DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Like most of his competition in the NASCAR Camping World Series West, Jim Inglebright is always looking forward to the next race on the schedule. In this case, the next race is the biggest of the year – the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) on Jan. 29-30.
"“I just went to the karting Supernationals in Vegas. I had a really good run there and learned a lot in the go-kart that I think is going to transition over into the stock car. I’m really anxious to get back behind the wheel of the car."— Jim Inglebright
Inglebright has a special reason to look ahead to the all-star race that drivers have referred to as the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing.’ With a win this season – the veteran West Coast driver from Fairfield, Calif., secured a starting spot in the prestigious event.
“All the best short-track racers are at this race,” Inglebright said. “Realistically, it’s the biggest race of the season for all of us.”
With action from both nights of competition airing live on SPEED, it provides an opportunity for national exposure, Inglebright pointed out. “It’s a chance for us to try to showcase our talent,” he said. “So, it’s important to run well.”
Inglebright is coming off an up-and-down season in which, although he cut back to a limited schedule, he was still successful – with a victory on the road course at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. He is optimistic about also doing well in this postseason event and hopes to avoid some of the bad luck he encountered during the year in the NASCAR Camping World Series West.
“I’m pretty optimistic,” Inglebright said. “I’m probably a little more prepared this year than I was last year. But I’m going down there like everybody else, with both barrels loaded and ready to go. After the season that we had, I’m just hoping not to get a flat tire.”
Knowing that he has a secured spot in the big race will likely impact the way he and his Roadrunner Motorsports team focus their attention going into the event, Inglebright indicated.
“We’ll probably approach the whole weekend a lot different, knowing that we are guaranteed a spot,” he said. “We won’t focus as much on qualifying, even though you need to qualify well. We’ll probably work on the longer run stuff.”
In addition to looking for a strong performance from himself in this event, Inglebright is hoping for other West Coast drivers to step up their game, as well.
“We want to run good in our own backyard,” he stressed. “The East Coast guys have been coming out here and running real well. We need to redeem ourselves. We all need to get back up on the wheel.”
Running a limited schedule this past season, meanwhile, allowed Inglebright to spend more time in another motor sports forum he enjoys - racing go-karts. He is hopeful some of his success in that arena will transfer over to his effort in his stock car.
“I just went to the karting Supernationals in Vegas,” Inglebright said. “I had a really good run there and learned a lot in the go-kart that I think is going to transition over into the stock car. I’m really anxious to get back behind the wheel of the car.”
The seventh running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be highlighted by the 225-lap Camping World Series all-star race. Each race winner during the 2009 Camping World Series season is eligible for a protected starting spot, as are the 2009 champions from each of NASCAR’s six regional touring series and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion.
In addition to eligible 2009 race winners and series champions, the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, limited provisionals for Camping World Series regulars, and the last-chance "Open" race that provides drivers one final chance to make the grid.
The 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown schedule also includes 100-lap Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model and 75-lap Late Model races.
