SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. -- More than 40 cars, including teams from NASCAR's premier series, are expected at the NASCAR Winston West Series heads to Las Vegas to conclude its season and decide the 1997 championship.
Entries from California to Virginia have been received for Saturday's $241,419 Winston West "300K" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Highlighting those entries are nine NASCAR Winston Cup Series stars, including Daytona 500 winners Bill Elliott and Ernie Irvan. Other drivers from NASCAR's premier series who have entered the event include Ken Schrader, Brett Bodine, Lake Speed, Rick Mast, Mike Skinner, Kenny Wallace and David Green. Skinner will drive a Pontiac entered by the Golden Gate Racing Team of San Francisco.
The championship of the NASCAR Winston West Series, meanwhile, will be decided by the outcome of the event. Butch Gilliland of Chino Hills, Calif., has a 32-point lead over Sean Woodside of Santa Clarita, Calif.2063 too 2,031. Gary Smith of Malahat, British Columbia, is also within range of the title with 1,971 points.
When the series visited the 1.5-mile super-speedway in June, it was Smith who rolled into victory lane. Gilliland finished second and Woodside took fourth.
While those three competitors will be shooting for the championship-four other drivers, who are separated by only 114 points, are locked in a close battle for the fourth spot in the standings. Larry Gunselman of Sierra Village, Calif., leads that pack with 1,742. He is followed by Kevin Culver of Portland, Ore., with 1,686; Scott Gaylord of Lakewood, Colo., with 1636; and Bill McAnally of Elverta, Calif., with 1,628.
In addition to battling for the overall title, Woodside and Smith are competing for the Sears Point Raceway Rookie-of-the Year Award. Smith has a one-point lead over Woodside, 110 to 109, as they head to Las Vegas for the 14th and final event on this season's schedule.
The Las Vegas entries represent 18 states and one Canadian province. The largest contingent of drivers is from California, with 15. Missouri has four, while Oregon and Texas each have three. Washington, Colorado and Michigan have two each.
Joining the NASCAR Winston West Series regulars and nine NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers, will be NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitors Kenny Irwin, who will drive the Texaco Havoline Ford, and Mike Wallace. Other entries include Tim Steele, the Automobile Racing Club of America two-time champion; Jimmy Kitchens; Bobby Gerhart and Steve Swick.
The largest field for a stand-alone race in the recent history of the series was at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., in 1991 when 36 cars were entered.
