JASON SMALL TO RETURN HOME IN NWWS

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 10/10/1999

Jason Small (www.jasonsmall.com) has visited a lot of race tracks that were new to him this year as he competed in his rookie season in the NASCAR Winston West series. The next stop on the schedule is one that is avery familiar to him, however.

The circuit heads to Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., for the Re-Refined Oil 250 on Oct. 17. The event is part of the 23rd annual October Classic at the high banked, 1/2-mile facility.

The race marks a homecoming for Small to the track where he competed as a teenager in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series late model stock car division during the past three years. "I always love going back home and racing for all the fans there," Small said. "I get all my friends to go out and watch me and that pumps me up even more."

Despite the excitement of competing on his hometown track, Small said he does not have a special approach to the race. "It's not like I have any different focus than going to any other race track, : he said. "When you go home, you always want to run a little bit better. And sometimes things go just a little bit better. But you can't always expect that."

Small finished fifth when the series visited Mesa Marin Raceway earlier this season. He is hoping to improve on that finish in this event. "We got a little loos on the longer runs ad we need to fix that," Small said. "I need to be a little more patient and not use up my race car and my brakes. If everything goes like it should we should finish in the top five - I hope."

Small leads the chase for the Sears Point Raceway Rookie-of-the-Year Award with two events remaining on this year's 14 race schedule. He is 11th in the overall championship standings and has two top-five and six top-ten finishes.

Despite his success this year, Small said the leap from racing in the NASCAR WInston Racing Series to competing in the NASAR Winston West Series was not an easy one. "It was a big jump for everybody," he said. A lack of sufficient sponsorship also has made it a struggle, as well, he continued. "But I'm really happy. The NASCAR Winston Weest Series is a great series. Our goal this year has been to finish races and the points will take care of themselves. I would love to be the rookie of the year and that is what we are working toward.

Small credits his experience at Mesa Marin Raceway for helping prepare him for the level of competition he has faced this year. "there is nine or 10 guys here that could win at any race. It's tough" Small Said. "Racing at Mesa Marin helped me a lot. We had four or five track champions that I raced hard with and they taught me a lot."

Although Small leads the chase for the rookie title, it's not an award he expected to contend for this season. "When we qualified on the pole at Tucson, we were pretty excited and went home and decided to run it. Once we started going, we were really looking at that rookie of the year award. I think we can win it. We have just got to keep finishing."

Small leads the standings for the rookie title with 94 points over Sammy Potashnick with 90. John Metcalf trails with 79, followed by Brendan Gaughan with 77, Jerry Cain with 62, Rick Ware with 47 Davy Lee Liniger with 29 and Bobby Pangonis with 18.

Despite the close competition for the rookie title, Small says he doe not focus on finishing ahead of certain drivers. "Going into the race, you are not looking at just beating somebody. You have got to finish. And if you beat them, you beat them. If not, you take your loss and go on to the next track.

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