Series PR

Anderson, S.C.(March 21st, 2012) — A new racing season is set to begin for the CARS Pro Cup Series, and with it comes many new faces and many changes to the popular stock-car series.

There is a new man in charge of the series, Series Director Jack McNelly, and the series also has a new name. There are several new names joining the series this year, including drivers Gus Dean, Cody McMahan, Harrison Rhodes, Dalton Hopkins and Nathan Russell.

The series also has a number of new partners this year, including new tire supplier Goodyear and new fuel supplier VP Racing Fuels. Last, but certainly not least, the series will be making its historic first visit to Anderson Motor Speedway this Saturday for the season opening Palmetto State 250.

While a lot has changed this season for the CARS Pro Cup Series, one thing hasn’t changed. The CARS Pro Cup Series still presents one of the best short-track racing shows in the country.

“For the most part it [the series] has a lot of up and coming potential stars,” said defending series champion Jeff Agnew. “Everybody is putting a lot of effort into it to put on a big show. The guys are coming to the race track with well prepared, really good competitive cars.

“We end up putting on a really good show for the fans,” Agnew said.

For series veterans like Agnew, Saturday’s Palmetto State 250 is going to present a unique challenge. Most series regulars have never visited the three-eighths-mile venue, much less raced there.

“I haven’t even seen a picture of it [Anderson Motor Speedway],” Agnew admitted. “I don’t do a whole lot of research when I go different places. I’ve always kind of looked at it this way, you’re turning left and you’re trying to make your car hook up the best way you possibly can. I don’t like to get too far ahead of myself.”

Among those on the entry list for Saturday’s opener is Allen Purkhiser, a veteran of 44 CARS Pro Cup Series starts who also happens to call Anderson Motor Speedway his home track.

“There are a lot of things about the track that you figure out the more you race there,” Purkhiser said. “It’s a good track for racing. You can run side by side. It should be a good show.

When asked if his past experience at Anderson would give him an edge when the series debuts there Saturday, Purkhiser’s answer was short and sweet — “I definitely think it will.”

Gates for Saturday’s Palmetto State 250 open at 5 p.m. with qualifying scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. An on-track driver autograph session is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Palmetto State 250, featuring 250 laps and live pit stops, will go green at approximately 8:15 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday’s season opener can be purchased online for $12 through Thursday by visiting www.carsprocup.com. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the track on the day of the event. Kids under the age of 12 are free.