STARS COMING OUT FOR RACING CARD.Byline: Bill Schlotter Daily News Staff Writer NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. auto racing returns to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, this weekend, with appearances at Fontana's California Speedway The California Speedway is a two-mile, low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California, similar to that of "sister track" Michigan International Speedway. It is located approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill. by the Craftsman Truck Series on Saturday and the Busch Grand National tour Sunday. And the expected guest showing of several Winston Cup drivers promises to keep the weekend of speed from being strictly a showcase for career minor-leaguers and young talent on the rise. With the Winston Cup circuit taking a rare weekend off, drivers Dale Jarrett Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956 in Newton, North Carolina) is an American race car driver. Jarrett currently races in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series exclusively, driving the #44 Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing. , Ernie Irvan Ernie Irvan (born January 13, 1959 in Salinas, California) is a former race driver in NASCAR. Early beginnings Irvan began his racing career in California at the age of nine driving go-carts, winning the California Championship at the age of 15. , Bobby Hamilton For his son, a Busch Series driver, see Bobby Hamilton, Jr.. For the American football player, see Bobby Hamilton (football player). Charles Robert "Bobby" Hamilton, Sr. , Dick Trickle Dick Trickle (born October 27, 1941 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) is an auto racer. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. and Michael Waltrip Michael Curtis Waltrip (born April 30, 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky) is a professional race car driver and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. He is the younger brother of Darrell Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR champion (now retired). plan to come west to take part in either the Busch Kenwood Home & Auto 300 on Sunday or the Craftsman Truck No Fear Challenge 200 on Saturday. Jarrett, 1997 Cup runner-up in season points, is entered in Sunday's Busch event, where he will face off against son Jason, among others. Trickle is also entered in the Busch race. Irvan, a crowd favorite since his miraculous comeback from a near fatal crash in 1994, will drive in Saturday's truck race as will Hamilton. Waltrip plans to drive in both events. Also making a cameo appearance in the truck race is former Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons football coach - and sometimes racer - Jerry Glanville. Along with the guests, of course, will be each tour's established veteran racers. Defending Busch champion Randy LaJoie and reigning Kenwood 300 champion Todd Bodine are back in Busch cars after spending much of the season on the Winston Cup tour. Up-and-coming stars Buchshot Jones and Dale Earnhardt Jr. - already a three-time winner in just his first season on the tour - will run. Another driver on the rise, Tony Stewart, will not be in Fontana this weekend. Stewart, a regular on the Indy Racing League The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. The League consists of two series, the premiere IndyCar Series and Busch circuits, will be at the IRL 1. (jargon, chat) IRL - In real life. Generally synonymous with f2f. 2. (language, robotics) IRL - Industrial Robot Language. race in Delaware instead. And in the trucks, all-time truck champion Ron Hornaday Jr. of Palmdale is coming in off the 21st victory of his truck career in second place in season points, 26 behind 1997 season-champ Jack Sprague. Hornaday will also drive in the Busch race. Also Saturday, the Winston West tour will run its California 200 at the conclusion of the truck race. Valencia's Sean Woodside takes a 19-point lead over runner-up Kevin Harvick into the event. Practice for the weekend races begins today but is closed to the public. The track opens to customers Friday with Busch and truck qualifying. Plenty of tickets remain for each day of racing. NASCAR TRIPLEHEADER Featuring the Busch Grand National Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300, the Craftsman Truck No Fear Challenge 200 and the Winston West California 200 at California Speedway in Fontana. TODAY Winston West qualifying (closed to public) FRIDAY 7 a.m.: Gates open. 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Winston West, truck, Busch practice. 3:30 p.m.: Truck qualifying, followed by Busch qualifying. Tickets: $10. SATURDAY 7 a.m.: Gates open. 8:30 a.m.: Busch practice. 10 a.m.: Second-round Busch qualifying. 1 p.m.: Craftsman Truck No Fear Challenge 200. 3:30 p.m. (approximately): Winston West California 200. Tickets: $30. SUNDAY 7 a.m.: Gates open. 1 p.m.: Busch Grand National Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300. Tickets: $35. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: NASCAR TRIPLEHEADER (see text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion