DAYTONA BEACH, FL :: Greg Pursley knows the importance momentum can play in chasing a championship in motorsports. Two years ago, he started the season by winning six of the first eight events in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and went on to cruise to his first series title.
After winning this year’s season opener, Pursley hopes to keep his momentum rolling and retain his early lead in points as the series returns to action with the G-Oil 150 at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway on Saturday, May 4. The visit to the historic quarter-mile oval marks the second event of a 15-race series schedule and the first of eight short-track events this year.
“I think between the 26 and the 24 team doing so well, we all have momentum here at Gene Price Motorsports going into Stockton,” Pursley said in reference to his team and the No. 24 team of his GPM teammate, Cameron Hayley. “We’re pretty excited about going there. We did pretty well there last year.”
In addition to the 1-2 finish by the Gene Price Motorsports teams in this year’s season opener at Phoenix, the two teams dominated the UNOH Battle At The Beach preseason event at Daytona International Raceway in February. Pursley led a majority of the laps at Daytona before getting turned around, while Hayley took the win.
Pursley credits the efforts of the team in being able to maintain momentum.
“I think it has to do with the team,” said the veteran West Coast competitor, who wheels the No. 26 Renegade/Star Nursery/Real Water Ford. “We’re working hard here to try to better our stuff all the time. It’s a matter of keeping the team morale up and testing and keeping everything going.”
With a break in the schedule after the season opener, everybody is anxious to get back to racing, Pursley said.
“We’re looking forward to everything starting up and getting after it,” he said. “I’m excited to go back to the race track and get racing again. For me, I like being in the seat all the time. It keeps you sharp. I can’t wait to get going.”
| Race: | G-Oil 150 |
|---|---|
| Place: | Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway |
| Date: | Saturday, May 4 |
| Time: | 8:30 p.m. PT |
| TV Schedule: | SPEED, May 16, 3 p.m. ET |
| Track Layout: | .25-mile paved oval |
| 2012 Winner: | Dylan Kwasniewski |
| 2012 Polesitter: | Dylan Kwasniewski |
| Event Schedule: | Saturday: Practice 12:30-1:15 p.m., 1:45–2:15 p.m., Qualifying 5 p.m. |
| Track PR Contact: | David Holman, (209) 351-3202 [email protected] |
| Twitter: | @S99Speedway |
| Event Hashtag: | #GOil150 |
| NASCAR IMC Contact: | Kevin W. Green (707) 689-5533 [email protected] Twitter: @KevinW_Green |
FAST FACTS
The Race: This race is the second of 15 events on the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 20 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps (37.5 miles).
The Track: Stockton 99 Speedway is a .25-mile paved oval with blended banking of up to 14 degrees in Turn 1 and Turn 2 and up to 17 degrees in Turn 3 and Turn 4.
Records: Qualifying: Dylan Kwasniewski, May 5, 2012, 13.735 seconds, 65.526 mph; Race: Dick Bown, May 13, 1972, 56.250 mph, 40 minutes. (150 laps)
History: The series has visited Stockton 99 Speedway 22 times, with the first event held in 1966.
STOCKTON RACE NOTES
Large Turnout Anticipated: Thirty-two cars are on the entry list for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event at Stockton. That would represent a record number of entries for a series race at the quarter-mile oval. Drivers on the entry list represent six states, as well as Canada.
Newcomers: More than a dozen of the drivers on the entry list are rookies in the series this season. Six of those drivers are set to make their series debut, including Giles Thornton of Whitefish, Mont.; Crystal Kennedy of Edson, Alberta; Bobby Runyan Jr., of Oakdale, Calif.; Cole Custer of Ladera Ranch, Calif.; Luis Tyrrell of Brisbane, Calif.; and Shane Golobic of Fremont, Calif.
Challenge For Pursley: If Greg Pursley wins at Stockton, it would mark the first time in more than a decade that a driver won the first two races in a season. Austin Cameron accomplished it in 2002. Prior to that, Bill Sedgwick achieved the mark to open the 1995 season.
Back On Track: This event marks a return to competition for the series, which opened its season in Phoenix on March 2.
Milestones: Two series drivers will celebrate career marks at Stockton 99 Speedway. Brett Thompson is slated to make his 120th career series start behind the wheel of the No. 61 RTTI/61 Logistics Chevrolet. The 35-year-old Jerome, Idaho driver made his series debut with a seventh-place finish at Rocky Mountain Raceways in West Valley City, Utah on Sept. 4, 2000. Travis Milburn, who drives the No. 14 Cooks Collision Toyota, is set to make his 40th series start at Stockton. Milburn – 20, of Eagle Idaho – made his first series start at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on Aug. 2, 2008.
LAST TIME OUT: Phoenix
Third Phoenix Win For Pursley: Greg Pursley scored his third win at Phoenix International Raceway with a victory in the Talking Stick Resort 60 on March 2. It marked the 14th career series win for the driver of the No. 26 Renegade/Star Nursery/Real Water Ford. Pursley also set a track record in winning the Coors Light Pole Award for the event, eclipsing the mark he set in 2011. It was his 16th career series pole.
Strong Running Teammate: Pursley’s biggest challenger at Phoenix was his 16-year-old teammate at Gene Price Motorsports, Cameron Hayley. The second-year driver led six laps and finished in the runner-up spot. It was Hayley’s third second-place finish in a series race.
Another Top 10 For Kennington: D.J. Kennington notched his best career finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West with a sixth-place finish at Phoenix. It marked the third top-10 finish in four starts at PIR for the two-time champion in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1.
Series Debut: Several drivers made their debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Phoenix. Sergio Pe͂na and Brandon McReynolds – who both previously competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – finished fifth and ninth, respectively, driving for Bill McAnally Racing. Gray Gaulding, who is slated to compete for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title in the K&N East this year, finished sixth. And Rich DeLong III, whose father competed in the series, finished 22nd in his series debut.
NEXT TIME OUT: Brainerd
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will head to Brainerd International Raceway for its first of three road course events this season. The series made its inaugural visit to the Minnesota track last year, with a race that featured first-time winner Michael Self.
