MOORESVILLE, NC :: This weekend the 2014 CARS X-1R Pro Cup season gets underway the same place last season concluded; Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, North Carolina. Teams have had all off season to get their machines prepared leading up to this weekend. With several off season surprises when it comes to drivers and teams, along with the adjusted rules packages to open up to more competition the 2014 Pro Cup season could be a wide open one. Saturday’s event at Southern National will not only be the first preview for fans to see some of the adjustments, it will also be many first for the competitors as well. 

X-1R Lubricants 200

NOTES:

Track/Location: Southern National Motorsports Park-Kenly, NC      Track Size: .400
Event Name: X-1R Lubricants 200                                                     Laps: 200 Laps/80 miles
 

Event Schedule:                                  Series Standings:                    AFR Rookie Standings:
Practice: 12:45pm-1:30pm                   1) N/A                                     1) N/A
1:45pm-2:30pm                     2) N/A                                     2) N/A
Qualifying: 6:00pm                              3) N/A                                     3) N/A
Autograph Session: 6:15-6:45pm         4) N/A
Race: 7:00pm                                      v5) N/A

Pre Entered Drivers: #05 Codie Rohrbaugh, #2 Brady Boswell, #6 Jeff Oakley, #21 Eric Gerchak, #23 J.P. Morgan, #24 Mike Williams, #41 Rusty Skewes, #56 Gus Dean, #66 Reid Wilson, #75 Caleb Holaman

Media Coverage:

X-1R Pro Cup Series Facebook (www.facebook.com/CARSProCup) and Twitter (@X1RProCup)

TOP STORIES & QUOTES:

Championship Title Wide Open in 2014:

With Clay Rogers not on the pre entered drivers list, and his Lamb & Robinson race team not expected to compete at this weekend’s race the 2014 battle for the championship title is left wide open. Rogers was easily the class of the field a season ago, but now with the five time champion missing the season opening event it’s anyone’s game. The 2012 champion J.P. Morgan has to be the early favorite, however; several drivers including 2013 AFR Rookie of the Year winner Brady Boswell, Eric Gerchak, and Caleb Holman all have to be considered heavy contenders as well.

Holman the One to Watch at SNMP:

Last season series veteran Caleb Holman made seven starts, three of which came at Southern National, where he scored one victory and finished second and fourth in the remaining two events giving him the highest average finish amongst competitors at Southern National. The numbers the Abingdon, Virginia driver has produced proves he knows his way around the 4/10 mile track making him a favorite prior to the green flag.

Veteran Jeff Oakley Returns to the Pro Cup Series in 2014:

Virginia native Jeff Oakley has announced his return to the Pro Cup Series on a full time basis for 2014. The veteran of twenty-three career starts has tapped former NASCAR driver turned crew chief Stacy Compton to lead his efforts this season. Oakley’s last start in the series came in 2009, but despite the four year absence he feels like he and his #6 team should have a lot of good things to look forward to this weekend at Southern National and beyond.

“I’m really excited about getting back behind the wheel of a Pro Cup car and racing with these guys on a regular basis. It’s been a few years since I’ve competed, but I feel once we get going we’ll be fine. We went and tested Southern National several weeks ago and for not having a whole lot to compare to I thought it went pretty well. It’s a track that has some grip and you can race side-by-side on so this weekend’s should be a good one for all the fans that make it out.”