AURORA, Oregon — Jim Warn from Aurora, Oregon and driver of the GPI Performance.com Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Series-West is coming off a strong ninth place performance in the series last event at Portland. Warn hopes to continue his march in the point standings this weekend as he returns to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah for round ten of the NCWS. Last season, Warn finished seventh and is looking for a top five finish this time out.
Warn had a top five finish in his grasp at Portland two weeks ago but a late caution extended the race distance causing the second year competitor run out of gas on the final lap. “The finish at Portland did not do justice to the car we had,” Warn said. We won’t be in that position this week.”
Last year’s event at Miller became a fuel gamble for the leaders as Jim Inglebright (Portland winner) had a sure victory evaporate after running out of fuel on the final lap at MMP. “You really do not want the race to come down to fuel,” Warn said. Miller has a really cool layout and it is a long course so you have to manage your tires and your fuel absolutely perfectly. One miscue there could be devastating.”
Last season, Warn drove a conservative race ultimately finishing seventh. This year he plans to be a bit more aggressive on track. “I have a pretty good feel for the track and we have a really good car for the event,” Warn said. “While I will drive the track a lot harder this year, we won’t put ourselves in jeopardy with a thin margin on the fuel window. We know we have a top five car and we just need to be patient and smart.”
While struggling this season with four DNF’s, Warn is confident in the direction the team is heading. “You can’t do a whole lot about luck sometimes,” Warn offered. “If you prepare, work hard, and are smart then you can create a bit of good luck. Roger (Bracken) and the team have been working to put us in position and I feel we are ready to take the next step. I am comfortable on road courses and I we will be good at Miller.”
Miller’s demanding three-mile layout can take its toll on even the most experienced road course veteran. With very little elevation change and with temperatures racing the century mark, drivers and teams will need to ensure they execute on their strategy flawlessly. “The track is not hard on tires,” Warn said. “The key is going to be staying clean and on track. It is a long way back to the pits if you make a mistake so we just have to be smart and not get ourselves in trouble. If we can put ourselves in the top five late in the race then we will be in position for a great finish.”
Warn is currently in the ninth position in the point standings after nine races just 141 points behind eighth place and 214 points out of the fifth position.
Warn drives for MJ2 Racing and is sponsored by GPI Performance.Com. The car is powered by a Chevrolet NASCAR Spec Engine built by Brad “Freight Train” Peters and sits atop a Hopkins chassis. Warn is in his second year of competition in the NCWS with eight top ten finishes in 22 career NCWS starts.
The Miller Motorsports Park “125” at MMP is round ten of the 13-race NASCAR Camping World Series-West schedule for 2009. 2009 is the 56th year of competition for the NASCAR Camping World Series-West and the event this weekend marks the third year in a row the NCWS has visited the world-class racing facility.
For all the latest news and information regarding Jim Warn, log onto www.mj2racingcom and check out www.gpiperformance.com for all of your automotive aftermarket performance parts and accessories.
