Bakersfield, Calif.-- Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring teams head to Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. for the running of the Coors Light "125" Saturday night April 7. M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park, Calif. leads the point standings after two events over 2000 series runner-up Auggie Vidovich Jr. by 47 points.
Kanke has claimed the top spot on the strength of a second place finish in the season opener at Phoenix and a dominating win in the last event at Cajon Speedway. Rounding out the top five in the point standings are Auggie Vidovich Jr., Darrell LaMoure, Greg Pursley, and Jim Pettit II after a his series best second place finish at Cajon Speedway.
Scott Brandt of Kalispell, Mont. and young Burney Lamar are tied atop the Rookie point standings over ten other racers who are battling for the prestigious Rookie-of-the-Year honor. Joing Brandt on the long tow to series events and Rookie battle is Eddie McKean from Jerome, Idaho, who was the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Great West Regional champion in 1991 and 1994.
The event at Mesa Marin is a favorite stop on the series as more than 45 cars will attempt to qualify for one of 30 starting spots in the $33,720 COORS Light "125".
Jon Nelson, driving the REF Motorsports/Ultra Wheels Pontiac this season, was the pole sitter at the Spring event last year with a time of 18.050 seconds. Nelson currently sits 14th in the point standings after a disappointing finish at Cajon Speedway, but is sure to figure into the championship hunt at seasons end. Frank Adamo holds the qualifying record of 17.839. This season the all series competitors will be competing on Goodyear racing tires.
The Featherlite Southwest Series is one of nine NASCAR Touring
Series that blanket the United States. NASCAR Touring brings special events
to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways
and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an
entire career, or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving
through the NASCAR ranks. Corporate sponsors make significant contributions
to NASCAR Touring Series point funds. The sponsors include Anheuser-Busch,
Featherlite Trailers, Gatorade, Goody's Headache Powders, O'Reilly Auto
Parts, Raybestos Brakes, RE/MAX International, Inc., and R.J. Reynolds brand Winston.
