Saturday’s SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series “Sigma Engineering Solutions 154” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway">The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the final event of the 2011 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series championship season.
NEWS and NOTES OF INTEREST:
• RACE FORMAT – The race distance is 154 laps, the “Sigma Engineering Solutions 154” will stop at half-way on lap 77 for the teams to take on fuel. Anytime during the race the teams will be allowed to make a live pit stop to change right side tires – tires may not be changed during the lap 77 break.
• CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE – Exactly 40 points separate Jim Pettit II and Jacob Gomes for the series point lead heading to Vegas, 1437 to 1397. Derek Thorn is 78 points back of the lead, M.K. Kanke is 97 back and both drivers still have a mathematical shot at the title. Pettit will secure the championship with an 8th place finish or better, even if Gomes wins on Saturday.
• BIG MONEY – With the help of Century Boatland, the winner’s share of the prize money for the “Sigma Engineering Solutions 154 ” will be $5,000.
• ONE-YEAR AGO - Defending race winner Jim Pettit held off Brennan Newberry to win last year’s SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series season finale.
• ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR – Ken Benhamou holds an 8-point lead over Michael Sandoval, 1114 to 1106, in the Victory Circle Rookie-of-the-Year standings. The winner will be awarded a new Victory Circle Elite chassis.
• RAUDMAN RETURNS - Four former Southwest Tour Series champions have submitted entries for Saturday’s event: Craig Raudman – 2001 champion, Dave Byrd – 2007, Jim Pettit II – 2004, 2005, 2008, and M.K. Kanke – 2009. Raudman will be driving the John Gomez owned Heritage Motorsports #22.
• BULLRING WINNER’S - Past SRL ‘Bullring’ Winners – M.K. Kanke (2009 and April 2011), Derek Thorn (May 2010), Jim Pettit (October 2010), and Jacob Gomes (May 2011).
• SRL SEASON DEBUT – Darren Bucklen of Greeley, CO, Donny St. Ours of Upland, CA, and Blake Williams of Spokane, WA will all be making their first career SRL starts this weekend, and Craig Raudman of Cottonwood, CA, Bob Lyon of Aqua Dolce, CA, and Ryan Reed traveling from Mooresville, NC will be making their first SRL starts of 2011.
• RPMTVONLINE.COM RETURNS – RpmtvOnline.com will be on hand at the SRL season finale to produce and webcast the “Sigma Engineering Solutions 154”.
• TICKETS - Adults- $12 Senior/Military- $12 Family 4-Pak- $28 Kids- $6.
The Race: The Sigma Engineering Solutions 154
The Place: The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, October 29, 2011 (Open SRL Practice October 28th)
Track Layout: 3/8-mile paved oval
SRL Track Record: Ross Strmiska 14.363 seconds
Current SRL Top 10: Jim Pettit II 1437, Jacob Gomes 1397, Derek Thorn 11359, M.K. Kanke 1340 points, Ross Strmiska 1319, Keith Spangler 1293, Dave Byrd 1249, Eric Holmes 1179, Ken Benhamou 1114, Carlos Vieira 1110.
SRL Event Sponsors: Sigma Engineering Solutions, Inc, Century Boatland, Hoosier Tire, SUNOCO Race Fuels, Bay BioDiesel, and Coors Light.
