Bakersfield, CA -- If Burney Lamar is looking for seat time in a stock car, this weekend should give him plenty. He is entered in both the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series "Star Nursery.com 300" and the NASCAR Grand National West Division "Ford Motorcraft Parts 150 presented by 3M" in the "October Classic" at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, CA. Saturday night. The event marks the final night of racing on the historic 28 year old half mile oval.
The 25 year old W. Sacramento, CA. native, who is currently third in the Southwest Series point standings, has done well in the two previous Series races at Mesa this year, having won the pole position and finishing second last April, and starting eighth and finishing third last May. In the twelve Series races run so far this year, Lamar has put the Les DenHerder owned #1 HPS/Groeniger/Victory Circle Chassis Chevrolet in the top ten nine times, including a win in the season opener on the one mile oval at Phoenix International Raceway last January.
"I am really, really, excited about this weekend", says Lamar, "because I can just go there and have fun. The last few races I've been in have really been stressful, for example the truck and Busch races, but this time I'm looking forward to going and race with people I've raced with a lot, driving a car I've raced a lot, and just plain having fun. Of course, being the last races there, it would be nice to win".
This will mark the second time this season that Lamar has done double duty at Mesa Marin, having accomplished that feat last April when he made his first Grand National West appearance. He started third and finished sixth. Since that time, he has raced in two other West events, winning at both Phoenix and on the two mile oval at the California Speedway. As a developmental driver for Kevin Harvick, Inc., Lamar has run a limited West schedule this summer, driving the DeLana Harvick owned #33 HPS/ Groeniger Chevrolet. He also competed in an ARCA/REMAX event at the Talladega Superspeedway earlier this month, where he started forty-first and finished sixth.
Not only will Lamar be getting some 225 miles, 450 laps, of seat time Saturday night, but practices are scheduled for each Division in half-hour segments most of Friday afternoon. Following more practices Saturday morning, qualifying is scheduled for the Southwest Series at 3:30 pm (PT), and the West Division at 4:30 pm. The $71,600 Southwest event is set for 6:00 pm, with the $103,700 West race following.
For more on Burney Lamar, visit his website at www.burneylamar.com
