SCOTTS VALLEY, CA -- A record field of 17 drivers are challenging for the Sears Point Raceway Rookie-of-the-Year Award in the NASCAR Winston West Series in 1999.

The large contingent of newcomers, which tops the 15 drivers who participated in the rookie program last season, reflects the continued growth and new era for the West's oldest stock car racing circuit.

The 17 freshman drivers challenging for this year's rookie title come into the series with various backgrounds and experience in motorsports competition. They hail from seven states and range in age from 19 to 55 years old.

They include a two-time champion in NASCAR's Featherlite Southwest Series, Steve Portenga of Sparks, Nev. In addition to winning the title in that division in 1994 and 1998, the 28-year-old competitor has also raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and in a limited number of NASCAR Winston West Series races. Portenga piloted Jim Offenbach's Roto Rooter/Golden Gate Racing Chevrolet to a 12th-place finish in the NWWS season-opener last month at Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park.

Other drivers making the move from the Featherlite Southwest Series are teammates John Metcalf, 50, of Aurora, Colo., and Davy Lee Liniger, 53, of Englewood, Colo. Metcalf, who won the rookie title in the Featherlite Southwest Series in 1997, made his debut in the NASCAR Winston West Series with a fifth place finish in the season-opener. Liniger, who was absent from the Tucson event, raced in four NWWS events last season.

A trio of rookie drivers who also ran a limited schedule in the NASCAR Winston West Series last year include Jerry Cain, 41, of Canyon Country, Calif.; Bo Lemler, 55, of Chula Vista. Calif.; and Sammy Potashnick, 24, of Sikeston, Mo. Cain competed in NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model stock cars and the Featherlite Southwest Series before joining the NASCAR Winston West Series. Lemler's background included racing late model stock cars at various West Coast tracks. Both competed in five NWWS races in 1998- Potashnick, meanwhile, has raced in several stock car divisions across the country. He competed in two NWWS races last season and finished 10th in this year's season-opener.

Brendan Gaughan comes into the series with a long list of accomplishments in off-road racing. The 23-year-old from Las Vegas, who played basketball and football while earning a degree in business administration from Georgetown University, won titles in various divisions of desert and short-course off-road racing between 1991 and 1998. Last season he also saw action in NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as well as several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events and five NWWS races.

Making the trek from the East Coast to battle for the rookie title in the NASCAR Winston West Series this year is Rick Ware of Greensboro, N.C. Ware, 35, began racing in 1983 and has competed in various stock car divisions across the country. His resume includes events in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division.

Grabbing the spotlight quickly this season was 19-year-old Jason Small, who won the Bud Pole Award in the season-opener at Tucson. The Bakersfield, Calif., competitor began his racing career in 1986, racing in Quads, Odesseys and go-karts. Last season he finished as the runner-up in NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model stock car competition at his hometown track of Mesa Marin Raceway.

Among the other rookies from the Golden State are Rick Bogart of El Cajon, Dean Kuhn of Oceanside, Mike Duncan of Lament and David Gilliland of Chino Hills.

Bogart, 24, started racing in 1994 and has competed in mini stock, super late and sportsman divisions at Cajon Speedway near San Diego. Kuhn, 33, has competed in motorcycle racing and drag racing, in addition to driving midgets and stock cars at various tracks in the Southern California area.

Duncan, 37, started racing in 1996 and has competed in NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model and super late model divisions at Mesa Marin Raceway; Las Vegas Motor Speedway; Altamont Raceway Park, near Tracy, Calif.; and Madera (Calif.) Speedway. Gilliland, 22, is the son of 1997 NWWS Champion Butch Gilliland. In addition to winning the title as his father's crew chief that season, the younger Gilliland has competed in NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model stock cars at Mesa Marin Raceway and dirt modifieds at Perris (Calif.) Speedway.

Making the move from the NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model division at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to the NWWS this year is Bobby Pangonis of Henderson, Nev. Pangonis, 34, also raced in the Legends series and Featherlite Southwest Series events.

Completing the list of NWWS rookies for 1999 are three drivers from the Midwest. Two are from Oklahoma, while one is from Texas. Billy Turner, 43, of El Reno, Okla., has been racing since 1974 and has competed in did late model stock cars, open-wheel cars and the American Speed Association. Mike Dillard, 43, of Norman, Okla., brings with him experience in Formula 2000 racing, as well as the Legends series - where he captured several titles. Charlie Solomon, 36, of Waxahachie, Texas, has also raced in Formula 2000 as well as Formula Ford and Vintage Mustangs.

The rookies face plenty of tough competition with the return of many veterans in the NASCAR Winston West Series this season. Among those returning to the series are three series champions. Mike Chase, the 1994 champion, and Butch Gilliland, who won the title in 1997, are aiming for their second crown. Bill Sedgwick, who won championships in 1991 and 1992, is shooting for his third series title.

The next event on the series schedule will be at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on March 5th.

Source: NASCAR Winston West Series Public Relations
Posted: 2/2/99