Source: Nascar
Date: 05/07/2008

Fifty-five cars are already entered to race at Iowa Speedway

Dale Earnhardt Inc. was the first to sign up, with three cars. And the entries kept flooding in. The entry list currently stands at 55 cars that will attempt to qualify for the US Cellular 200 at Iowa Speedway Sunday, May 18.

That matches last year’s total with over a week- and-a-half remaining for the roster to grow even larger. The race — which pits the drivers of the NASCAR Camping World Series East and NASCAR Camping World West in their only combination race with points at stake — has drawn a bumper crop of short-track racers.

“It’s huge,” said Craig Armstrong, vice president/general manager of Iowa Speedway. “We’re thrilled to be able to put this event on. It’s a spectacular event. We’re particularly thrilled with the depth and breadth of the field. Not only is it going to be a record car count, but it is absolutely packed with star power. It’s got some of the biggest names in short-track racing and some of the young up-and-comers that are going to be big names.”

Forty-four cars will make up the starting field for Sunday’s race (5:15 p.m. ET/HDNet).

Among the highlights:

Mike David (No. 2 Bennett Lane Winery Toyota) and Eric Holmes (No. 20 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota) bring their NASCAR Camping World Series West points battle to the Heartland for the fourth race of the season. Holmes, the 2006 champion, holds the advantage over defending series champion David in wins (2-to-1) but trails by 17 points in the standings. Former NASCAR Elite Division champion Jeff Jefferson (No. 42 MJ2 Racing/Grand Prix Imports Ford) and Holmes’ Bill McAnally Racing teammates Austin Cameron (No. 18 NAPA Auto Care Toyota) and Moses Smith (No. 16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota) are all right behind the leaders.

Eighteen-year-old Austin Dillon (No. 3 Garage Equipment Supply Chevrolet) heads to Iowa coming off a win in his NASCAR debut in the first NASCAR Camping World Series East race of the season at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in South Carolina. Dillon’s Andy Santerre Motorsports teammate, Peyton Sellers (No. 44 Specialty Fertilizer Products Chevrolet), qualified fourth at Iowa last year.

Three former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champions, Virginia’s Mark McFarland (2003), California’s Greg Pursley (2004) and Virginia’s Sellers (2005), are entered.

The field has collected 54 NASCAR Camping World Series wins, led by Cameron with 15 in the West and Matt Kobyluck (No. 40 Mohegan Sun Chevrolet) with 12 in the East.

Jesus Hernandez (No. 11 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet), who finished third in the inaugural NASCAR race at Iowa last year, is the top returning finisher. He will be joined by his DEI teammates, Trevor Bayne (No. 1 DEI Chevrolet) and Jeffrey Earnhardt (No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Foundation Chevrolet).

Kasey Kahne will be driving a car for Dave Davis. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star is slated to run in the Sprint All-Star Challenge in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday night and then fly out to Iowa for Sunday’s race.

And while Kevin Harvick won’t be making a return trip, his father, Mike, will be crew chief for West Coast veteran driver Terry Henry (No. 19 MMI Services Chevrolet).

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Kyle Busch’s team (Kyle Busch Motorsports) is fielding a car for Alex Haase (No. 51 Kyle Busch Foundation/Electric Sunglasses Chevrolet). The 18-year-old Haase, who last year finished second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings and ninth in the overall championship standings for the NASCAR Camping World Series West, moved from his native Las Vegas and has focused primarily on late model competition this year.

Steve Park (No. 35 Waste Management Recycle Chevrolet) made his return to the NASCAR Camping World Series at Greenville-Pickens. The 40-year-old Park is one of only 18 drivers to win a race in NASCAR’s three national series, and has two wins (both in 1996) in the NASCAR Camping World Series East.

Texan James Buescher, 18, finished in the top 10 in all four NASCAR Camping World Series East races he ran last year. Buescher (No. 31 Coca Cola Chevrolet) ran the ARCA race at Iowa in April where engine problems ended his day early.

Motocross great Ricky Carmichael (No. 4 Monster Energy Drink Chevrolet) will make his second NASCAR start. Carmichael was fifth in his debut at Greenville-Pickens.

Four members of the 2008 NASCAR Drive For Diversity program will run: Hernandez, Mike Gallegos, Lloyd Mack and Jonathan Smith. Gallegos (No. 34 RTD Motorsports Chevrolet) is coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes, including a run at Phoenix where he started from the tail end of the field after an engine change prior to the race.

The entry list includes 17 rookies. Last year, two of the top three finishers were rookies (race winner Joey Logano and Hernandez) as well as six of the top 15.

Drivers represent 22 states and three countries (U.S., Mexico and Belgium).

“I think it’ll be cool to go back there and race against all the different champions and the different guys that we’ve raced against out here in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown,” Pursley said. “It’s a very long list of a lot of guys with a lot of great accomplishments.

“It’s one of my big deals to be able to race against these guys. I think the best thing is to be able to compete against guys who have won championships and lots of races and have gone on to run other big series. When you can go out there and beat them, that’s a big accomplishment.”

More cars are expected to officially submit their entry as the event draws closer.

The Race: US Cellular 200

The Place: Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa

The Date: Sunday, May 18

The Time: 5:15 p.m. ET

TV Schedule: HDNet (Live), SPEED (enhanced replay)

Track Layout: 0.875-mile paved

Race Purse: $199,970

2007 Winner: Joey Logano

2007 Pole: Kevin Harvick

Schedule: Saturday: Practice 4:30-6 p.m. Sunday: Practice 9-10 a.m., Time Trials 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Track Contact: Mike Beecher (641) 791-8000

News & Notes

The race … The US Cellular 200 is the fourth event on the 2008 schedule for the NASCAR Camping World Series West and the second event for the NASCAR Camping World Series East. It is the only combination points race this season for the NASCAR Camping World Series.

The procedure … The starting field is 44 cars, including provisionals. The first 38 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining six spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 200 laps (175 miles).

The track … Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile paved oval with compound banking of 12-14 degrees in the corners, 10 degrees in the front stretch and four degrees in the back stretch. The facility, which was designed by former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace and opened for operation in 2006, is located east of Des Moines in Newton.

The records … Qualifying: Kevin Harvick, May 20, 2007, 133.775 mph. 23.547 seconds, Race: Joey Logano, May 20, 2007, 80.686 mph, 2 hours 10 minutes 8 seconds.

The Showdown … The overall winner of the US Cellular 200 will earn a protected spot in the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown (Jan. 23-24, 2009). Mike David, Eric Holmes and Austin Dillon have already earned spots with their victories this season.

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