A PACKED HOUSE FOR THE WINSTON WEST

Source: NASCAR Winston West Series Public Relations
Date: 01/08/1998

More than 30 entries have been received for the $84,667 event, which will be televised nationally by cable network ESPN2 beginning at 3:00 PM EST. It will be the first race from among 12 NASCAR racing divisions in 1998, a year which will commemorate NASCAR's 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Topping the list of entries for the Tucson event is NASCAR Winston Cup star Ken Schrader, who will drive the Chevrolet Monte Carlo entry of veteran NASCAR Winston West Series car owner and crew chief Bill Stauser.

Butch Gilliland of Anaheim, CA, will begin defense of his championship in the NASCAR Winston West Series, meanwhile. He will driver for a new team owned by his wife Laurie.

Drivers challenging Gilliland for this year's title will include second year competitors Sean Woodside, Gary Smith and Kevin Cutler. Series veterans entered for Sunday's race include Gary Collins, Larry Gunsleman, Scott Gaylord, Bill McAnally, Wayne Jacks, Jeff Davis, Rick Scribner, Bob Howard, Pappy Pryor, and Kenny Smith. Other entries include NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular kevin Harvick -- along with George Nordling, Tony Toste and Bo Lemler.

They will face strong competition from a large field of talented drivers challenging for the Sears Point Raceway Rookie-of-the-Year Award. Those expected to register for the rookie program include two-time NASCAR REB-CO Northwest Tour Champion Kelly Tanner, Sammy Potashnick, Craig Raudman, Eric Norris, Kevin Richards, Craig Rayburn, Brandon Ash \, Jeff Streeter, Darrel Krentz, Jerry Cain, Ron Burns, Don Abreu and Bruce Bechtel.

The 34 teams expected for the Winter Heat event compare with 22 that competed in the event a year ago. The growing number of entries could set a record for a NASCAR Winston West Series short track race. They will battle for 26 starting positions -- 21 via time trials and five provisional slots.

The unprecedented growth of the NASCAR Winston West Series was sparked when the point fund skyrocketed to approximately $500,000. That increase was fueled by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. boosting its contribution to the point fund from $50,000 to $300,000. Track Operators also stepped up their participation, pushing the point fund to the record level.

"We are very excited about Sunday's season opener for the NASCAR Winston West Series," said Dennis Huth, NASCAR Vice President for Administration. "This marks what we see as a new era for this series in a year in which NASCAR will celebrate its 50th Anniversary."

"RJ Reynolds and our track operators have both made a commitment to the series. We, as a series sponsor, are showing our commitment to the series as well," Huth said. "The teams have responded in a big way, as demonstrated by the entry list for this event."

Gary Collins won last year's NASCAR Winston West race in the Winter Heat program at Tucson Raceway Park. Gilliland is the one lap record holder, with a speed of 88.328 mph set in June of 1996, while Mike Chase is the 200 lap record holder, with an average sped of 71.657 mph set in April of 1994

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