DAVID GILLILAND, BORIS SAID, P.J. JONES AMONG ENTRIES AT SONOMA

Source: NASCAR
Date: 06/18/2007

NEWS & NOTES

• The race … The Blue Lizard Suncream 200 presented by Supercuts is the seventh race on the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series schedule in 2007. It is the first of three road course events for the series this season.

• The track … Infineon Raceway is a winding 10-turn 1.99-mile road course, with varying elevation. The West Series has visited the Sonoma facility 28 times, since first going there in 1969. In addition to the track hosting 19 stand-alone events, West Series drivers and teams competed in nine companion events there with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series between 1989 and 1997.

• Record entry list at Infineon … The 41 drivers entered in this event, a record for a West Series race at Infineon Raceway, represent 10 states – as well as Mexico and Canada. California leads the list, with 27 drivers hailing from the Golden State. Arizona and Idaho are each represented by two drivers. Seven states – Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York and North Carolina – each have one driver entered. Two drivers are from Mexico City and one is from Alberta, Canada.

• NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers in West Series race … NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers David Gilliland (No. 82 Sunrise Ford Ford) and Regan Smith (No. 4 Ginn Racing Chevrolet) are entered in the West Series race at Infineon. Gilliland, who was a champion crew chief and a second-generation competitor in the West Series, won a NASCAR Elite Division, Southwest Series race at Infineon in 2004. His father, Butch Gilliland, won the West Series championship in 1997.

• Experienced road racers … The entry list for the West Series event also includes some drivers known for their road racing skills – Boris Said (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet), P.J. Jones (No. 24 Bennett Lane Winery “Maximus” Ford), Carlos Contreras (No. 12 Supercuts Chevrolet) and Kevin O’Connell (No. 06 Taleo Grim/General Environmental Chevrolet).

• Young guns from Joe Gibbs Racing … Two young drivers from Joe Gibbs Racing, who are quickly making a mark for themselves this year in the NASCAR Grand National Division, are entered in the West Series race at Infineon. Joey Logano (No. 10 Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet), who turned 17 last month, won the West Series race at Phoenix in April and the Grand National Division combination race at Iowa in May. Marc Davis (No. 92 Joe Gibbs Driven Chevrolet) – who will celebrate his 17th birthday on race day, June 23 – finished in the runner-up spot to Logano at Phoenix. Both teens are running full-time this season in the NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series.

• Other representation from Busch East Series … The entry list at Infineon includes a veteran of the Busch East Series and a West Coast champion who now races in that series. Dale Quarterley (No. 32 Carpet One Chevrolet), who raced in 139 Busch East Series events between 1994 and 2006, finished second when he last raced in a West Series race in 2004. Eric Holmes (No. 62 Van Dyk Baler/Bollegraaf Chevrolet), who runs full-time in the East Series this year after winning the West Series championship in 2006, will be making his second start this season in the West Series.

• NASCAR Day at State Capitol … Several West Series drivers participated in the second annual “NASCAR Day at the Capitol” in Sacramento earlier this month. Brian Ickler (No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet), Justin Lofton (No. 66 Lofton Cattle/Cometic/Klotz/Eibach Springs Ford) and Kenny Shepherd (No. 95 SaveMart/Mountain Dew Chevrolet) signed autographs, competed against fans in racing simulators and participated in a question and answer session about NASCAR Week at Infineon.

• Competing for Showdown spot … Race winners this year in NASCAR Grand National Division are being rewarded with a starting spot in the 2007 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Under the new format announced at the beginning of the season, 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.

• Going into overtime … Four of six West Series events so far this season have featured late-race cautions that resulted in the race distance being extended for a green-white-checkered finish.

• Last year’s event … While Brian Vickers dominated last year’s event overall, several series rookies captured the spotlight with top-five finishes. Vickers led 61 of 64 laps en route to delivering car owner Rick Hendrick a West Series victory. Rookie Brian Ickler registered a career-best mark, with a second-place finish. Fellow freshman drivers Peyton Sellers and Justin Lofton followed Ickler across the finish line for third and fourth, respectively. Tom Hubert was fifth.

• Front runners at Infineon … Three drivers – Hershel McGriff (1983, 1985, 1987), Jim Insolo (1978, 1979, 1980) and Bill Schmitt (1981, 1988, 1989) – lead series competition at Infineon, with three wins each. Schmitt also leads in terms of top-five finishes, with eight, and top-10 finishes, with nine. McGriff led the most laps in series competition, meanwhile, running out front for 142 laps. Two-time race winner Butch Gilliland (1996, 1997) accumulated the most money won in series competition at Infineon, netting $42,300.

• Also in victory lane … Other drivers to win a series race at Infineon include Jim Bown (1984), Ray Elder (1969), Doug George (1995), Kevin Harvick (1998), Jack McCoy (1969), Jim Robinson (1986), Roy Smith (1982) and Brian Vickers (2006).

• Bud Pole winners … While Hershel McGriff leads the series with three Bud Poles at Infineon, Jim Bown, Butch Gilliland, Roy Smith and Tim Williamson each had won two poles there.

• Varied race distance … The stand-alone series races at Infineon Raceway, in which most utilized the longer course configuration, ranged in distance from 40 laps to 75 laps. Both events in 1969 were 60 laps in duration. Three of the races – 1978, 1979 and 1980 – were 59 laps. The next four, 1981-1984, were 70 laps long. The distance was bumped to 74 laps in 1985 and to 75 laps in 1986 and 1987. Races in 1988 and 1989 were 50 laps in distance. Series visits in 1995, 1996 and 1997 were 40 laps and the 1998 event was 51 laps. Last year’s race was 64 laps.

• Series experience at Infineon … Jack Sellers (No. 15 Aramark/Dutra Group Chevrolet) has the most series experience at Infineon of any active driver. He competed in eight stand-alone series events, finishing as high as 11th in 1989, and six combination events, finishing 40th on two occasions.

• Pontiac prevails … With five wins, a Pontiac has been in victory lane at Infineon more than any other manufacturer.

• Stat of the race … Only four of the 19 series events at Infineon in the modern era were won by a driver starting from the Bud Pole position.

This Week’s Series Leaders … Through six races of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series season:

· Points leader – Mike David, 999

· Money won – Mike David, $43,243

· Laps led – Mike Duncan, 239

· Laps completed – Mike David, 1,023

· Average finish – Mike David, 5.2

· Victories – Mike David, 2

· Poles – Mike Duncan, 3

· Top-five finishes – Mike David, 5

· Top-10 finishes – Mike David, 5; Mike Duncan, 5

· Races led – Mike Duncan, 5

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