Chilly Willy 100 Set to Heat Up West
Super Late Model Showcase Live On FansChoice From Tucson
TUCSON, Ariz. – Race season is about to heat up in Arizona.
Tucson Raceway, beginning its season year as a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track, is set to host its signature event for the Super Late Model Division – the Chilly Willy 100.
Saturday night’s race on the .375-mile paved oval will air live on FansChoice.tv.
The 30-car field that drew drivers from six western states and two Canadian provinces includes defending race winner Dustin Ash, 26 of Las Vegas, and last year’s runner-up Chris Eggleston of Erie, Colorado. Eggleston will run for Bill McAnally Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
Also among the top contenders are veteran drivers Ron Norman, Ron Eaton and Scott Rueschenberg. Norman was Tucson Super Late Model champion last year and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Arizona champion, while Eaton winner of 11 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races and three titles in the former NASCAR Northwest Series. Rueschenberg won the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Arizona championship.
Other notabes include Gracin Raz, who will be running full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, as well as veteran driver Jason Jefferson and five-time Colorado National Speedway champion Bruce Yackey.
Over 75 racers are expected to compete at Tucson in the various divisions.
Racing will start Friday at 6 p.m. MT with the Super Late Model Dash For Cash between the top eight qualifiers, followed by the heat races – in which the top three in each of the four heats advance to the main event – and the Hornets feature and Modified heats.
The Last Chance Race for the Super Late Models will start Saturday’s show at 5 p.m., followed by the 75-lap feature for the Modified Division and the Hornets Division feature. The Chilly Willy 100 is expected to take the green flag at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Tucson Speedway, formerly Tucson Raceway Park, was home of the NASCAR Winter Heat Series from 1994 through 1999, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 1995 through 1997. These programs helped launch the careers of drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Matt Crafton.
The track was closed from 2011 to 2013; John Lashley purchased the track and it underwent an extensive make-over and upgrade. The track re-opened in April of 2013 and became a NASCAR-sanctioned track in May of 2014. It has previously been a part of NASCAR from 1987-2008.
The open wheel modified class will have no restrictions on their engines as they set track records on Friday and battle to be included in the 35 cars for the main event of 75 laps. Many of these Modifieds compete in the Lucas Oil Modified Series and will be back to the Speedway on April 11th.
All fans are invited into the pits after racing for a chili feed and bonfire with the race teams.
The Speedway grandstand will be heated for the racing on Friday and Saturday nights and full service will be available from the Speedy Café, featuring the Trophy Burger, Manzy Burrito, Desert Sonoran Dogs.
Sources: NASCAR PR