BAKERSFIELD, California — As the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series prepares for its stretch run to the 2010 championship, many new drivers have entered the series to compete in the second half of the season. Some drivers are new to the series such as Ryan Reed of Bakersfield and Bobby Hodges of Carson City, Nevada. Others are returning veterans like Dan Holtz and Mike Lay who will make their first SRL start of 2010 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on September 4th.
More than 35 teams are expected for the upcoming “NTS, Inc. 100” at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, the sixth of ten races of the 2010 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series.
Josh Combs of Sacramento, CA will be returning to the SRL after devoting the first half of his season to the K&N Pro Series West. Last year’s Irwindale winner, Troy Ermish will also be back with the SRL after focusing on the full K&N Pro Series this season.
Holtz, a two-time Mesa Marin Raceway track champion, and regular on the NASCAR Southwest Tour and SRL for many years will be back behind the wheel of his familiar red #23 Pipeline Trucking Ford. “Man, I‘ve been waiting for this all year. There is such a buzz about this series and the teams are so tough this year. Nothing compares to driving these tour cars. I can’t wait for Irwindale.” commented Holtz.
Another former SRL regular, Mike Lay of Clovis, will make his first start of the year.
After debuting with a 10th place finish at Madera on June 26th, sixteen-year-old Cole Cabrera will be back behind the wheel of his Maxum Petroleum Ford. Another sixteen-year-old driver making a follow up to his SRL debut will be Ryan Reed.
Three drivers will make their first career SRL start on September 4th: Chris Winter and Chris Holloway who have been regulars at Toyota Speedway and Bobby Hodges, the 2008 West Car Late Models Sportsman of the Year.
After missing the last SRL event following surgery to remove some surgical hardware from his hip, defending SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series champion M.K. Kanke will return to competition.
Following the Irwindale event, the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series will make stops at Madera Speedway on September 25th, All-American Speedway in Roseville on October 16th and the 200 lap championship finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway">The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 30th.
