AutoZone Southwest Series drivers enter version of the Final Four at TRP Saturday

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.--The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series has its Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. College basketball has the final four tournament, and the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series will have its own version of the championship chase.

This Saturday, Sept. 18, NASCAR's Stars of Tomorrow will return to Tucson Raceway Park for the running of the Star Nursery.Com "150" presented by AutoZone.

Three of the final four series races will be contested in the Copper State.

Tucson Raceway Park for many years was a cornerstone of West Coast racing and staged the "Winter Heat" series in the early 1990s that helped propel the NASCAR careers of Greg Biffle, Ron Hornaday and Kevin Harvick.

Current Southwest Series drivers are hoping for success of their own as the series closes in on the championship.

Point leader Pettit

Current 2004 point leader Jim Pettit II from Prunedale, Calif., has three wins this season, and while his streak of eight top-10 finishes in 10 starts this season has the series best drivers chasing the former NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional champion, Pettit knows you are only as good as your last race.

With the top 10 drivers of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division's four Late Model series' getting an invite to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown to be staged at Irwindale Speedway Nov. 11-13, Pettit is seeking not only the championship but a win at this prestigious event after a runner-up finish last year.

"I am really looking forward to Tucson this week," Pettit said. "My team has really battled through some adversity this year and winning at CNS last month proved how strong the team is. I have not had the finishes at Tucson that I would have liked, but I love racing there. The fans are great and the track produces great side-by-side action."

With the Toyota All-Star Showdown only four races away, this race will hold significance for the teams of the AutoZone Southwest Series as they jockey for a position in the top 10 standings.

More than 30 drivers are expected to attempt to qualify for one of 24 starting positions in Saturday's 150-lap race and vie for their share of $44,894 in posted awards in race 11 of the 14-race championship series.

2003 champ Vidovich

2003 Southwest Series champion Auggie Vidovich returns to the series this weekend after running only a partial schedule in 2004. He last tasted victory at TRP in 2000 and looks to repeat that performance this Saturday on the progressive-banked paved oval.

TRP has long been known for great side-by-side racing and if a driver is going to win, he has to have a car that works equally well in each groove.

"I like TRP," Vidovich said. "The racing is always great. There is action no matter where you race. This would be a great place to pick up my first win of the season, but I know the rest of the guys are thinking the same thing."

The driver chasing Pettit in the championship standings is Craig Raudman from Bakersfield, Calif. Raudman trails Pettit by 25 points and relinquished the top spot for the first time in five races after a 12th place finish at CNS in August.

After a disappointing middle part of the season, 2002 AutoZone Southwest Series champion Eddy McKean of Jerome, Idaho, is looking for a repeat performance at TRP. McKean won last year's event to score his first short-track win and has always run good at TRP in the past.

"Tucson is a great place to race," McKean said. "I love the race track and the fans will see a great show."

Other drivers to watch

Other notable drivers that are looking for a solid finish at TRP include Doug McCoun, who has piloted Clarence Broussard's Chevrolet into the sixth position in the standings after another top-10 performance at CNS.

Danny Burson, Nick Lynch and Bob Lyon are within 59 points of the top 10 and all need solid finishes in order to gain a top 10 spot in the standings and an invitation to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

Long-time series standout M.K. Kanke is scheduled to return to the series and debut a brand new car as he prepares for 2005.

The Star Nursery.Com "150" presented by AutoZone is set to take the green flag at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, where the final four races will create a shoot-out for the Showdown.

Local competitions, too

In addition, the local competitors on the TRP track for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series will be the NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds and Factory Stocks, who will run their longest race of the season a 40-lap main event.

Racing information for Week 26 has pit gate opening at 10 a.m., practice at 1:30 p.m., spectator gates open at 5 p.m., and a meet-and-greet with competitors at 6 p.m. in the pits.

The main event action is set to start at 7 p.m.

For more information, call 762-9200.