The 2003 racing season begins this weekend as Phoenix International Raceway [PIR] hosts NASCAR Winter Heat, featuring races by the Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Series on Sunday afternoon. All the action starts on Friday night with a Go-Kart Challenge at the Speedway Raceway Indoor Karting facility in Phoenix. The event will feature T-Shirts and Trophies, plus the opportunity to battle wheel-to-wheel with many of the stars from the Featherlite Southwest Series, including: Darrell LaMoure, Eddy McKean and Craig Raudman. Following the races there will be a barbeque in the parking lot and an autograph session with the drivers. Gates at PIR will open at 8:00am on Saturday morning in preparation of practice and qualifying for the Winston West and Featherlite Southwest teams. The highlight of the day will be a 25-lap qualifying race by the teams of the Featherlite Southwest series at 3:30pm. PIR will open to spectators again on Sunday morning at 8 a.m., and fans are welcome for the annual Classic Car & Truck Show that starts the day off. An autograph session with all the Winston West and Featherlite Southwest Series drivers will be held at 9:30am, and the first race is scheduled to start at noon( PIR PR ). Ken Schrader of the #49 BAM Racing tream is scheduled to compete in both the Winston West and Southwest Series races, other driver’s you may recognize from Cup, BGN or CTS who will race include: Jimmy Kitchens, Austin Cameron, Jim Inglebright and Steve Portenga.(1-28-2003) UPDATE TV: TV: Bosch Spark Plug 150 Winston West race will be televised on SPEED Channel (Tape Delay), March 3, 8:00pm/et with announcers: Rick Allen, Phil Parsons, Ray Dunlap (who will do the CTS races).( RacingWest )(1-29-2003)
