NICK JOANIDES TO MAKE SEASON DEBUT AT IRWINDALE


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Dec 2, 2008

NASCAR SOUTHWEST TOUR

Source: Joanides Media Relations
Date: 08/24/2003

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Due to a lack of sponsorship, Nick Joanides has not yet raced in 2003, however thanks to a last minute partnership with Jackson Race Cars and Gail Chase, he will make his season debut in the Nascar Featherlite Southwest Series at Irwindale Speedway this Saturday, with sponsorship help coming from Colorfast and Kadee Construction. Nick and the team tested at the track on Friday with very positive results. "I am very pleased with the test and was pleasantly surprised that we came out of the box as fast as we did", Joanides said. "But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the Jackson's have always built great race cars and we've always run up front and I look forward to doing that this weekend". Nick and the team made minor changes throughout the day and continuously got faster, posting lap times competitive with the fastest cars on the track by the end of the night.

Nick and this same combination ran very fast last year and were a threat to win at almost every race, with their Jackson race car, Ed Hansen Engine and Colorfast as a sponsor. "This is just a great opportunity for me and I can't thank everyone involved enough for bringing this together", Joanides commented.

Nick returns to the track that essentially put an end to his season in 2002. While running in the top 10, with less than 10 laps to go, a car bounced off the wall and caught Nick in the right rear quarter panel, sending his car into the pit exit wall and causing a horrific looking crash that destroyed the car. Afterward, Nick voiced his displeasure with the track's layout, in which changes were made the following week. "I don't quite a 100%, but I am proud of the quick response by Irwindale Speedway to make significant changes to the track that should greatly improve the safety of the track", said Nick, and continues, "It's an awesome facility and I've always run really good there, just have not had very good luck. I look forward to getting some redemption with a good finish on Saturday!" Nick did run the Open Comp Super Late Model Event there at the end of least season and had charged from a mid-pack starting position into the top 3 in Jackson Race Cars' house car, however flat tire midway through the race forced him to pit and buried him deep in the field in the 26th position for the restart. Nick managed to charge through the field and finish sixth. In a previous race, Nick started last in a 28 car, 15 lap B-main and finished 2nd and then charged from 30th in the A-main to the top 5 in just 25 laps, passing a total of 50 cars in just 40 laps, before a broken rear-end ended his day. Needless to say, all of Nick's races that the fast � mile race track have always been very eventful and Nick expects nothing less on Saturday night! Look for Nick in the #77 Jackson Race Cars Chevrolet Monte Carlo, it's sure to be an exciting race!

More information is available at www.joanides.com ####