The race … This is the 12th race on the NASCAR Camping World Series West schedule for 2008. It is the only event hosted by Altamont Raceway Park this year.
The procedure … The starting field is 28 cars, including provisionals. The first 24 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 200 laps (100 miles).
The track … Altamont Raceway 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 15 events overall, dating back to 1966.
The records … Qualifying: Eric Holmes, Oct. 15, 2006, 102.139 mph, 17.623 seconds; Race: Butch Gilliland, March 23, 1997, 71.217 mph, 1 hour 24 minutes 15 seconds.
No recent repeat winners … The eight most recent races at Altamont Raceway Park, dating back to 1995, produced eight different winners.
Back behind the wheel … Jason Fensler will swap his duties atop the pit box with Speed Wong Racing for the opportunity to drive an additional entry for the team at Altamont. The Wilton, Calif., competitor was among the leaders in last year’s event, before being slowed by a flat tire. This year’s entry list also includes former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Auggie Vidovich and third-generation racer Ross Strmiska.
Front-runners at Altamont … Three drivers – Ray Elder, Jim Insolo and Jack McCoy – lead competition at Altamont, with two wins each. In the modern era (since 1971), Insolo leads in terms of top-five finishes, with four. Insolo, Elder and Scott Gaylord are tied for top-10 finishes – with four each.
Poles at Altamont … Sean Woodside has the most poles in the modern era, with three. Woodside also tops the charts in terms of laps led, running out front for 463 laps.
How they compare … Among drivers who raced in four or more races at Altamont, Jim Insolo had the best average finish of 2.25.
Experience among current drivers … With six each, Jack Sellers and Scott Gaylord have the most starts at Altamont since 1971.
Stat of the race … Three of the 12 modern era events at Altamont were won by a driver starting from the pole position.
Birthdays … Drivers celebrating a birthday during the month of September include Carl Harr, who turns 55 on the 9th; Bobby Hillis, who turns 47 on the 10th; and Brian Ickler, who turns 22 on the 17th.
Last year’s event …
Eric Holmes took an early lead and never looked back as he sailed to victory in this event last year. Brian Ickler, who had won the pole in qualifying, led the initial seven laps before giving way to Holmes. Once out front, Holmes never relinquished the lead. He crossed the finish line with a margin of victory of 2.378 seconds. David Mayhew took second, followed by Mike David.
The Race: Golden State Steel & Stair 200
The Place: Altamont Raceway Park
The Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
The Time: 7 p.m.
Track Layout: .5-mile paved
Race Purse: $130,087
2007 Winner: Eric Holmes
2007 Pole: Brian Ickler
Schedule:
Saturday:
Practice 10:30 a.m.-noon
Time Trials 3 p.m.
2008 STANDINGS
Rk Driver Points
1 Eric Holmes 1,763
2 Jason Bowles 1,754
3 Jeff Barkshire 1,672
4 Mike David 1,632
5 Jim Inglebright 1,588
6 Moses Smith 1,528
7 Austin Cameron 1,510
8 J Borneman 1,440
9 David Mayhew 1,416
10 Jim Warn 1,382
