The buzz surrounding Tony Stewarts (#33 Old Spice Chevrolet) own version of the pass in the grass en route to his first NASCAR Busch Series victory at Daytona last Saturday has barely died down. Now, the adrenaline rush following the 2005 season-opener now carries some 3,000 miles from Florida to California as the NASCAR Busch Series prepares for its first of three consecutive events spanning from Los Angeles to Mexico City to Las Vegas, beginning Saturday at California Speedway. The first of two races this year at California, the Stater Bros. 300 now sits in the #2 slot on the 2005 schedule, the earliest trip to the Golden State for the NASCAR Busch Series since the first event at the venue in October, 1997.
Greg Biffle (#66 Duraflame Ford), one of seven former NASCAR Busch Series champions entered in the California field, returns not only as the defending champion of this event, but he also won the second race at the track last September. He will try to match Matt Kenseth (#17 Waste Management Ford) as a three-time series winner at California. Biffle finished eighth last week at Daytona, so momentum is on his side heading west. But the Vancouver, Wash., native is well aware of the talented field that looks to challenge his consecutive victories.
Following the race at California, a third consecutive different track configuration awaits the competitors in the NASCAR Busch Series as they venture to Mexico City to run in the series first road-course event since 2001 at Watkins Glen. The Telcel Motorola 200 presented by Banamex will take place on the 2.518-mile course at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on March 6. The event is the first points race held outside the United States for the NASCAR Busch Series. Its going to be cool, reigning NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. (#8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) said about the trip to Mexico City. There are a lot of things different about it, [especially with] it being a road course.
NEWS & NOTES, PART II
Jarrett makes return to NASCAR Busch Series Dale Jarrett (#90 CitiFinancial Ford) plans to make his return to the NASCAR Busch Series for the first time in five years at California. The 1999 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion is known as one of the charter members of the NASCAR Busch Series, making his debut in 1982 the year the division was consolidated into a national touring series. Jarrett who finished in the NASCAR Busch Series top 10 in six consecutive seasons from 1982-87 placing fourth twice (1984, 86) has 11 wins and is fourth all-time in series starts (324). I havent run in the NASCAR Busch Series since 1999 but I definitely believe there is something that can be learned by running in the Saturday race, Jarrett said. I look at it as an opportunity to learn. Im 48 years old and Ive been at this for a long time now. If I sat here and tried to tell you that I didn’t need to do it because I know everything there is to know, I’d be lying and be a fool on top of that to think anything like that. So I still feel that there are a lot of things that I can learn and hopefully that translates into information for us on Sunday. Jarrett will share time in the #90 Robert Yates entry with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teammate Elliott Sadler in 2005.
Historic Mexico race field settling in The March 6 Telcel Motorola 200 in Mexico City has drawn 48 entries to date, including nine drivers with ties to Mexico along with eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitors among the field of NASCAR Busch Series regulars. Boris Said, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Robby Gordon, Carl Edwards, Rusty Wallace, Joe Nemechek, and Elliott Sadler are the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers entered. In addition to Michel Jourdain Jr. (#10 ppc Racing Ford), a native of Mexico City who is running a full NASCAR Busch Series schedule for ppc Racing this year, other Mexican driving stars include: Adrian Fernandez, Rafael Martinez, Carlos Contreras, Mara Reyes, Jorge Goeters, Ruben Novoa, Jose Magana and Jimmy Morales. Of those drivers, Contreras is the only one with NASCAR Busch Series experience he had two starts in 2003 with his best finish a 17th at Homestead.
Mexico race Travel Guide now available A travel guide for the NASCAR Busch Series Telcel Motorola 200 presented by Banamex in Mexico City is now available on www.nbsmexico.com (User ID mexico; Password busch). This is a comprehensive guide detailing the trip with information relating to transportation, hotel, restaurants, event schedule, at-track meals and evening entertainment schedules, track and garage maps, UPS trackside services information, important contact information as well as useful information on Mexico City. A pocket copy of this travel guide will be available upon arrival to Mexico City via either charter flights or by check-in at the Hotel Nikko. Please see your NASCAR hotel representatives upon arrival for further information or additional travel guides.
