WHAT: CRUISE AMERICA 125
Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring Race No. 14 of 14
WHERE: Phoenix Int’l. Raceway, Phoenix, Ariz.
One-Mile Paved
WHEN: Thursday, November 7, 2002 – 3:45 p.m. PST
DISTANCE: 125 Laps/125 Miles
POSTED AWARDS: $110,600
FIELD: 41 cars possible. The fastest 33 cars through time trials with two provisional starting positions (34th & 35th) available to the top 30 drivers based on the current 2002 Featherlite Southwest Series point standings, who have not qualified for one of the original 33 starting positions, provided eligible drivers attempt to qualify. The 36th and 37th starting positions are available to the highest 30 car owners in the current 2002 Featherlite Southwest Series point standings who have not qualified for one of the original 33 starting positions. Provisional starting position 38th is available to any Featherlite Southwest Series past champion who participated as a driver in 2001. Provisional position 39th is available to the top 30 drivers in the current 2002 RE/MAX Challenge Series standings who has not qualified for one of the original 33 positions. Provisional position 40th is available to the top 30 drivers in the current 2002 All Pro Series point standings who has not qualified for one of the top 33 starting positions. Provisional position 41st is available to the top 30 drivers in the current 2002 Raybestos Brakes NW series point standings who has not qualified for one of the top 33 starting positions.
SANCTION: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR)
PROMOTER: Phoenix Speedway Corporation
SCHEDULE:
| Tuesday, November 5 | |
| 11:00 a.m. | Haulers enter |
| 12:00 p.m. | Registration/Inspection to 5:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, November 6 | |
| 6:00 a.m. | Registration/Inspection |
| 7:00 a.m. | Garage opens |
| 8:00 a.m. | Mandatory Rookie Meeting |
| 8:00 a.m. | Drawing for Qualifying Order |
| 10:00 a.m. | Practice to 12:00 p.m. |
| 2:00 p.m. | Time Trials (2-laps)(Fastest 33) |
| Wednesday, November 6 | |
| 6:00 a.m. | Garage Opens |
| 8:25 | Final Practice to 8:55 a.m. |
| 12:45 p.m. | Mandatory Driver and Crew Chief meeting |
THE RACE TRACK: Phoenix Int’l Raceway is a one-mile paved oval track.
| RECORDS: | Driver | Date | Speed | Time |
| QUALIFYING: 1-lap | Dan Holtz | 2/2/02 | 132.885 mph | 27.091 sec. |
| RACE: 50-laps | Ken Schrader | 2/1/98 | 126.939 mph | 23 min, 38 sec |
| RACE: 100-laps | Garrett Evans | 11/3/00 | 91.673 mph | 1 hr, 5 min, 27 sec |
| RACE: 125-laps | Ken Schrader | 2/2/02 | 86.108 mph | 1 hr, 12 min, 28 sec |
| RACE: 186-laps | Scott Hansen | 10/31/97 | 97.411 mph | 1 hr, 54 min, 34 sec |
- Eddy McKean leads M.K. Kanke by 43 points going into the finale at PIR. McKean has two straight runner-up finishes at the Desert Jewell and looks to put the icing on a championship season.
- Brandon Whitt of El Cajon, Calif. needs only to start the Cruise America “125” to claim Rookie-of-the-Year honors for 2002.
- Darrell LaMoure of Phoenix hopes to make his first start of the season in his return to the series after a practice crash at PIR put him on the sidelines for all of this season.
- Since 1988, six drivers have multiple wins on the d-shaped oval. Scott Hansen (4), Rick Carelli (4), Ken Schrader (4), Garrett Evans (2), Dick Trickle (2), and Ron Hornaday Jr. (2).
- More than 60 cars from all of NASCAR’s four Regional Late Model Touring series have pre-registered for this event including 2002 RBNWS Champion Kevin Hamlin, plus drivers from the RE/MAX Series and All Pro Series.
- Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has posted award tires for all events in
2002, which include 32 tires to be distributed to eligible Featherlite
Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring car owners per event.
October 25, 2001 FSWS PIR Top 10
1. John Zaretske
2. Eddy McKean
3. Ken Schrader
4. Ken Kaltschmidt
5. Jeff Jefferson
6. Gary Lewis
7. Scott Hansen
8. Burney Lamar
9. Kevin Hamlin
10. Auggie Vidovich Jr.
Complete Race ResultsOctober 25, 2001 RACE REVIEW: Matt Crafton returning to the series for his first start of 2001 won the Bud Pole Award with a time of 27.702/129.955 mph and started the 125-lap race on the pole. Crafton led the first 39 laps before Ken Schrader assumed the point. Schrader led to lap 54 when the leaders all pitted. Auggie Vidovich led laps 55-72 until eventual series champion Craig Raudman took his turn at the point on lap 73. Raudman lost the lead on lap 78 when his day ended with a broken fuel pump. Vidovich reassumed the lead on lap 79 and led through lap 88. Schrader worked his way back to the front and led laps 89-100. Schrader pitted on lap 100 giving the lead to John Zaretske who pitted out of sequence with the leader and held the point for the final 25 laps to collect his first Featherlite Southwest Series victory.
October 25, 2001 RACE STATS
Bud Pole: Matt Crafton 27.702/129.955 mph
Time of Race: 1 hr, 37 min, 25 sec
Average Speed: 76.988 mph
Margin of Victory: .107 seconds
Caution Flags: Eight for 46 Laps
Lap Leaders: Matt Crafton 1-39, Ken Schrader 40-54, Auggie Vidovich 55-72, Craig Raudman 73-78, Vidovich 79-88, Schrader 89-100, John Zaretske 101-125. Seven lead changes among five drivers.Previous FSWS Winners at Phoenix Int’l Raceway 2002- Ken Schrader 2001- John Zaretske 2001-Ken Schrader 2000-Garrett Evans 2000-Rick Carelli 1999-Jim Inglebright 1998-Garrett Evans 1998-Ken Schrader 1997-Scott Hansen 1997-Rick Carelli 1996-Scott Hansen 1995-Rick Carelli 1995-Scott Hansen 1994-Ron Hornaday Jr. 1994-Rick Carelli 1993-Brett Bell 1993-Scott Hansen 1992-Doug George 1992-Ken Schrader 1991-Toby Butler 1991-Ron Hornaday Jr. 1990-Dick Trickle 1989-Dick Trickle 1988-Jim Thirkettle 
