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NASCAR : Expanded schedule announced for NASCAR Winston West Series

13 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- An expanded schedule for the NASCAR Winston West Series in 2001 featuring an inaugural event at Kansas Speedway and the return to several tracks visited by the circuit in previous years, was announced today by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.

The 14-race schedule includes the first visit to the new 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., - one of four superspeedway races slated for 2001. The season includes the return to two .375-mile short-tracks that previously hosted NASCAR Winston West Series events. The series will compete at Colorado National Speedway north of Denver, which it visited in 1995 and 1996, and at Tucson (Ariz.) Raceway Park, which hosted 11 series races between 1993 and 1999.

The 2001 schedule marks the first season that the series visits both paved ovals at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway. The .375-mile paved oval, known as "The Bullring," will host the series in February. The circuit travels back to Las Vegas later in the season, meanwhile, to compete on the 1.5-mile superspeedway - which has hosted series races every year since the inaugural event in 1996.

"We are pleased to announce this expanded schedule for the NASCAR Winston West Series in 2001, with the addition of a beautiful new facility and traditional stops at popular venues," said Tom Deery, NASCAR Vice President. "This should make for a great blend of exciting short-track action and sleek superspeedway competition, along with a challenging road course."

The 2001 season includes events at 12 tracks in seven states in the western region of the United States. The series will visit oval tracks ranging in size from .375-mile to two miles.

Incorporated into the 2001 schedule are four companion events with national NASCAR series'. The NASCAR Winston West Series will share venues two times during the season with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division and twice with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

In addition to Kansas Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the series will visit two other superspeedways - California Speedway near Los Angeles and Phoenix International Raceway.

Drivers will face the challenge of a twisting road course when they travel to Monterey, Calif., to compete at the picturesque Laguna Seca Raceway. The schedule again features three events at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway, including a 300-lap season finale. Other short tracks on the schedule include Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash.; Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.; and Rocky Mountain Raceways near Salt Lake City, Utah.

The NASCAR Winston West Series is one of nine NASCAR Touring Series' that blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks.

Corporate sponsors make significant contributions to NASCAR Touring Series point funds. These sponsors include Anheuser-Busch, Featherlite, Goody's Headache Powders, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Raybestos Brakes, RE/MAX International, Inc., Slim Jim, and RJ Reynolds brand, Winston.

The 2001 NASCAR Winston West Series schedule follows:

2001 NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES SCHEDULE

DATE EVENT LOCATION DISTANCE

  • Sun., Feb. 4 Phoenix Int'l Raceway, Phoenix, AZ (1 Mi) 150 L
  • Wed., Feb. 28 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV (3/8 Mi) 300 L
  • Sat., Mar. 10 Tucson Raceway Park, Tucson, AZ (3/8 Mi) 250 L
  • Sun., Mar. 18 Mesa Marin Raceway, Bakersfield, CA (1/2 Mi) 200 L
  • Sat., Apr. 28 California Speedway, Los Angeles, CA (2 Mi) 100 L
  • SAT MAY 12 Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA (1/2 Mi) 250 L
  • Sun., May 20 Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA (2.238 Mi RC) 250 K
  • Sat., June 2 Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, KS (1.5 Mi) 100 L
  • Sat., June 30 Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, WA (.646 Mi) 300 L
  • Sat., July 14 Colorado National Speedway, Erie, CO (3/8 Mi) 225 L
  • SAT JULY 21 Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA (1/2 Mi) 250 L
  • Sat., Sept. 1 Rocky Mountain Raceways, Salt Lake City, UT (3/8 Mi) 250 L
  • Sat., Oct. 13 Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV (1.5 Mi) 100 L
  • SAT NOV 10 Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA (1/2 Mi) 300 L
  • M - Miles K-Kilometers L - Laps

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE - SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Text Provided By Doug Stokes

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