Center Line, Mich. - Wilke-PAK Motorsports is always a threat on the USAC National Midget Car Series scene, but the 2006 season is shaping up to be one of the team's strongest to date, as the team has signed Jerry Coons Jr., as its full-time driver for the season. Team members look to defending their 2005 USAC National Midget Series Entrant Points Championship, beginning at the USAC Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend.
The focus of the team members is to win back-to-back USAC entrant points championships. But, for the 2006 season, they'll also be pursuing another national title. They hope to land Coons Jr., in the USAC National Midget Car Series driver's championship seat as well. Coons Jr., sees his partnership with the Wilke-PAK team as a benefit to both parties.
"Driving full-time for the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team is a great opportunity," Coons Jr., said. "Last year I was able to finish second in the series driver points, and that was driving three different cars. In being full-time with the Wilke-PAK team, we'll be able to focus on winning both the entrant points championship and the driver points championship. The consistency of running together all season will work to benefit our team as a whole."
As with all Copper World Classic events, the competition will be fierce.
Coons Jr., is aware of what's at stake, and he's confident that the Wilke-PAK Motorsports' Mopar engine package will provide him with ample power to compete.
"Competition at Copper World is always tough," Coons Jr., said. "There will be a lot of teams that will be tough to beat, but Mopar is always working on new stuff to be as competitive as possible. Gary Stanton is constantly working to make the engines more powerful, and I'm confident that we'll be as good as, or better than, the other teams out there. Steve Lewis' team is always a threat, but we're confident that we're prepared to compete this weekend."
Coons Jr., and the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team will participate in the USAC National Midget Car Series portion of the USAC Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway. Qualifying is set to begin at 3:05 p.m. PST on Saturday, January 21. The 25-lap feature event is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. PST on Sunday, January 22.
For more information regarding Coons, Jr., Phoenix International Raceway or USAC Racing, log on to www.jerrycoonsjr.com, www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com or www.usacracing.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.
The focus of the team members is to win back-to-back USAC entrant points championships. But, for the 2006 season, they'll also be pursuing another national title. They hope to land Coons Jr., in the USAC National Midget Car Series driver's championship seat as well. Coons Jr., sees his partnership with the Wilke-PAK team as a benefit to both parties.
"Driving full-time for the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team is a great opportunity," Coons Jr., said. "Last year I was able to finish second in the series driver points, and that was driving three different cars. In being full-time with the Wilke-PAK team, we'll be able to focus on winning both the entrant points championship and the driver points championship. The consistency of running together all season will work to benefit our team as a whole."
As with all Copper World Classic events, the competition will be fierce.
Coons Jr., is aware of what's at stake, and he's confident that the Wilke-PAK Motorsports' Mopar engine package will provide him with ample power to compete.
"Competition at Copper World is always tough," Coons Jr., said. "There will be a lot of teams that will be tough to beat, but Mopar is always working on new stuff to be as competitive as possible. Gary Stanton is constantly working to make the engines more powerful, and I'm confident that we'll be as good as, or better than, the other teams out there. Steve Lewis' team is always a threat, but we're confident that we're prepared to compete this weekend."
Coons Jr., and the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team will participate in the USAC National Midget Car Series portion of the USAC Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway. Qualifying is set to begin at 3:05 p.m. PST on Saturday, January 21. The 25-lap feature event is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. PST on Sunday, January 22.
For more information regarding Coons, Jr., Phoenix International Raceway or USAC Racing, log on to www.jerrycoonsjr.com, www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com or www.usacracing.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.
