PETTIT II HOPING TO WIN THE LAST SOUTHWEST POINTS RACE

Source: Burry Dolbeare
Date: 09/21/2006

Although the current and two time NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series champion won't make it a three-peat this year, Jim Pettit II is looking forward to the final Series points race in history at the half mile Altamont Speedway this Saturday night.

"Oh, absolutely", says Pettit, "I think, you know, we were hoping to win the championship again this year and to be the only one to win it three times in a row, but that didn't work out for us. So that's on our mind now, to be the one that won the last tour race. That would be special".

In attempting that goal, the Prunedale, CA. driver explained that, "We'll be taking two cars to Altamont, the one we ran at Colorado National a few weeks ago, and the one we ran at Altamont last July. During practice on Friday we'll set up both cars the same, and the one I feel the most comfortable with, and which is the fastest on the clock, will be the one we go with. Both cars run good, so we'll just have to see how it works out".

Named one of the top twenty-five drivers in the nation over the past twenty-five years in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series, in which he won a Regional Championship in 1984, Pettit began racing in the Southwest Series full time in 2001. Since then he has compiled a record of eight wins, twenty-nine top fives, and forty-two top tens in seventy-nine starts. His best year was 2004 when he recorded four wins and was outside the top seven only twice in fourteen events. In 2005 he had three wins, and was outside the top ten on only two occasions in fourteen starts. He won the championship both years.

Asked about running the final SWS points race Saturday night, Pettit had this to say. "It's pretty sad such a great Series is coming to an end. So many great people over the years have run it, and well as so many great fans. It will be a really emotional day".

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