JEROME, Idaho -- For Eddy McKean, the 2002 AutoZone Southwest Series champion, racing is about the challenge of the track and the competition. This weekend’s event at Infineon Raceway in picturesque Sonoma valley of California will certainly test his skill and ability on the twisting 1.99 roadcourse.
The 2004 season started out with a bang as McKean captured the victory in the season opening event at Phoenix in dominating fashion. McKean scored sixth and fifth place finishes at the next two events, then a tenth place performance at Cajon Speedway. The wheels came off the McKean express at Stockton Speedway where McKean finished 21st after leading the first 54 laps. A 17th place finish at Irwindale dropped the former champion to fourth in the standings after six events.
Infineon Raceway serves as the pivotal track in the hunt for the championship as a good finish can boost your stock while a poor finish can leave you on the outside looking in. McKean has seen both sides at Infineon. McKean has been running in the top five with five laps to go the past two years at Infineon only to have a tire go down and contact with another car derail a good finish.
The second annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown that will be staged later and is on the minds of many Southwest Series driver's, McKean included. With 42 starting positions awaiting competitors at Infineon, a bad day could see points evaporate and jeopardize an invite to the prestigious event that will pit the best of the best in all four of NASCAR's AutoZone Elite Divisions November 11-13 at Irwindale (CA) Speedway.
More than forty-five drivers are expected to attempt to qualify for one of 42 starting positions in Saturday's 200K race and vie for their share of $92,971 in posted awards in race seven of the 14-race championship series. The event will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stars Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers trying upstage series' regulars for the second year in a row. Harvick won last year's event and Vickers will be making his series' debut.
After finishing 13th last season at Infineon Raceway, McKean is focused on a top five effort this year. “Racing on the road course is tough,” McKean said. “With only one race on the schedule you can’t prepare for it like other races. It is demanding and the smallest mistake can cost you a good finish. We have a great car and great team; we just need to focus and stay on track and we’ll have a good finish.”
A solid finish at Infineon will go a long way for McKean’s championship hopes as the series will embark on the second half of the schedule. “We need to get out of Infineon with a good finish and we’ll be right there in the championship,” McKean said. “Going back to some tracks for the second time this season will be good for us as we have run good everywhere but not had the finishes to back it up.”
McKean Racing is sponsored by: Magic Valley Pipe & Steel, NAAKE Motorsports, Victory Circle Chassis, and Ironclad Performance Wear. McKean's career AutoZone Southwest Series stats include: 51 career starts, 4 wins, 18 top five and 28 top ten finishes. McKean is also a three-time track champion at Magic Valley Speedway in Twins Falls, Idaho and a two-time NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional champion.
