BAKERSFIELD, California — As the SRL Southwest Tour Series looks towards the start of the 2009 season, many indications show that this will be the best year in the history of the nine year old tour series.
• Teams: There are an increased number of teams committed to the SRL for 2009. The entire top 10 from the 2008 SRL championship will return; Jim Pettit II, Craig Raudman, Greg Voigt, Keith Spangler, Troy Ermish, Josh Combs, Dave Byrd, Joe Farre’ and Justin Westmoreland will be back, in addition to full-time efforts from tour series veterans Darrell LaMoure, Terry Henry and Mike Kanke. Many new teams have submitted registrations for 2009, including a new team structure for NTS Motorsports Brennan Newberry, Corsaro Motorsports now has rookie Kevin Callahan behind the wheel, and rookie Scott Sanchez will bring a brand new team to the SRL in 2009.
• Big Incentives: SRL drivers will chase a bigger carrot in 2009, as prize money has increased to a minimum $3,000 to win each event. An additional $1,000 bonus provided by Rub It Enterprises and Graphics will be awarded at each Madera and Stockton race, which will take the winner’s prize money to $4,000. The Las Vegas events will also pay a $1,000 bonus.
• New Site: A new SRL website will debut tomorrow at www.SRLSouthwestTour. com.
• Web Cast: Production crews will be on hand to provide a web cast of the SRL Southwest Tour Series events in 2009, including series presenting sponsor GoLiveStream.TV.
• Schedule: The SRL will visit five tracks over its ten race 2009 schedule; Roseville’s All-American Speedway–April 4th, Las Vegas Motor Speedway">The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway–May 3rd & October 31st, Madera Speedway–May 23rd, July 4th &September 5th, Toyota Speedway at Irwindale–July 18th & October 10th and the New Stockton 99 Speedway–August 8th & October 3rd.
• Rookie-of-the-Year Award: Victory Circle Chassis and Parts will once again sponsor the Rookie-of-the-Year chase, and present an elite chassis to the winner of the Rookie-of-the-Year title.
• 2009 Season Opener: For the second consecutive year the SRL Southwest Tour Series will start its season at All-American Speedway in a companion show with the NASCAR Camping World West Series. SRL practice and qualifying on Friday, April 3rd with the “Riebes Auto Parts 125 presented by AmeriPride Uniform Services” on Saturday night, April 4th.
• Hard Luck: Ron’s Rear Ends will once again award $100 cash to last place finisher in each main event.
• More Awards: Port City Race Cars of Muskegon, MI, a new SRL sponsor for 2009 will award a chassis to one of the top fifteen drivers of 2009 by way of a reverse drawing at the SRL championship awards banquet. Also, Melo’s Gas and Gear will be awarding a Miller Electric Renegade 180 Welder to a crew chief whose team finishes in the Top 15 at the year end award’s banquet.
For more information about the SRL Southwest Tour Series, go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com.
