NASCAR Shakes Up California Labor Day Weekend

California is Top Breeding Ground for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Drivers

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 1 -- NASCAR's evolution from the Southeast into a growing national sport could not be more evident this weekend. Five full-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competitors return to their home state of California this weekend for the Pop Secret 500 at California Speedway. California is tied with North Carolina for the most full-time drivers in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

Long-time car owner Rick Hendrick has two California natives in his stable, each with a good chance of winning the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship. Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) is a four-time series champion and currently sits atop the points standings. The Vallejo native, who won the May event at California Speedway, is looking for his sixth win of the season this Sunday. Gordon's teammate and protege Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet) spent eight weeks in first place and is currently in second. Johnson, from El Cajon, finished second in the season's first race at California Speedway.

Owner Richard Childress, whose cars have won six championships, also has two California drivers in the field. Bakersfield native Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) has been in the NASCAR Top 10 for 19 consecutive weeks. Harvick needs two more solid weeks to secure his spot in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup." Robby Gordon (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet) will look to improve on his 12th-place finish at California Speedway earlier this season. Originally from Bellflower, Gordon currently owns his own race shop in Anaheim.

Second year driver Casey Mears (No. 41 Target Dodge) has shown great improvement this season. Mears, also from Bakersfield, has eight top-10 finishes this year, including an eighth-place finish at the first California Speedway event this season.

These California natives will look to please the hometown crowd of over 100,000 this weekend at California Speedway. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pop Secret 500 can be seen Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PST on NBC. The NASCAR Busch Series Target House 300 airs Saturday at noon PST on NBC.

For more information, please contact: NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 253-0611.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third release in a series of five