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2000 Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring Race Facts

25 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

WHAT: Discount Auto Parts 200 presented by ROL Gaskets
WHERE: U.S.A. International Speedway, Lakeland, Fla., 0.750-mile oval
WHEN: Saturday, April 29, 8:00 p.m.
DISTANCE: 200 laps (150 miles)
POSTED AWARDS: $56,600 (including $3,750 Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring Championship point fund money.)

FIELD: 36 cars. Fastest 31 cars through time trials (2 laps). Five provisional starting positions, including either four or five based on the current Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring point standings and possibly one provisional position for a former champion of the series who will have also raced in a series points event in1999.

SANCTION: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR)

PROMOTER: USA International Speedway

CONTACTS: Jim Noltimier, NASCAR, (770) 486-3591 Billy Martino, USA International Speedway, (800) 964-7223

SCHEDULE: Friday, April 28
Optional Hauler Parking & Registration 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 29
Team Haulers Enter & Registration Opens 8:00 a.m.
Inspection 9:00 a.m.
Mandatory Rookie Drivers' Meeting 12:00 noon
Practice 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mandatory Drivers' Meeting 3:15 p.m.
Bud Pole Qualifying, 2 laps, all positions 6:00 p.m.
Drivers' Autograph Session 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Discount Auto Parts 200 by ROL Gaskets 8:00 p.m.

THE RACE: The Discount Auto Parts 200 presented by ROL Gaskets is the fourth race on the 17-race 2000 Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring schedule. Thirty six cars will take to the 0.750 mile oval for the 200-lap, 150-mile race.

RECORDS

Track Qual. Record: Mike Cope, Pinellas Park, Fla., Chevrolet, 21.305 secs., 126.731 mph, (4/10/99)

Fastest Avg. Speed: Wayne Anderson, Wildwood, Fla., Chevy, 2 hrs., 2 m., 2 sec., 73.00 mph, (4/10/99)

1999 RESULTS: This race was the season opening race on the 1999 Slim Jim All Pro Series schedule and Wildwood, Fla.'s Wayne Anderson emerged as the victor in the first series race to be held at Lakeland. Trailing Anderson across the stripe were a trio of Floridians, Pensacola's Eddie Mercer, Zephyrhills' David Reutimann and Naples' Billy Bigley, Jr. Spoiling an all-Florida top five was Concord, N.C.'s Sean Studer. Pinellas Park, Fla.'s Mike Cope captured the Bud Pole Award and led the first 50 laps before the rear end broke in his Chevrolet. Bigley then took the point followed by Mercer and finally Anderson took command on lap 157 and never looked back. Anderson's margin of victory was 0.528 seconds. There were a total of three lead changes among four drivers and 10 caution periods for 61 laps. Mike Franklin earned rookie-of-the-race honors.

NOTES OF INTEREST

With this race being just the second series event held at the track, only Florida drivers have led laps in series competition. Cope, Bigley, Mercer and Anderson all hail from the sunshine state.

No less than 13 of the drivers pre-entered for this race are from Florida or have ties to Florida. As a result more than 1/3 of the starting field will likely be Floridians.

After three series races in 2000 Billy Bigley, Jr. is the series points leader, his crew chief Adam Heckelman leads the Jasper Engines & Transmissions Crew-Chief-of-the-Year standings and Bigley is also the early leader in the Gatorade Front Runner Award standings.

1999 Slim Jim All Pro Series Champion Wayne Anderson completed every lap run in 1999. In 2000 Anderson has yet to finish on the lead lap after three races.

STAT OF THE WEEK: After just three races only one driver has completed all 501 laps run so farthat's points leader Billy Bigley, Jr. of Naples, Fla., driver of the Peerless Woodworking/Nevamar Decorative Surfaces Chevrolet.

POINT FUND SPONSORS: Slim Jim, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Gatorade, Hoosier Tires, Jasper Engines, Moroso Performance Products Rookie of the Year, 76 Race Gasoline

QUALIFYING AND SPECIAL AWARD SPONSORS: Budweiser, Carrera Shocks, Eibach Springs, Ford Motor Company, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Gatorade, Holley Carburetors, Hoosier Tires, Jasper Engines, Moroso Blue Max Ignition Wires, Moroso Oil Pans, Moroso Performance Products Rookie of the Race, MSD Ignitions, NGK Spark Plugs, Scott Performance Wire, Tilton Engineering, Wiseco Pistons

Text provided by James F. Noltimier

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.