TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Jonathon Gomez of Twin Falls, Idaho begins his fourth season of racing competition on the biggest stage for short track racers. Gomez and his team head to Southern California for the “Daytona 500 of Short Track Racing”, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star showdown which brings together the best of the best from across the nation for a live television event this Friday and Saturday from Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA.
Gomez enters the 2010 campaign with his sights set on success in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the Showdown event is a good benchmark for his young team. Over the winter, the team has purchased new cars from Brian Ickler and recently acquired the equipment used last season by MJ2 Racing. According to team owner John Gomez, they are ready and prepared. “We have been working real hard to put all the right pieces in place and the Showdown is a great event to see where we are at,” Gomez stated.
Gomez has also secured Craig Raudman to prepare the equipment and crew chief the operation for a second year. Raudman is a championship winning driver who has also been extremely successful in the K&N Pro Series as a crew chief setting several track records and preparing race winning cars. “The Gomez family has really put a lot into this season and we have what it takes to be competitive,” Raudman said. “Jonathon is a good young driver and gets better every time out. The Showdown will be a good test for the team as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
Compared to his peers, the 27-year old Gomez is relatively inexperienced behind the wheel but his lack of seat time has not stopped him from achieving success. Gomez won local championships at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls, ID before venturing into regional racing in 2009. He finished fifth in the final standings for the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series last season along with making two ARCA RE/MAX Series starts along with six starts in the K&N Pro Series.
“I am looking forward to the Showdown and being in a competitive car,” Gomez said. Last year, we did not do too well and really we were not prepared. We have been working on our cars all winter and feel we have a great shot. We have to qualify to make the show and I have a lot of confidence in Craig to put a set-up under that we get us in the show.”
Jonathon Gomez enters his fourth year of competitive racing having won local track titles at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls. He has started eight NASCAR K&N Pro Series races with three top ten finishes last season. Gomez plans to contest the full NKNPS schedule in 2010 along with making select Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series starts this season.
Jonathon Gomez is supported by United Oil, Heritage Cattle Company, Century Boatland, J&C Custom Harvesting, and Gomez Farms. For more information on Jonathon Gomez, please log onto his website at www.jonathongomez.com.
