As is normal in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, plenty of road course specialty racers will be attempting the field this weekend at Infineon Raceway in California. The 11-turn course brings out drivers from several road course series' filling in or running an extra car.These "ringers" have had decent success in NASCAR Nextel Cup action at Infineon. Scott Pruett, who won't be in a car this weekend (maybe because Juan Pablo Montoya is?) has the best finish in the last five years for a non-Cup regular with a third in 2004.
2006 saw Boris Said (pictured) pick up ninth for the top ringer finish. Boris is among this year's entry list:
Butch Leitzinger, No. 23 - Leitzinger in effect is driving Jeremy Mayfield's No. 36 (Mayfield isn't making the trip), but it will be covered with Caterpillar decals and the new number.
Boris Said, No. 60 - Said barely fits in this category anymore with the amount of Cup racing he's doing now. The Saidheads will be out in force at Sonoma.
Klaus Graf, No. 49 - Graf will pilot Mike Bliss' ride this weekend in his second Cup start.
Brian Simo, No. 37 - Simo has best finish of tenth at Infineon and will be starting the race in the Front Row Motorsports ride.
Brandon Ash, No. 02 - Piloting his own ride, Ash will attempt to make his 4th-career race and improve his best finish of 38th. Ouch.
Ron Fellows, No. 96 - The Canadian, who has a Busch win, will pilot Tony Raines' DLP Chevy this weekend. Terry Labonte finished 2nd last year in the car.
Marc Goosens, No. 91 - In the first race for Riley-D'Hondt Motorsports, Goosens will attempt the race in the Commenwealth Toyota.
Note: I don't really know where Terry Labonte fits on this list, but for what it's worth, Labonte will making the start in the No. 55 as earlier noted.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-21-2007 @ 7:17PM
Ed Slawinski said...
I am really disappinted that Scott Pruett will not be one of the "ringers" participating in this weeks NASCAR event.Juan needs to be taught a lesson on how to pass people on a road course and Sonoma would be the perfect place for this to happen. Is there anyone else out there that is curious about the fact that Pruett has not been invited to drive in this race?
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6-22-2007 @ 2:26PM
Uncle Bo said...
Ugh.
Folks, please do a little research before winding up the conspiracy machine.
Scott Pruett drives full time for Ganassi in the Rolex Sports Car Series. That's his normal day job, not driving stock cars a couple times a year. This weekend the series is in Mid-Ohio for a regularly scheduled race. Pruett is leading the points standings for Daytona Prototypes, so there is no way he's gonna skip out just to get some payback from JPM.
There is nothing to be curious about. Pruett is doing the job he was contacted to do, drive in the Rolex Sports Car Series, not attempt to teach a former F-1 driver any kind of lesson.
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