NEWS & NOTES

• The race … This event is the third race on the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series schedule for 2007. It is the first of two visits by the series to Altamont Motorsports Park this year – with a return for the season finale set for Sept. 15.
• The track … Altamont Motorsports Park is a semi-banked, half-mile paved oval with turns banked 12 degrees and four degrees banking in the straights. The track has hosted 13 West Series events, dating back to 1966.
• Toyota to make series debut … With Melo Motorsports slated to make its West Series debut at Altamont, it will mark several firsts. In addition to being the team’s first entry in the series, it will mark the first Toyota Camry to compete in a West Series event. It will also be the first series race for Kyle Cattanach of Redding, Calif. The 2007 Toyota Camry was among the manufacturer models approved for competition in the NASCAR Grand National Division this year.
• Competing for Showdown spot … In addition to scoring a series victory and gaining the valuable championship points that go with it, the winner at Altamont will gain a starting spot in the 2007 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Only Grand National race winners and champions of the NASCAR Developmental Series will be locked in to the field. All others must race their way in.
• No recent repeat winners … The six most recent West Series races at Altamont Motorsports Park produced six different winners.
• Front runners at Altamont … Three drivers – Ray Elder, Jim Insolo and Jack McCoy – lead series competition at Altamont, with two wins each. In the modern era (since 1971), Insolo leads in terms of top-five finishes – with four. He and Ray Elder are tied with Scott Gaylord (No. 00 Scott Gaylord Racing Chevrolet) for the most top-10 finishes – with four each. In fact, Gaylord twice has recorded a career best second-place finish at Altamont (1996 and 2006).
• Budweiser Poles at Altamont … Sean Woodside has the most Budweiser Pole Awards at Altamont in the modern era, with three. Woodside also tops the charts in terms of laps led in that era, running out front for 463 laps.
• Widespread competition … In the 10 series races at Altamont since 1971, 129 different drivers took the green flag.
• Chevrolet, Dodge lead the way … With four wins each, Chevrolet and Dodge are tied for the most number victories among manufacturers in the West Series at Altamont.
• Stat of the race … Three of the 10 modern era events at Altamont were won by a driver starting from the Budweiser Pole position.

BIRTHDAYS
Drivers celebrating a birthday during the upcoming month of May include Daryl Harr, who will turn 25 on the 5th; Scott Lynch, who will turn 27 on the 14th; Eric Norris, who will turn 42 on the 20th; Steve Portenga, who will turn 37 on the 22nd; David Ross, who will turn 18 on the 24th; Jim Courage Jr., who will turn 38 on the 26th; P.J. Abbott, who will turn 43 on the 28th; and Ken Schrader, who will turn 52 on the 29th.

Fast Facts
What: ALTAMONT 200, NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Race #3

Where:
Altamont Motorsports Park, Tracy, Calif.

When:
7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 28

Track layout:
.5-mile paved oval.

Distance:
200 Laps, 100 miles.

Posted Awards:
$129,546

TV:
HDNet (Live)
SPEED (enhanced replay, May 9, 12:00 p.m. ET)

2006 winner:
Event not held.

2006 polesitter:
Event not held.

Records:
Qualifying: Eric Holmes, Oct. 15, 2006, 102.139 mph, 17.623 sec.;
Race: Butch Gilliland, March 23, 1997, 71.217 mph, 1 hr 24 min 15 sec

Pre-race schedule:
Saturday – Practice, 10-11 a.m., 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Qualifying, 3:30 p.m. Note: All times subject to change.

NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Top 10:
1. Mike David 335, 2. Marc Davis 297, 3. Tim Woods III 280, 4. Ryan Foster 276, 5. Brett Thompson 265, 6. Jason Bowles 264, 7. Alex Haase 262, 8. Johnny Borneman 257, 9. Eric Richardson 238, 10. Mike Duncan 233.

Track Contact: Jeanne Harper,

(925) 371-7223