WARN EXCITED ABOUT EAST/WEST CHALLENGE AT IOWA

Source: MJ2 Racing
Date: 05/15/2008

AURORA, Oregon For Jim Warn, driver of the MJ2 Racing Chevrolet on the NASCAR Camping World Series, the first third of the season has provided a steep learning curve for the Sunoco rookie driver. He is racing on tracks that he has never seen before and competing against unfamiliar drivers. This weekend is no exception as the best of NASCAR’s Camping World Series from both the East and West divisions converge on the state-of-the-art marquee racing facility that is Iowa Speedway. “Iowa is definitely going to be a test for me and the team,” Warn said. “This is going to be the fastest place we go and the level of competition this weekend is going to be fierce. We tested well a couple of weeks ago and feel real good about the car and I know the team is up for the challenge.” And what a challenge it will be as more than fifty drivers have entered the 200-lap US Cellular “200” featuring the top drivers from both divisions as well as Sprint Cup star Kasey Kahne making his first Camping World start. 44 cars will make the starting grid on Sunday.

Warn currently sits 15th in the over point standings in the West coming off a 12th place outing in the last event three weeks ago but knows qualifying will be a key factor Sunday. 38 drivers will make the field through qualifying with the balance of the starting grid set through the provisional process. Kevin Harvick holds the one-lap qualifying mark set last season with 23.547 second trip around the 7/8-mile paved oval. Warn is also third in the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year standings, just one point back. “We are right in the thick of the rookie battle and I am right where I want to be,” Warn stated. “I feel I have a shot to win the rookie title this year and the race at Iowa will be an important milestone. We ran really well at Phoenix before the late race incident so I have a lot of confidence about this race at Iowa. I am counting the days until I can really crank it up again.”

Through three races this season, Warn has finishes of 8th, 12th, and 25th and has completed 415 of 453 laps contested. But at Iowa just completing all the laps is not going to guarantee a good finish. “We are going to have to push ourselves pretty hard,” Warn said. “No matter where we start we need to be in the top ten by lap 100 and then we can put ourselves into position for a solid finish.”

Warn drives a team car to Jeff Jefferson and is sponsored by MJ2 Racing, Gran Prix Imports, and Leupold Optic. The car is powered by a Chevrolet NASCAR Spec Engine and sits atop a Hopkins chassis. Warn is in his rookie campaign on the NCWS and has three career starts with one top ten finish. Warn currently third in the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year standings just one point back.

The US Cellular “200” at Iowa Speedway is round four of the 13-race NASCAR Camping World Series-West schedule for 2008. The race will be televised live on HDNet with the green flag slated for 4:15 pm (CT). This event marks the second straight year Iowa Speedway has hosted an East/West combination event. 2008 is the 55th year of competition for the NASCAR Camping World Series-West.

For all the latest news and information regarding Jim Warn, log onto www.mj2racing.com.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend