2023 “Summer Showdown” Winner now Heads to “Salted Metals 150” for the SRL

Bakersfield, CA – When it came to the phrase “finishing second is like kissing your sister”, Kole Raz was an expert, finishing runner-up in big event after big event. But In August of 2022 he grabbed a win in the “South Sound 200” at South Sound Speedway (WA). In 2023, he earned another huge win in the $20,000-to-win “Wenatchee 200” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA). He then headed to Evergreen Speedway (WA) and scored a win in the “Mark Galloway 75” for the Super Late Models. A week ago, Raz scored the biggest win of his young career, grabbing a $25,000 check and a “Summer Showdown” victory at Evergreen Speedway.

Raz would now love to continue the hot streak, by grabbing his first Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series victory in the $10,000-to-win “Salted Metals 150” at Colorado National Speedway (CO) on August 12th. Raz was the 2021 SRL Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up to Buddy Shepherd, finishing fifth overall with three top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 10 starts. Raz dominated the 2023 season opening “All-Star Showdown 200”, leading the first 100 laps. But the second half of the race found Raz falling back, as the retainer clip on the right rear cup broke, allowing the suspension spring to dislodge and work its’ way out of place. The result was a disappointing 16th-place finish, two laps off the pace.

The 2021 Kulwicki Driver Development Program finalist was second in 2023 at Tucson Speedway. (AZ) in the “Wild West Shootout 127” for the SRL, second in the “Chilly Willy 150” at Tucson, second in the “Leonard Evans Memorial 150” at the Wenatchee Valley Super-Oval (WA), for the Northwest Super Late Model Series, and second in the “Chad Hinkle Memorial 138” at South Sound Speedway, before going on a tear. He will now concentrate on getting his first victory in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series. It is something he and his team have been striving for since his first start in 2020.

“It would be huge to finally end up in the Winner’s Circle with Spears SRL Southwest Tour”, Raz exclaimed! “We have been trying at it for so long, and I have had chances to get there, we just haven’t been able to complete it yet. It would be an incredible feeling for our group of guys to get it done.”

Raz will be making his debut in the ARCA Menards Pro Series West this weekend at Shasta Speedway, for Jefferson Racing. He will also be making his debut at Colorado National Speedway on the 12th, at a track he has only visited once, with his brother Gracin Dean Raz in the same “West” Series.

“I’ve only been to Colorado once as a spectator in 2015, while my brother was running the K&N Series at the time”, Raz recalled. “Everything I’ve watched and have heard about CNS has only been positive. It seems to be a great facility that provides the opportunity for us racers to put on a great showing for the fans. They have a lot of local talent there, and then alongside that, you have a great group of touring teams that will be tough to beat.”

After competing in the Darren Rupinski / Jefferson Racing #63 Super Late Model, and his family team’s #27, the two-time NASCAR State of Arizona champion will be back behind the wheel of the Jefferson Racing #42 Port City Racecars Super Late Model, which ran so well at the “All-Star Showdown 200” at Irwindale Speedway (CA). He is thankful for all his racing partners who have helped make this effort possible, as he stated.

“I would like to say thank you to our partners at Apache Rental Group, The Master Wrench, Wells Johnson, Northwest Road and Pave, Auto Town Buick GMC, #Destined4Destruction, Port City Race Cars, Earnest Performance, and Elevate Racing Media.”

On August 12th, the teams of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will return to Colorado National Speedway to compete for a $10,000 win, thanks in part to the “Winner’s Bonus” from PFC Brakes. An additional $500 will go to the Fast Qualifier, Longest Tow, Halfway Leader, and Hard Charger, thanks to David Nava Mulcahy and Salted Metals Architectural Metals. They will be joined by the local Super Stocks, Figure 8’s, and Grand American Modifieds. Qualifying is scheduled from 5:20 PM to 6:20 PM CST. Opening Ceremonies are set for 6:25 PM with Dashes for the local divisions at 6:30 PM. Intermission is scheduled for 7:30 PM with a Drifter Demo. Feature events are scheduled to begin at 7:40 PM for the Super Stocks (25 laps), Figure 8’s (20 laps), Grand American Modifieds (30 laps), at Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series (150 laps).

Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.