News & Notes:

• The race … The NAPA 150 is the sixth of 13 races on the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series schedule for 2007.
• The track … Colorado National Speedway is a 3/8-mile paved oval with four degrees of banking in the straights and progressive banking of six to 12 degrees in the corners. The West Series has visited Colorado National Speedway four times, with the most recent in 2004.
• Local drivers to make series debut … Two local drivers are slated to make their debut in the West Series at Colorado. Ed Vecchiarelli Jr, (No. 09 Midgley Racing Chevrolet) of Brighton, Colo., competes with his father in the modified class at CNS and currently leads the standings. He is coming off a win there over the Memorial Day weekend. Third-generation driver Darren Robertson (No. 11 Furniture Row Chevrolet) of Arvada, Colo., also had a successful holiday weekend at CNS – winning both 50-lap twin feature races in the Late Model class. His father, Jerry Robertson, has competed in all three national series’ of NASCAR – as well as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, where he won two regional championships (2000 and 2003) while racing at CNS. Darren’s grandfather, Odie Robertson, was a tough competitor in his day, as well.
• Competing for Showdown spot … Competitors at Colorado hope to add their name to that of Mike David (No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Ford) and Scott Lynch (No. 29 Jasper Engines Dodge) as the only West Series regulars so far this year to gain a starting spot in the 2007 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Under a new format introduced this year, NASCAR Grand National Division race winners earn a starting spot in the prestigious post-season event. Only Grand National race winners and champions of the NASCAR Developmental Series will be locked in to the field. All others must race their way in.
• Four races, four different winners … The four series races at CNS produced four different winners – Mike Chase, Ron Hornaday Jr., Steve Portenga and Mike Duncan (No. 9 Lucas Oil/Ron’s Rear Ends Chevrolet).
• Four different Bud Pole winners … The three visits to Colorado also produced three different Bud Pole winners – Garrett Evans, Butch Gilliland, Scott Lynch and Sean Woodside.
• No repeat marks … No driver has finished in the top five in series competition at CNS more than once. Joe Bean, Austin Cameron and Sean Woodside – with three each – are the only drivers with multiple top-10 finishes at Colorado.
• Most money … With winnings of $13,250 for his victory in 1996, Ron Hornaday Jr., leads competitors in terms of money won in series competition at the Colorado track.
• Running out front … Mike Chase has led the most laps of series competition around the 3/8-mile oval, running out front for 172 laps.
• Stat of the race … A West Series race at Colorado National Speedway has never been won by the Bud Pole winner.
• Running out front … Mike Duncan has led the most laps of competition so far in 2007, running out front for 168 circuits. He has led in four of the five races this season.
• Big field of rookies … Jason Bowles (No. 22 Sunrise Ford/Turbo Torq Ford) leads the battle for this year’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award. He tops the list of first-year drivers registered for the program, with 42 points. Alex Haase (No. 88 Motorway Auto Group of El Paso Chevrolet) is second with 32, followed by Ryan Foster (No. Golden Gate Petroleum Chevrolet) with 27 and Eric Richardson (No. 20 NAPA Belts & Hose Chevrolet) with 26. Others challenging for the freshman award include David Mayhew (No. HPS/Victory Circle/Attune Systems Chevrolet) with 18, Moses Smith (No. 18 HASA Pools Products Chevrolet) with 16, Stan Silva Jr. (No. 65 A&S Metals/Stan Silva Jr. Trucking Chevrolet) with 15, Jamie Dick (No. 88 Motorway Auto Group of El Paso Chevrolet) with 15, Rick Wall (No. 42 Xiser.com Ford) with 11, Mike Gallegos with 9, Lloyd Mack with 8, Brandon Riehl with 6, Thomas Martin with 5 and Garland Self with 1.

Stats:
This Week’s Series Leaders … Through five races of the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series season:

• Points leader – Mike David, 824
• Money won – Mike David, $25,451
• Laps led – Mike Duncan, 168
• Laps completed – Mike David, 868
• Average finish – Mike David, 5.8
• Victories – Mike David, 1; Joey Logano, 1; Scott Lynch, 1
• Poles – Mike Duncan, 3; Kevin Harvick, 1; Brian Ickler, 1
• Top-five finishes – Mike David, 4?
• Top-10 finishes – Mike David, 4
• Races led – Mike Duncan, 4

BIRTHDAYS Drivers celebrating a birthday in the month of June include Thomas Martin, who turns 29 on the 4th; Darrell Midgley, who turns 47 on the 5th; Jason Small, who turns 28 on the 7th; Anthony “Lloyd” Mack, who turns 25 on the 16th; Brett Thompson, who turns 30 on the 17th; Candace Muzny, who turns 26 on the 18th; Tim Smith, who turns 39 on the 19th; Bruce Betts, who turns 59 on the 19th; Eric Hardin, who turns 25 on the 22nd; and Johnny Borneman, who turns 30 on the 30th.

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