Rancho Santa Margarita, California (April 18, 2001) -- Craig Raudman, driver of Dave Reed Racing's #2 Yerf-dog Fun Karts/ITPS Chevrolet in the Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring and NASCAR Winston West Series, had hopes of notching his tenth Southwest Series victory in the April 7th Coors Light 125 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.
Since that event was rescheduled due to inclement weather, Raudman's quest for his tenth win was postponed to this Saturday's Foods 4 Less "150" at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
"We'll take it anywhere we can make it happen," Raudman said. "We had a winning car at Irwindale last October. If we can recreate that car again this weekend, we'll have a good shot at the win."
Raudman was positioned for an easy win in last October's 150-lap event on Irwindale's half-mile oval. A late race restart bunched the cars up and, with the competition pressuring him hard, Raudman lost his lead after skidding in oil in turn two left by a previous racing incident. Raudman finished the race in second place.
Tracy Norman, crew chief, and the team have already demonstrated their talents this year in putting fast cars under their driver. Raudman has already collected his first Bud Pole Award in the 2001 Southwest Series season at Cajon Speedway in El Cajon, Calif., bringing his career total in the Series to ten.
Raudman also won the pole and finished second in last month's season-opening NASCAR Late Model 100 at Mesa Marin. That finish was especially significant since he had to work his way from the rear of the field following an incident mid-way through the event.
Dave Reed Racing operates NASCAR Winston West and Featherlite Southwest
Series, NASCAR Touring teams featuring Craig Raudman as driver. Raudman
has collected nine wins and ten Bud Pole Awards throughout his Southwest
Series career, and finished in the top five in final points standings
in four of his past five full Southwest Series seasons.
