BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield is coming to life this weekend as the NASCAR Southwest Series, Winston West Series and Craftsman Truck Series roll into town. All three series will be competing at the historic Mesa Marin Raceway, birthplace of the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks.

Hometown favorite Jason Small is one of this years NASCAR Winston West Rookie of the Year contenders and is currently battling Sammy Potashnick, the current rookie points leader for those honors. Small looks to be highly competitive having already raced the one-half mile track this year in the Late Model Series, he feels he may have a slight advantage. Racing is what Small does, and in addition to the Winston West race, look for Small this weekend to run in both the Late Model and the Spec Truck events.

RacingWest: After the Craftsman Trucks the Spec Trucks and the rest of the series putting down all the different kind of rubber, do you feel track conditions might be an issue and why or why not?
Jason Small: Yes, I do feel that it will make a difference but not one that will have a big impact.

RW: Being the event at Mesa Marin is a one-day show, will you be prepared to be fast off the truck and get every thing done in short order?
JS: Yes, we will be prepared since we are used to one-day shows at Mesa Marin from our past late model experiences there.

RW: After a couple races on the super-speedways on radial tires, how is it going to feel to make the jump back to the short tracks?
JS: I have already completed two late model races at Mesa Marin this year so I don't feel that I there will be much of a difference between speedways and short tracks. I feel comfortable driving them both.

RW: If you are fast, you come up on the lap traffic pretty quick on a short track. How tough is it to work the lap traffic and what are your secrets?
JS: It all depends on who you are trying to lap. Some drivers are courteous and will stay low to let you go high, while some others you have to really watch yourself around. Personally, I have no secrets.

RW: Are you happy to be racing in the day?
JS: No, I would much rather race at night. It is easier on the motor and temperatures. Also, it is a lot easier on me without the glare of the sun but that is something I will have to get used to since all the bigger series run during the day.

RW: Will you be entering any other races at Mesa Marin during the weekend?
JS: Yes, I will possibly be running a late model and a spec truck.

RW: Which track holds the highest prestige for you Mesa Marin with its history and million-dollar improvements or the new Irwindale Speedway and why?
JS: I feel Mesa Marin has far more prestige than Irwindale. The Collins' family has done a beautiful job of bringing racing up to what it is on the West Coast. Not to mention, a great job promoting the race track for the last twenty years.

RW: What's your favorite memory of Mesa Marin?
JS: My favorite memory of Mesa Marin was my first late model victory in 1998.

RW: Who do you see as this year's toughest competition in the Series and why?
JS: I see Mike Chase, Brandon Ash, Sammy Potashnick, and Sean Woodside as being the toughest competition. Mike has a lot of years of experience with a lot of wins and a championship in this series. Sammy and I are both competing for Rookie of the Year but I enjoy racing with him. He is a good, clean driver.

RW: Which Winston Cup driver do you hold the most respect for and why?
JS: I hold the most respect for Dale Earnhardt simply because he is the Intimidator.

Source: RacingWest
Posted: 4/8/99