BAKERSFIELD, California — The SRL Southwest Tour Series will make its first of three 2009 appearances at Madera Speedway this Saturday night, featuring the “Performance Electrical 110”. A season high 25 cars is expected, including three former NASCAR Southwest Tour Series champions, Jim Pettit II, Craig Raudman and making his SRL debut, Auggie Vidovich the 2003 NASCAR Southwest Tour champ. When asked about the SRL, the upcoming race at Madera and their Southwest Tour championships, here is what Pettit, Raudman and Vidovich had to say.
“When I look at when we ran “the Tour” (NASCAR Southwest Tour) and now running the SRL, I think the SRL is so much more driver friendly, we have a great tire that allows us to have so much fun racing,” stated Pettit, who not only has two NASCAR touring titles in 2004 and 2005, but is the defending SRL Southwest Tour Series champion. “There are so many things that make the SRL fun to be part of. One thing is that in the SRL they don’t allow guys to move someone to take a position, you spin someone, you’ll pay the price…as a driver I like that. In the SRL we have the same quality of drivers as “the Tour” did and I see more guys like Auggie and Eddie McKean coming back and racing in the SRL.” Regarding his season so far and the upcoming race at Madera, “We haven’t had a lot of luck so far, but I have had some good runs at Madera over the years (two wins in the NASCAR Southwest Tour and two SRL wins)…I think Madera suits my driving style and my dirt track experience seems to help.”
Raudman, the 2001 NASCAR Southwest Tour champion, drives for Bob Strandwold Racing (BSR) along with teammates Troy Ermish and Vidovich. “(Former teammate) Dave (Byrd) and I are good friends off the track, but on the track you really don’t have any friends, and I am not really here to make any. Troy and I are just getting to know one another; we had a good time in Vegas. Auggie and I have had our share of run-ins in the past, but we’ve got to know one another better over the last few years,” commented Raudman regarding his teammates at BSR. When asked what components are important to winning the SRL championship. “You need a good team behind you, be well prepared and consistent…you need to know your competition, know their driving styles, understand their strengths and weaknesses.” stated Raudman. “I have four fast times at Madera, but have yet to win there.”
Vidovich, who makes his SRL Southwest Tour Series debut on Saturday, ran three full seasons on the NASCAR Southwest Tour, before moving to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2006 driving for Biagi Bros. Racing. Currently, Vidovich does race set up for the Roush Fenway Racing #60 team of Carl Edwards, when Edwards is not available to practice the Nationwide Series car. This weekend Vidovich will be behind the wheel of the #1 BSR Chevrolet. “We tested last week at Madera and it went really well. We didn’t have my seat in the car, so it was pretty much just a shake down, but I was really pleased and look forward to Saturday and the rest of the year.” On his outlook for the remainder of 2009 in the SRL, “It is easier to race when you are not chasing the points, so I want to win races…I’m the same guy as when I first ran “the Tour”, I want to race and I want to win.”
The SRL will be part of an open practice from 3pm to 8pm on Friday, at Madera Speedway. Racing on Saturday, begins at 5:30pm with the SRL Southwest Tour Series headlining the evening with the “Performance Electrical 110”.
Entering Saturday’s event, M.K. Kanke leads the 2009 SRL championship standings with 106 points, followed by Dave Byrd at 91, Raudman 87, Todd Bammer 78, Troy Ermish 75, Greg Voigt 74, Joe Farre’ 70, Kevin Callahan 68, Jim Pettit II 63, with Keith Spangler rounding out the top ten in points with 62.
For more information go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com or www.racemadera.com.
