DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- For 27 years, Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., has hosted more NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series races than any other track. Mesa Marin is known for action and has become the most prolific track on the West coast. Sunday, March 28 the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series returns for the 58th time in the running of the Star Nursery.Com "150".
For many drivers, a return to Mesa Marin conjures up special meaning as many of the past series' standouts have claimed victory on one the country's prized ovals. Names like Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Crafton, Ron Hornaday Jr., and Rick Carelli have all won at Mesa Marin Raceway.
For Craig Raudman, who resides in Bakersfield, a win at Mesa Marin holds special meaning for the 2001 Southwest Series champion. "This is my hometown, but more importantly, this is where Victory Circle Chassis is headquartered," Raudman said. "I really want to give Les (Denherder, Owner of Victory Circle) his first win as a car owner and to win at Mesa Marin is really important."
More than 35 drivers are expected to attempt to qualify for one of 30 starting positions in next Sunday's 150-lap race and vie for their share of $47,465 in posted awards in race three of the 14-race championship series.
Raudman has been a mainstay on the Southwest Series since the early 90's but has only claimed one win at his home track. "We have always been competitive here, but things have not always gone our way," Raudman said. "We still have a relatively new team, but we are much closer to where we need to be this year."
2003 might be a year that Raudman would like to forget as he finished 10th in the final standings and had no wins to his credit. But it was his performance at the inaugural NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown last November that has the 42-year-old driver anxious for a return to the big stage.
"I was very disappointed about our performance at the Showdown last year," Raudman said. "I want to win a second championship, but winning the Showdown is the most important thing on my mind. I relive the event every day."
Defending Southwest Series champion Auggie Vidovich from Lakeside, Calif. will make only a handful of starts this season while concentrating on competing on only the big tracks across the country in NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division competition. Vidovich has two wins on the high-banks of Mesa Marin.
Fresh off a victory last weekend at Madera (Calif.) Speedway, Jim Pettit II from Prunedale, Calif. looks to extend his point lead in the Southwest Series and feels that Mesa Marin owes him a little something. "We have had some great runs at Mesa Marin only to have the wheels come off," Pettit said. "We have been leading and cut a tire, leading and were crashed out, leading and the motor goes sideways. This time will be different."
Other notable drivers that are looking for a solid finish at Mesa Marin including Dan Holtz of Pacific Palisades, Calif. who currently sits seventh in the standings and dominated the race at MMR last March for his first career victory. He has also won the 2001 Late Model championship and is the 2002 and 2003 Super Late Model champion at Mesa Marin. M.K. Kanke is back running the series full-time after taking 2003 off. Kanke has four wins and 17 top five performances at Mesa Marin. Eric Holmes from Escalon, Calif. has won a race in each of the last two seasons at Mesa Marin and looks to firmly establish his Wild Cherry Pepsi Chevrolet as the car to beat in the championship.
The Star Nursery.Com "150" is set to take the green flag at 3:00 pm PDT Sunday, March 28. History is always in the making when the AutoZone Southwest Series is on track at Mesa Marin Raceway.
- The race within the race . Rip Michels (2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly
Series Sunbelt Region champion) tops the Autometer Rookie-of-the-Year leader
board for the first time this season. Mike Price, Todd Burns (2003 NASCAR
Dodge Weekly Series ShorTrack Division national champion), Nick Lynch, and
John Moore round out the top-five Rookies.
- How many cars? More than 35 cars have pre-entered the Star
Nursery.Com "150".
- Seven current drivers have victories at Mesa Marin Raceway. Drivers
include: Doug McCoun, Eric Holmes, Darrell LaMoure, M.K. Kanke, Auggie
Vidovich, Craig Raudman, and Bob Lyon. Mike Chase leads all drivers with
eight trips to victory lane.
- 18 drivers have started both events thus far this season with only
five drivers completing every lap contested.
- Driver to keep your eye on: Eric Holmes has moved back into second
place in the standings after a fourth place finish at PIR two weeks ago. He
stands 109 points behind Vidovich.
- Jim Pettit II leads the AutoZone Southwest Series standings for the
first time in his career. Pettit finished 3rd at Phoenix and picked up the
win at Madera March 13.
- Hoosier Racing Tire is the official tire of the NASCAR AutoZone
Elite Division in 2004 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.
- AutoZone Southwest Series contingency sponsors include:
Anheuser-Busch, Auto Meter Products, Competition Cams, CV Products,
Edelbrock Intake Manifolds, Featherlite Trailers, Five Star, G-Force, Holley
Carburetors, Hoosier Tires, JE Pistons, Mac Tools, Mechanix Wear, Mobil 1
Oil, Moroso, Powerade, Quarter Master, Raybestos Brakes, and Timken.
- Several AutoZone Elite Division teams will be in town early on Friday, March 26 for Mesa Marin's annual Downtown Street Festival. The festival features food, live entertainment, and race teams from all areas of motorsports. The Street Festival runs from 6-9 pm where more than 25,000 race are expected to attend.
- What:
- Star Nursery.Com "150". Race 3 of 14 in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series.
- Where:
- Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield, CA.
- When:
- 3:00 p.m. PDT, Sunday, March 28, 2004.
- Track layout:
- Half-mile paved oval.
- Race length:
- 150 laps, 75 miles.
- Posted awards:
- $47,465
- 2003 winner:
- Dan Holtz
- 2003 Bud Pole winner:
- Dan Holtz
- Qualifying Record:
- Frank Adamo, Chevrolet, 17.839 seconds, 100.903 mph, Oct 16, 1998.
- Pre-race schedule (all times local):
- Saturday 3/27 3:00 - 6:00 pm Registration , Sunday 3/28 6:00 am Haulers enter and Registration opens, 7:00 am Inspections begins, 8:15 am Mandatory Rookie Driver's meeting, 8:30 am Mandatory Driver's/Crew Chief's Meeting, 8:45 am Qualifying Draw, 9:00-10:30 am Practice, 11:30 am Mandatory Scorer's Meeting, 12:00 noon Time Trials (2 Laps), 1:30 pm Qualifying Race, 3:00 pm Star Nursery.Com "150".
- Track contact:
- Larry Collins (661) 366-5711.
- Ticket information:
- Log onto www.mesamarin.com or call (661) 366-5711.
