IRWINDALE, California -- Jim Pettit II, fresh off three straight top-10 finishes, enters this weekend's NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series event at Irwindale Speedway with high hopes.
"We're finally running the way we should have been running all year," Pettit said after finishing 6th in the #03 Hall Kinion/Career Builder/BayPac Racing Ford at Madera Speedway. "I'm looking forward to getting down to Irwindale."
Pettit has reason for optimism. After struggling with various gremlins throughout the first half of the season, the BayPac crew has worked hard and seems to have a handle on the new equipment. That hard work has translated into three consecutive top-10 finishes: a 6th place finish at Mesa Marin, a 4th place finish at Altamont and a 6th place finish at Madera.
Along the way Pettit has worked his way into the 7th spot in the overall driver standings, and with just four races to go on the 2002 schedule, finds himself a mere 16 points out of the top-5.
"A top-5 at the end of the season is what we have been shooting for all along," said team owner Jesse Rhodes. "The guys have worked hard and Jim continues to show why he's one of the best drivers in the series."
Pettit hasn't had much success at Irwindale in the past. A 12th place finish in April of 2001 is his best showing in four appearances on the ultra-fast ˝-mile oval, but Pettit feels this time around the team is ready to take it to the next level.
"This track hasn't been good to us in the past, but this will be the fifth time we've run there in a little over a year, so the knowledge we have gained over that period of time should help us out," said Pettit, who has completed the most laps of any driver this season, completing 1,198 out of a possible 1218 run.
If you want to meet Jim Pettit or any of the other drivers on the Southwest Series, Saturday night at Irwindale is a great chance. The track will stage their On-Track Autograph Session between 6 and 6:30 PM. The race will begin some time after 8:00 PM.
"Hall Kinion, the talent source(tm) is a global leader in world-class contract and direct-hire technology talent. They provide specialized IT and engineering professionals in 15 critical industries including: Technology, Telecom, Medical and Healthcare, Finance, Energy and Government. Their 30 offices around the globe help companies maximize their investment in human capital. The right talent. The right fit. The first time. Visit them at www.hallkinion.com. "
CareerBuilder® is the fastest-growing recruitment powerhouse connecting employers with the right talent and professionals with the right jobs - in print and online. They can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.careerbuilder.com.
