Center Line, Mich. - Anytime the blue, black and silver transporter of Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises' USAC racing teams enters the back gate of a racetrack, it's a sure bet that the team has come ready to race. While Jay Drake and Josh Wise will enter this weekend's 38th Annual Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser Western World Championships at Manzanita Speedway ranked fourth and fifth in the USAC National Sprint Car Series points chase, don't count them out to take the checkers in the final event of the season.
Drake, winner of the 2000 Western World Championships, will look to move the No. 21 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team in to victory lane this weekend.
Despite a rough start to the Western swing, Drake is looking ahead to this weekend's events with his usual quiet confidence.
"We're going to take this race head on, just as we would any other race,"
Drake said. "We've got great equipment and a great team; we just need to capitalize on both of those aspects for this weekend. I've won at Manzanita before, and I think we can do so again. I think we'll be competitive for the win, and we're looking forward to racing at Manzy."
Wise, who already owns the 2005 USAC National Midget Car Series title, will look to finish his USAC "Triple Crown" quest with another top-five finish. The Californian has also earned a runner-up finish in the USAC Silver Crown Series and hopes to make this weekend's events at Manzanita Speedway a season highlight for the No. 20 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team.
"We're going to work very hard at Manzanita this weekend to get a top-five finish in the USAC Sprint Car Championship," Wise said. "We're going to race to win the event, but it would be great to finish all three USAC series in the top-five. Our team has worked very hard this year, and the competition in this series has been amazing. Hopefully, everything will go our way and we'll end the season with a good momentum heading into next year."
The 38th Annual Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser Western World Championships will take place at Manzanita Speedway on November 10-12. For more information regarding Mopar, Wise or Drake, log on to www.moparspeed.com, www.mopar.com, www.joshwiseracing.com or www.jaydrake.com.
Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep® vehicles.
Drake, winner of the 2000 Western World Championships, will look to move the No. 21 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team in to victory lane this weekend.
Despite a rough start to the Western swing, Drake is looking ahead to this weekend's events with his usual quiet confidence.
"We're going to take this race head on, just as we would any other race,"
Drake said. "We've got great equipment and a great team; we just need to capitalize on both of those aspects for this weekend. I've won at Manzanita before, and I think we can do so again. I think we'll be competitive for the win, and we're looking forward to racing at Manzy."
Wise, who already owns the 2005 USAC National Midget Car Series title, will look to finish his USAC "Triple Crown" quest with another top-five finish. The Californian has also earned a runner-up finish in the USAC Silver Crown Series and hopes to make this weekend's events at Manzanita Speedway a season highlight for the No. 20 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team.
"We're going to work very hard at Manzanita this weekend to get a top-five finish in the USAC Sprint Car Championship," Wise said. "We're going to race to win the event, but it would be great to finish all three USAC series in the top-five. Our team has worked very hard this year, and the competition in this series has been amazing. Hopefully, everything will go our way and we'll end the season with a good momentum heading into next year."
The 38th Annual Checker Auto Parts/Budweiser Western World Championships will take place at Manzanita Speedway on November 10-12. For more information regarding Mopar, Wise or Drake, log on to www.moparspeed.com, www.mopar.com, www.joshwiseracing.com or www.jaydrake.com.
Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep® vehicles.
