Event Preview: CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series Catawba Valley 250
Hickory Motor Speedway-Newton, NC
Mooresville, NC 4/1/14: After Caleb Holman continued his domination at Southern National two weeks ago the X-1R Pro Cup Series moves to the Hickory Motor Speedway for the second race of the season. Last year Clay Rogers did the clean sweep at the .363 mile track, but now with Rogers out of the picture it’s anyones guess who will take home the $8,000 check at nights end. Newcomer Matt Craig and Hickory Motor Speedway regular Doug Barns Jr. will both be making their series debut but are expected to challenge for top five finishes when the checkered flag flies. Series sophomores Reid Wilson, who sat the pole at this race a year ago, and Brady Boswell, who lead almost 100 laps before settling for second position last fall, should also be ones to watch Saturday night.
Catawba Valley 250
NOTES:
Track/Location: Hickory Motor Speedway-Newton, NC Track Size: .363
Event Name: Catawba Valley 250 Laps: 250 Laps/91 miles
Event Schedule: Series Standings: AFR Rookie Standings:
Practice: 1:00pm-2:00pm 1) #75 Caleb Holman 40 1) #05 Codie Rohrbaugh 30
2:15pm-3:00pm 2) #56 Gus Dean -5 2) N/A
Qualifying: 6:15pm 3) #66 Reid Wilson -6 3) N/A
Race: 7:00pm 4) #2 Brady Boswell -7
5) #23 J.P. Morgan -7
Pre Entered Drivers: #05 Codie Rohrbaugh, #02 Tyler Lester, #2 Brady Boswell, #15 Bill Plemons, #21 Eric Gerchak, #23 J.P. Morgan, #24 Mike Williams, #41 Rusty Skewes, #54 Matt Craig, #56 Gus Dean, #66 Reid Wilson, #75 Caleb Holman, #88 Doug Barnes Jr.
Media Coverage:
-X-1R Pro Cup Series Facebook (www.facebook.com/CARSProCup) and Twitter (@X1RProCup)
-Speed 51 “Trackside Now” Coverage www.speed51.com
TOP STORIES & QUOTES:
Matt Craig and Doug Barnes Jr. Making Series Debuts:
-Youngster Matt Craig, son of longtime Pro Cup Series car owner Jeff Craig, will be making his series debut Saturday night at the famed Hickory track. Craig, will be bringing JCR3 Racing team back into action after previously fielding cars for Jeff Fultz and former series champion Clay Rogers over the year.
-Another driver making his series debut is Hickory Motor Speedway late model regular Doug Barns Jr. from Whiteford, Maryland. The sixteen year old driver captured the pole in qualifying at HMS season opening late model event on March 8th before eventually bringing home a thirteenth place finish. Barnes will pilot the #88 machine out of the Bob Schacht Motorsports stable.
Making Rubber Last as Long as Possible:
No matter if you’ve raced at Hickory Motor Speedway or not as a short track racer you’re probably away of the track’s history and how abrasive the pavement is on tires. This knowledge usually favors veteran drivers who know what it takes to make the rubber they have underneath them last the longest. This could play into both J.P. Morgan’s and Caleb Holman’s favor when they reach the closing laps of the 250 lap event Saturday night.
Reid Wilson Hot Heading into Hickory:
Series sophomore Reid Wilson is coming off his best career Pro Cup Series finish two weeks ago at Southern National. Now the seventeen year old driver heads to the track he captured the MAHLE pole award at in the same event a season ago with even more momentum than ever before. According to Wilson, he thinks his chances of capturing the first series win is even better than it was last time out.
“I love racing Hickory. I’ve had some great races there, including becoming the second youngest pole winner in the Pro Cup series. We’ve got an even better car this year and we’re off to great season after our top three finish at Southern National, so the #66 Bojangles’ team really looks forward to Saturday,” noted Reid Wilson driver of the #66 Bojangles/Cheerwine Chevy Impala.
For more information on the X-1R Pro Cup Series including news, results, and photos visit the series website at www.x1rprocup.com. For series operations and marketing information contact Chris Ragle at chris@carsprocup.com or call 940-393-3167. For general information about the X-1R Pro Cup Series contact the series office at 704-662-9212.
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Chris Ragle
Director of Operations/Marketing
CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series
Office: 704-662-9212
Phone: 940-393-3167
Fax: 704-662-9207
Email: chris@carsprocup.com