ROCKLIN, California -- Sarah Fisher, driver of the #20 Levi Strauss/Dominos Pizza Chevrolet returned for only the second time to the NASCAR Grand National Division West Series to participate in the Copper World Classic United Rentals 100. Fisher made her NASCAR debut with Bill McAnally Racing and the series last fall at Phoenix International Raceway.
Fisher and the Levi Strauss team were 12th fastest in a field of 34 competitors during the only scheduled practice on Saturday. Practice was delayed and then cut short due to severe weather at the track. Qualifying was held on Sunday morning. Fisher and the #20 Levi Strauss team with crew Chief, Mario Isola qualified the car in 23rd after only taking one lap. Fisher lost control of the #20 Levi Strauss Chevrolet on the second lap tagging the turn two wall. The team scrambled to prepare the back up car and started the race at the end of the line in 33rd.
Fisher, piloting the #20 Levi Strauss Chevrolet made an effort to run for the front but by lap 24, race leader NASCAR Nextel Cup driver, Kevin Harvick, would put them a lap down. During the only caution of the race at lap 25, the #20 Levi Strauss Chevrolet came to pit road where the team made some quick adjustments. Fisher would be passed for a second time by the race leader at lap 74 and finish the race in 20th.
“It was a tough race for the #20 Levi Strauss team,” said Fisher. “I had some trouble getting my backup car up to speed. It was consistently a second and a half slower than my primary car. The car that I was qualifying in was perfect. It was the same car I ran last year in Phoenix and I really liked it but then I stuffed it into the wall. I was driving it back into the pits thinking, oh man, I have to drive the backup car.”
“I was really impressed with the team and how short of time it took them to get the backup car ready,” continued Fisher. “They took everything off the primary car and put it on the backup. We didn’t finish as well as we wanted but we learned a lot and we’ll be ready to run for the front at the next race. I want to thank the team, my sponsors and the fans for all their efforts and support. We’ll do much better at Bakersfield.”
Fisher is in the race for the West Series title but also a contender for the Rookie of the Year title. She is also a part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program which gives minorities opportunities in NASCAR. Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) and Richard Childress Racing recently announced their joint participation together with this program.
The United Rentals 100 was seen live on HDNET. The next West Series race will take place at the ½ mile Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, California April 9th for the Lucas Oil 150. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing, please consult our webpage at www.billmcanallyracing.com.