California race features seven former series champions Defending race winner Greg Biffle will be joined by six other NASCAR Busch Series champions in the California field. In addition to Biffle (2002 series champion), Martin Truex Jr., the defending series champ, will try to better his 13th-place finish one year ago. In addition, Kevin Harvick (#21 Reeses Peanut Butter Cups Chevrolet 2001 champion), Randy LaJoie (#34 Dollar General Chevrolet 1996-97), David Green (#27 Kleenex Ford – 1994), Steve Grissom (#49 Advil Ford – 1993) and Joe Nemechek (#87 NEMCO Chevrolet – 1992) are also in the field. Biffle is the only winner at California among the defending NASCAR Busch Series champions entered in the event. ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Jason Keller (#35 McDonalds Ford) is the only driver to have run in all nine NASCAR Busch Series races at California Speedway. There have been seven different Busch Pole winners at the track. Matt Kenseth leads all drivers with six top fives and six top 10s; he has run in eight series events at California. Greg Biffle has led the most laps (241) and has the best average finish (4.5) among those who have run three or more races at California Speedway.
ETC.
Mark Martin (#9 Pennzoil Ford), the all-time leader in NASCAR Busch Series wins (45) will attempt his first series start at California. Martin plans to run in eight NASCAR Busch Series races this season. Adrian Fernandez (#5 Lowes Chevrolet) conducted his only test prior to the Mexico City race at Virginia International Raceway on Tuesday. His test consisted of practice laps on the road course as well as pit stops with his crew. Dan Glaus takes over as crew chief of Kim Crosbys #24 Bodreauxs Butt Paste Chevrolet at California replacing Greg Guarry, who will remain as team manger. David Green will arrive at practice Friday morning on a chopper along with a group from the nearby Vengance Motorcycle plant. Chris Knight, who portrayed Peter on the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch and currently appears on The Surreal Life on VH1, will be a guest of Joe Nemechek at California. Michel Jourdain Jr. and his wife, Nora, became parents for the first time last Sunday when son Michel III was born at 5:45 p.m. Brent Sherman (#58 Serta Mattress Dodge), who spent six years in the United States Air Force before turning to NASCAR racing, is scheduled to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds on March 9. Sherman has logged more than 3,000 hours among combat, surveillance and instructing missions all over the world.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Native Californians seem to have a handle on NASCAR Busch Series qualifying at California Speedway, winning the last three Busch poles, setting a track record in the process. Jason Leffler, who hails from Long Beach, won the pole last May with Bakerfields Casey Mears taking the pole for the second series race this past September. In 2003, Kevin Harvick, also from Bakersfield, set the qualifying record for this event with a speed of 183.941 mph. Californians have been successful qualifiers in the NASCAR Busch Series throughout the years as well. Harvick and Vallejos Jeff Gordon are tied among all California natives, having won 12 career Busch poles. Modestos Ernie Irvan has five, while Leffler and Susanvilles Mike Skinner have both captured three career NASCAR Busch Series poles. Harvick, Tyler Walker (#38 Great Clips Dodge – Los Angeles) and Stanton Barrett (#36 DCT Motorsports Chevrolet – Bishop) are Californians who will try to make it four straight poles here for Golden State drivers.
FAST FACTS:
What: Stater Bros. 300 (Race #2 of 35 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: California Speedway, Los Angeles, CA.
When: 6:05 p.m. ET, Saturday, Feb. 26.
Track Layout: 2-mile oval.
Race Length: 300 miles/150 laps.
Posted Awards: $1,509,876.
TV: FX, 5:30 p.m., ET.
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2004 Winner: Greg Biffle.
2004 Polesitter: Jason Leffler
Pre-race schedule (all times local): Friday: Practice – Noon 1:10 p.m.; Final practice 2:50 3:50 p.m. Saturday: Qualifying, 10 a.m.; cars impounded following qualifying.(NASCAR PR)(2-25-2005)
