THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE 2015 SPEARS SOUTHWEST TOUR SERIES SEASON OPENER
THINGS TO KNOW
FOR THE 2015 SPEARS SOUTHWEST TOUR SERIES
SEASON OPENER: March 21st at Madera Speedway
FIFTEENTH SEASON: The March 21st race at Madera Speedway will be the start of the fifteenth season of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. To date; the series has paid out over $2.5 million in prize money to 251 drivers, honored 11 different champions, competed at 14 different racetracks in four states, with an average of 22.5 cars per race.
DEFENDING RACE WINNER: Eureka’s Brandon White scored his first career SPEARS Southwest Tour Series victory at the 2014 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series season opener at Madera Speedway.
NEW HARDWARE: Manteca’s Jacob Gomes will debut a brand new Hamke racecar at the Madera opener on March 21st. It will be Gomes 55th career SPEARS Southwest Tour Series start.
DEFENDING CHAMP: 2014 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series champion Derek Thorn will be looking for his record 21st career SPEARS Southwest Tour Series victory.
NEW DEAL: Jeff Bischofberger will be driving the car that Jeremy Doss has piloted the past two seasons. Bischofberger will drive full-time in 2015, with Mike Doss as crew chief for the #66 team.
FORMER S2 CHAMP DEBUT: 2013 SRL S2 Series champion, Ryan Cansdale of Laguna Beach will compete for the 2015 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Rookie-of-the-Year title. At the Madera opener, Cansdale will drive a car acquired from Strmiska Racing during the off-season.
BABY BOOM: Speaking of Strmiska Racing, they do not plan to be at Madera for the opener, as Ross Strmiska and his wife Rachel are expecting their first child.
REBOUND: Three-time SPEARS Southwest Tour Series champion and Madera Speedway track record holder, Jim Pettit II will be looking to rebound after a rare mechanical failure ended his hopes at the Winter Showdown.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST ROOKIES: Last year Black Diamond, Washington’s Garret Archer drove to the 2014 Rookie-of-the-Year title. This year Olympia, Washington’s Parker Stephens will attempt to keep the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Rookie-of-the-Year trophy in the state of Washington.
ANOTHER MADERA DEBUT: In 2014, Oakdale’s Blaine Rocha made his SPEARS Southwest Tour Series debut finishing 5th at Madera Speedway on June 28th. Rocha will now make his NTS Motorsports debut in the series, driving #21 Chevrolet at the Madera opener.
NEW SERIES SPONSORS: In addition to the great family of sponsors that are returning to the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, new sponsors on board for 2015 include; VDL Fuel Systems, Pinnacle Peak Steak House, WestAir, Retro Custom Metals, Joe’s Racing Products, Ron’s Rear Ends, Reeve’s Complete Auto Center, and RTS Remedial Transportation Services.
MADERA 411: The March 21st event at Madera Speedway will feature five divisions; the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, SRL S2 Series, Legends of the Pacific/SRL Legends Series, Modifieds, MST and Toyota Sedans. Opening Ceremonies at 6:30pm, SPEARS Southwest Tour Series qualifying at 7:10pm.
