ROOKIES CHALLENGE VETERANS EARLY THIS SEASON IN NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES COMPETITION

Rookie drivers in the NASCAR Winston West Series have mounted an early season challenge to the veterans of the circuit - with two members of the freshman class already laying claim to victory and several others vying for it.

A win at Las Vegas in the second race of the year propelled rookie Mark Reed to the top of the championship standings. A victory by fellow-freshman Johnny Borneman III at Tucson Raceway Park in the third race vaulted him into the top-five, as well.

Three other rookies have also grabbed the spotlight early this season. Tony Schmidt led the most laps at Tucson, winning the Bud Pole Award, and nearly winning the race - before settling for second. Tim Woods III led at the midway point in two events, Tucson and Bakersfield. Ross Thompson, meanwhile, started on outside of the front row at Las Vegas and collected a top10 finish there and at Tucson.

The success of these newcomers has increased the level of competition in the NASCAR Winston West Series and left some talented veterans hungry for a tap-five finish this season.

Since launching his racing career in 1975 -- Reed, 32, has competed in go-karts, dirt late model stocks and late model stock cars. He is a veteran of the Featherlite Southwest Series, one of nine NASCAR Touring divisions -where he is a multiple winner and finished in the top 10 of the standings in 1996 and 1997. The Bakersfield, Calif., competitor raced in six NASCAR Winston West Series events without much success in 1990 and 1991. He returned to the series in five races last year to claim one top-five and three top-10 finishes. Behind the wheel of the Food A Less-sponsored Pontiac this season -Reed has notched one win, three top-five and four tap-10 finishes in the first four races and is first in the championship standings.

Borneman, 23, is a second-generation NASCAR Winston West Series competitor from Ramona, Calif. His father, John Borneman Jr., raced the circuit in the late 1970s and early 19805 winning at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., in 1978. The younger Borneman developed his early racing skills competing in go-karts and late model stock rare. In the five NWWS events he raced in last season, Borneman had one tap-five and four top-10 finishes - coming within a lap of winning at Monterey. He is fourth in the standings this year - with one win and two top-10 finishes in the Red Line Oil/Borneman Plastering Ford.

The 2001 season marks a return for 26-year-old Ross Thompson to the NASCAR Winston West Series. Thompson, who began his racing career in 1994, finished sixth in the Trans-Am Series standings in 199$. He turned his attention to NASCAR in 1999, competing in three NWWS races and three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events. Last year the Phoenix driver focused on the Featherlite Southwest Series, where he netted a victory while running a limited schedule. Driving the Triton Realty Motorsports Ford in NASCAR Winston West Series competition this season, Thompson has two top-10 finishes and is currently 1e in the series point standings.

Woods, 24, joined the NASCAR Winston West Series after a successful campaign during the 2000 season in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series super late model stock cars at Irwindale (Calif) Speedway. The Chino Hills, Calif, competitor grew up racing go-karts and later competed in the Ultra Wheels Spec Truck Series - where he won the rookie title in 1998. Woods, who made his NASCAR Winston West Series debut in last year's finale at Irwindale, drives a Ford sponsored by Chino Hills Ford and Copper Hills Homes. Woods' father, Leonard Woods, and his grandfather, Tim Woods, were part of the Hall of Fame drag racing team known as "Stone, Woods and Cook." The team competed in the A/Gas Supercharged ranks and raced in the1960s and early 1970s.

Schmidt, 30, began racing in 1995 and spent much of his early career competing in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series late model division at Portland (Ore.) Speedway. He won the rookie title his first year and finished in the top five of the final standings in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. He also competed on a limited schedule in the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, NASCAR Touring division, from 1998 to 2000. Schmidt raced in the final two events on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule last season. Driving the Schmidt Racing Pontiac - the Newburg, Ore., competitor has one top-five finish so far this season.

Other drivers who registered for this year's NASCAR Winston West Series rookie program - but have run a limited schedule - include Brett Thompson of Jerome, Idaho; Dennis Hannel of Murphys, Calif.; and Scott Lynch of Burley, Idaho.

Reed, who was the top finishing freshman driver in three of the four races so far this season, leads the standings in the chase for the prestigious rookie title with 37 points. Borneman is second on the list with 33, followed by Ross Thompson with 27, Woods with 25 and Schmidt with 17. Brett Thompson trails with 11, followed by Lynch with nine and Hannel with three.

The next event on the NASCAR Winston West Series schedule is the Pontiac Widetrack Grand Prix 200 at California Speedway on April 28. The race is a prelude to the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division, event and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series event at the two-mile super speedway.

Nine NASCAR Touring Series blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR super speedways arid road courses. NASCAR Touring Series are extremely popular with fans and competitors. 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. These sponsors include Anheuser-Busch, Featherlite, Gatorade, Goody's Headache Powders, Raybestos Brakes, RE/MAX International, Inc., and RJ Reynolds' brand Winston.

News Index | E-mail to a Friend