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With resounding success, a long-standing short-track tradition made its way into Michigan International Speedway last Saturday when the ARCA RE/MAX Series opened up its garage area to ticketed fans following the Flagstar 200 event. And, by the thousands, race fans poured onto the speedway en route to the RE/MAX Series garage in a steady stream that lasted an hour and a half. “I think it was great,” said five-time and defending series champion Frank Kimmel. “It’s just too cool…just like Saturday night at the short-track, only at a superspeedway. We stayed and signed autographs until the very last people came through.”
The stars will certainly be out when the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series drivers take to Colorado National Speedway, June 5 for the running of the Auto Trader 150.
In addition to former Midwest Series champions Steve Carlson (Wilson Oil Company Chevrolet), Brian Hoppe (Gildan Activewear Chevrolet) and Eddie Hoffman (Appleton Rack & Pinion Chevrolet) that travel with the series each week, six other NASCAR champions fill the official list of expected entrants.
Jeff Jefferson (Tri-County Parts Chevrolet), the 2003 NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Northwest Series champion will make the trip from Naches, Washington to compete at the newly repaved Colorado National Speedway. He will be joined by former NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series champions Eddy McKean (Wide World of Maps Pontiac) and Rick Carelli (X-Treme Signs & Graphics Chevrolet). Colorado drivers Roger Avants (McDonald's Chevrolet), Jerry Robertson (Art Craft Signs Chevrolet) and Bruce Yackey (General Air and Service Chevrolet) have all logged thousands of laps at the picturesque .375-mile oval. Robertson is a two-time and defending NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series regional champion while Yackey and Avants have each scored one weekly series regional championship in their illustrious careers.
"Aside from the year-end Toyota All-Star Showdown, this is probably the most star studded field you'll see at our level of NASCAR racing," said Hoffman, the defending race winner. "And to have champions from the Northwest Series, Southwest Series and NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series join us for this event, speaks highly for the Midwest Series and for Colorado National Speedway."
Twenty-six drivers will start the Auto Trader 150. Qualifying is slated for 4:50 p.m. (MT) with the fastest 16 earning an automatic berth. The top four finishers of a 20-lap last chance qualifier will also transfer to the main event. Up to six provisional starting spots will be awarded based on NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division championship standings. The 150-lap main event is scheduled to take the green flag at 8:10 p.m.
"The competitor inside of each race driver wants to compete against the best, and that's what I expect we'll have at Colorado National Speedway," said Hoffman. "I think that's why the Midwest Series drivers have done so well in the past when we do run across drivers from the other NASCAR series. We push each other in the Midwest, every week, and that just makes you a better race driver and makes your team a better race team."
