at @BretHolmes_2.

Sources: 51 Sports/Bret Holmes PR