June 23, 2011
By Donalde z Smith
Infineon Raceway is a 1.99-mile road course with varying elevation and a winding 10-turn configuration.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West has visited the Sonoma track thirty times since 1969. Cup Drivers David Gilliland and Joey Logano are scheduled to join the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West regulars for the Thunder Valley Casino Resort "200" on 06/25/2011.
In 2010, David Gilliland, qualified fifth and was running in second place when transmission issues forced him to the sidelines on lap 48 of the 64-lap event.
Photo Donalde z Smith
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David Gilliland Works On His Car
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Gilliland, who was born in Riverside, California, had problems in 2009 also when he suffered engine failure and finished thirty-first. Conversely, he won the race in 2007.
In 2004 and 2005, David Gilliland competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West full-time, finishing third and fourth in the series respectively. Gilliland has been fast each time he tackled the Infineon Road Course and barring equipment issues will be one of the favorites to win.
K&N Pro Series East 2007 Champion, Joey Logano participated in the 2009 Infineon race. That race provided plenty of drama. Logano was in the lead when he was “spun out” by the Patrick Long in the very last turn on the last lap of the race. Patrick completed the race in first place, followed by his teammate Jason Bowles. However, Patrick’s on-track actions prompted NASCAR to strip him of the win and the trophy for the Bennett Lane Winery 200 was handed over to Jason Bowles. Logano recorded a seventeenth place finish.
However the spectacle did not end there. All the other drivers were attempting to return to the garage area. Due to NASCAR’s decision, Long’s car was being diverted away from the winner’s circle. Logano was blocked by the back-up it caused. Amazingly, Logano roaring past the stopped race cars and pedestrians, in what looked like an attempt to demonstrate his displeasure with Patrick Long.
During a post-race interview, Joey stated, “I didn’t hit anybody. I know that. I know what’s all around my car. When there’s a crowd of people, you rev-up the engine because you have no horn so they’ll move. I didn’t hit anybody. . . .” While it might be true that he did not hit anyone, NASCAR Race Mom was in the pits near victory lane at the time and was almost hit as Logano rumbled past. It demonstrated to be scary and dangerous; especially with young kids abound.
This weekend, also be on the look-out for road-course ace, Boris Said. Said has the reputation of being one of the best active road racers. He has participated in various series throughout his career including the American Le Mans, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck series.
In 2010, Said won the Nationwide race in Montreal and finished eighth in the Sprint Cup race at the Infineon Speedway. In last year’s NKNPSW Infineon race, Boris Said started from the second position and finished fourteenth. Said ran Infineon with the series in 2006 for a 22nd place finish; 2007 for a third place finish; 2009 for a fourth place finish.
What can be more histrionic than an eighty-three year old NASCAR legend? Hershel McGriff (Born: December 14, 1927) is the oldest and with 238 starts in the series, one of the most experienced entries. McGriff’s legendary career began when he borrowed his father’s car to compete in his first race at the age of seventeen at the Portland Speedway in September of 1945. Hershel can boast of thirty-seven wins and over one hundred top-five finishes.
Photo Donalde z Smith
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Hershel McGriff Left - Donalde z Smith Right
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McGriff retired twice from NASCAR racing. He first retired in 1954; then came back in the mid-1960s. In 2002, Mr. McGriff retired again. He attempted returned to the series in 2009 at the Infineon race. The only problem was that McGriff, one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers and multiple halls of famer, was unable to qualify and was not granted a provisional entry.
A better prepared, Hershel will attempt to qualify for this weekend’s Infineon race. On 04/30/2011, he began the race at Miller Motorsports Park from thirty-second on the starting grid. He battled his way into the top-ten in the finishing laps of the race. Unfortunately a last lap crash dropped him back to sixteenth place. Hershel McGriff has three wins and six top-tens in twelve starts at Infineon. His wins were in 1983, 1985 and 1987!
K&N Pro Series West regulars have expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunity to race with upper level racing talent.
In 2010, Series Champion Eric Holmes explained, “I think it’s a good thing,” (of being challenged by road racers at Sonoma) “I’ve never considered myself a road racer, but I’ve beat Boris Said and P.J. Jones and I know they’re pretty awesome road racers. It makes me feel good when I beat them. I personally want to win really, really bad.”
With the presence of the “big names” of Gilliland, Logano, Said, and McGriff, you can expect not only great racing action, but lots of electrifying drama this weekend. It is NASCAR Race Mom’s opinion that either good or bad, Sprint Cup regular Joey Logano will be found somewhere in the middle of the Stock Car excitement. It will be interesting to see how he has matured.
Qualifying for the Thunder Valley Casino Resort “200” will take place on Friday, June 24, with the green flag set to drop on Saturday, June 25, at 12:45 p.m.
For tickets or more information on the Thunder Valley Casino Resort 200 or the Toyota/Save Mart 350, call 800-870-RACE (7223) or visit infineonraceway.com/nascar.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
You can contact Donalde z Smith at ..
