EL CAJON, California -- For 43 years Cajon Speedway has showcased motorsports entertainment to San Diego area race fans, and for the 18th consecutive season the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series will be the headliner on the dance card. Several local area drivers hope to make their home town fans proud on Saturday, April 5 in the running of the COORS Light "125".
Cajon Speedway has hosted 21 Featherlite Southwest Series races since 1986, with several drivers collecting two wins each on the 3/8-mile paved oval. But Cajon Speedway is not a track where a driver can simply dominate over the years. You have to have plenty of luck on your side.
Cajon Speedway is a track where a good qualifying lap will mean the difference between watching the race from your windshield or watching it from the stands. So a good qualifying lap will be at a premium as drivers of the Featherlite Southwest Series attempt to qualify for one of 22 starting positions in Saturday's 125-lap race and vie for their share of $44,871 in posted awards.
The unique layout of Cajon Speedway means that you have to give something up to be fast. Turns one and two are very different than turns three and four; a car must have good forward bite in order to be fast. One driver looking to tame the track is Auggie Vidovich Jr. of nearby Lakeside, Calif.
"The track is tough," said Vidovich. "The new tire this year will make it interesting as you won't be able to drive the car deep in the corner like in the past. The guy that can get out of four the best is going to be fast."
Vidovich leads the point standings on the strength of two top-five performances in the first two events and knows a strong showing at Cajon Speedway is vital for a run at the championship. "I have rededicated myself this season," Vidovich said. "I am spending every night at the race shop learning as much as I can. The team is working real hard on preparing great cars, and so far I have been able to do my job on the track."
When asked what he thinks his chances are at Cajon Speedway on Saturday, Vidovich hints at his optimism. "I think we will do real well," Vidovich said. "I have run competitive in the past and at this point in the season, I am in better shape then I have ever been. I think we have a real chance to put the PG Series Chevrolet back into victory lane."
Another driver that feels some optimism, and who currently sits sixth in the point standings, is Randy Nelson from El Cajon. Nelson, a former Dwarf Car champion, looks to take the next big step in his racing career and so far he is making a steady climb. "We do have a lot of desire, and were are very focused on making the most out of every race, and so far it has gone pretty well," Nelson Said.
Defending Featherlite Southwest Series champion Eddy McKean from Jerome, Idaho likes his chances at Cajon. "We continue to learn new things about our car," McKean said. "Since we went to a new shock package from Naake Motorsports, we have made some big gains in our short track program. I am a lot more comfortable going into Cajon this year then I have been in the past."
For third generation driver Brandon Whitt from El Cajon, Calif., returning to Cajon Speedway brings a lot of pressure and expectations. "We finished fifth here last season," Whitt said. "With all my family and friends down here I really want to do well. This is where my family's racing tradition got started, and I have some high expectations about the race. My crew has worked very hard this season to give me a car capable of winning each week and there is no track I'd rather win at then Cajon."
The COORS Light "125" is set to take the green flag at 8:30 pm PST this Saturday with the home town boys looking to upstage the series regulars at a track where a hometown advantage may pay big dividends.
- The race within the race … Six drivers are tied with 14 points each atop the Victory Circle Chassis Rookie-of-the-Year leader board. Frank Deiny Jr., Thomas Martin, JR Patton, Greg Voigt, Randy Nelson, and Kevin Vernon.
- How many cars? More than 35 cars have pre-entered the COORS Light "125" with several hometown heroes from the El Cajon area. Drivers include Randy Nelson, Brandon Whitt, Joe Herold, Eddie Bryans, Don Kerr, Todd McLauchlan, Mark Meech, and Jeff Seifert.
- M.K. Kanke has won the last two trips to Cajon Speedway, but will not be defending his race wins in 2003.
- Darrell LaMoure of Phoenix, Ariz. welcomes NAPA Auto Parts and Yerf-Dog Fun Karts as sponsors to his team in 2003. LaMoure continues to bring awareness regarding missing children to fans through his Racing for the Missing program. At each series race this season LaMoure and Yerf-Dog will raffle a Yerf-Dog Fun Kart at the race. Proceeds will be spilt between the Racing for the Missing program and the track's selected charity.
- Driver to keep your eye on: Auggie Vidovich Jr. has two top five finishes at Cajon Speedway and currently leads the point standings. He has never won at his home town track and is seeking a return to victory lane.
- Hoosier Racing Tire is the official tire of the NASCAR Elite Division in 2003 and will award 32 tires to eligible car owners at each series event. Hoosier will also award two tires to the highest eligible Rookie-of-the-Year candidate's car owner.
- Featherlite Southwest Series contingency sponsors include: Anheuser-Busch, Auto Meter Products, Edelbrock Intake Manifolds, Featherlite Trailers, Five Star, Flowmaster, G-Force, Goody's Headache Powder, Holley Carburetors, Hoosier Tires, JR Pistons, Mac Tools, Mobil 1 Oil, Moroso, MSD, Penske Shocks, Powerade, Quarter Master, Quick Car, Raybestos Brakes, "76" Race Gasoline, Victory Circle Chassis, and Wix Air Filters.
Randy Nelson returns to his home track on quite a roll. Through the first two events he has finishes of 11th at Phoenix, 15th at Mesa Marin and sits 6th in the point standings.
"El Cajon is where my family's tradition got started." - Brandon Whitt (No. 28 MOEN Pontiac).
Several drivers have won two races at Cajon Speedway in Featherlite Southwest Series competition, Roman Calcyznski (86, 88), Troy Beebe (87, 88), Dan Press (89, 90), Rick Carelli (91, 92), Chris Raudman (96, 97), Craig Raudman (95, 99) but it is M.K. Kanke who has won three times on the tricky 3/8-mile paved oval (93, 01, 02).
- What:
- COORS Light "125". Race 3 of 14 for the NASCAR Elite Division, Featherlite Southwest Series.
- Where:
- Cajon Speedway, El Cajon, CA.
- When:
- 8:30 p.m. PT, Saturday, April 5.
- Track layout:
- 3/8-mile banked paved oval.
- Race length:
- 125 laps, 46.875 miles.
- Posted awards:
- $44,871
- 2002 winner:
- M.K. Kanke
- 2002 pole winner:
- Rocky Nash
- Qualifying Record:
- Bruce Bechtel, Chevrolet, 15.381 seconds, 87.771 mph, June 6, 2000.
- Pre-race schedule (all times local):
- 10:00 am Haulers Enter, 11:00 am Registration and Inspection begin, 12:30 pm Mandatory Driver's & Crew Chief's Meeting, 1:00 pm Mandatory Rookie Driver's Meeting, 1:30 pm Qualifying Draw, 2-4:00 pm Practice, 5:00 pm Time Trials, 7:30 pm 25-lap Qualifying Race, 8:30 pm COORS Light "125"
- Ticket information:
- Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
