2010 SERIES CHAMPION – Jonathon Gomez
Jonathon Gomez was a busy man in 2010. He competed in both the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series and the ARCA Menards Series West (formerly the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West). His SRL effort resulted in a championship, in one of the most competitive seasons in series history. The championship was a surprise for many, but the talented Idaho racer put together a great season, finishing on the lead lap of every event except one, scoring his first two career SRL victories. In honor of our 20th season, we now look back at Gomez remarkable accomplishment.
For Gomez to achieve the championship, he had to fend off full-time series participants such as Jim Pettit II, Derek Thorn, Brennan Newberry, M.K. Kanke, Auggie Vidovich, Jacob Gomes and Ryan Foster to name a few. The season featured a then record car count of 26.6 per event, and featured 56 different championship point scoring competitors. Five drivers scored feature wins led by Kanke (3), Gomez (2), Pettit (2), Thorn (2) and Eric Holmes (1). As a result, the championship even surprised Gomez to some degree.
“It (the championship) was a huge deal”, Gomez conveyed. “I never thought we would be able to run up front with those guys. Being able to win the championship against those guys was unbelievable.”
As mentioned, Gomez also competed in the 2010 ARCA Menard Series West season, in addition to his SRL campaign. He logged three top-five and six top-10 efforts in 12 events. It was a hectic season for the team, but it helped Gomez with his championship effort in the SRL.
“I think running both series was a big help”, Gomez estimated. ‘It was a lot of work to run both series, but it gave me the experience I needed, since they ran a lot of the same tracks, and it gave me a lot of extra seat time.
Gomez success has not just been limited to the Spears Southwest Tour Series. He was the 2013 winner of the Montana 200, over a 39-car entry. He scored a championship in the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series, counting eight victories over 33 career starts, included 18 poles. In 2018, Gomez had seven victories in nine Pro Truck Series starts. He also had three wins in six Royale Purple Modified Series events, that same season. He finished third in the 2011 Toyota All-Star Showdown, behind Jason Bowles and D.J. Kennington, in the ARCA Menards portion of the event. Those are just some of the accomplishments of the Twin Falls, ID driver.
His 2010 season was the best of his career, however, which was full of memorable moments. His most notable one was a duel, in which he defeated a future four-time series champion.
“I would have to say that my most memorable moment, from my championship season, was crossing the finish line nose to nose with (Derek) Thorn at Irwindale, for my second win of the season.”
Gomez last start in the Spears Southwest Tour Series was in 2017, at Rocky Mountain Raceway (UT). Since 2015, he has made only infrequent starts in a Super Late Model. With the continued growth of the SRL, Gomez would love to get back behind the wheel, in the most competitive Asphalt Late Model Series in the Western United States.
“I would love to get back into the series”, Gomez professed. “I hate not racing. I’m not sure if I could keep up anymore though.”
There were many parties who were responsible for Jonathon’s 2010 success in the “Tour”. It included a former Southwest Tour Series Champion and a championship crew, in addition to a set of supportive parents.
“I have to thank my dad and all my friends and family”, Gomez stated. “They were such a big part of my racing. Craig Raudman and Ron and Derek Copeland, and everyone else that put so much work into the cars. It took so many people to get us through that season.”
The next event, on the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series schedule, is a trip to Roseville, CA. Last year’s event at ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA was a thriller, with the 2020 edition promising to be just as exciting. The “JM Environmental 127 presented by 51 FIFTY LTM.” will take place on May 16th, and will pay a minimum of $7,000-to-win. A $5,000 bonus will be available to any driver who qualifies in the top eight, and elects to start in the back. If that driver wins, they will head home with a $12,000 victory. In addition, John Moore will give each driver who makes the feature race, a “black bad a** cowboy hat, made by Lonestar. It’s a hat that makes you look handsome and sexy at the same time”, commented Moore.
