Center Line, Mich. — Wilke-PAK Motorsports will hit the pavement running this weekend, in the Mopar All-Star Showdown at Concord Motorsport Park. With familiar faces and a renewed hunger to win the 2006 USAC National Midget Car Series championship, Jerry Coons Jr., and NASCAR’s Tracy Hines will get behind the wheels of the No. 11 and No. 11x machines in search of the team’s first series victory of the season.
Coons Jr., has won several events already this year, and will look to get his first for the Wilke-PAK camp this Sunday. Currently ranked eighth in USAC National Midget Car Series points, Coons Jr., finished second in last year’s series points race. He will pilot the No. 11 Gary Stanton-built Mopar powered entry in the full USAC National Midget Car Series schedule this season.
Hines will return to the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team seeking his first series victory of the year. Competing in the NASCAR Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series, he is a seasoned veteran of open-wheel competition. He had success with the Wilke-PAK team in years past, including winning the 2005 O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Hines competes for Wilke-PAK Motorsports in select events.
Team co-owner Greg Wilke looks forward to returning to racing after a three-and-a-half month hiatus. The team recently moved into another race shop and have been busy working to prepare the cars for the season. Wilke anticipates great things from both Coons Jr., and Hines, as they compete for his team this weekend.
“Even with a break, I wish we’d had more time to prepare,” Wilke said. “We got a brand-new Spike car a week ago Monday, and we’ve been busy working to get it ready to go. We’re happy to have both Jerry and Tracy competing for us this weekend, as with their experience we have a chance to be dominant. Tracy’s experience and his ability to adapt to new venues quickly are most certainly going to be an advantage as it has been in the past. We’re also looking forward to getting laps with Jerry; he’s been so hot already this season. His confidence is very high, and we’re looking to get a great start with him at Concord this weekend.”
Showcasing the USAC National Sprint Car and Midget Car Series, the Mopar All-Star Showdown will feature two 50-lap feature event finales. The USAC Sprint Car Series event will present competitors with an opportunity to take home a piece of the $30,000-plus purse, while USAC Midget Car Series competitors will vie for over $20,000 in purse money and contingencies.
Metrolina Brand Promotions has dedicated a Web site, www.MetrolinaBrand.com, solely to the Mopar All-Star Showdown event. The site provides event information, ranging from technical information about the machines of the USAC National Sprint and Midget Car Series, to event schedules and photos. Official Mopar All-Star Showdown event merchandise is available for purchase on the Web site.
Gates are scheduled to open to the public at 3:30 p.m. EST, with qualifying slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. EST. Racing will begin at 7 p.m. EST. Fireworks will follow the conclusion of the two 50-lap feature events. Tickets can be purchased in advance by logging on to www.MetrolinaBrand.com. Prices range from $10 to $25 per ticket.
For more information regarding Mopar, the Mopar All-Star Showdown, Metrolina Brand Promotions or USAC Racing, log on to www.moparspeed.com, www.mopar.com, www.MetrolinaBrand.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.
Coons Jr., has won several events already this year, and will look to get his first for the Wilke-PAK camp this Sunday. Currently ranked eighth in USAC National Midget Car Series points, Coons Jr., finished second in last year’s series points race. He will pilot the No. 11 Gary Stanton-built Mopar powered entry in the full USAC National Midget Car Series schedule this season.
Hines will return to the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team seeking his first series victory of the year. Competing in the NASCAR Busch Grand National and Craftsman Truck Series, he is a seasoned veteran of open-wheel competition. He had success with the Wilke-PAK team in years past, including winning the 2005 O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Hines competes for Wilke-PAK Motorsports in select events.
Team co-owner Greg Wilke looks forward to returning to racing after a three-and-a-half month hiatus. The team recently moved into another race shop and have been busy working to prepare the cars for the season. Wilke anticipates great things from both Coons Jr., and Hines, as they compete for his team this weekend.
“Even with a break, I wish we’d had more time to prepare,” Wilke said. “We got a brand-new Spike car a week ago Monday, and we’ve been busy working to get it ready to go. We’re happy to have both Jerry and Tracy competing for us this weekend, as with their experience we have a chance to be dominant. Tracy’s experience and his ability to adapt to new venues quickly are most certainly going to be an advantage as it has been in the past. We’re also looking forward to getting laps with Jerry; he’s been so hot already this season. His confidence is very high, and we’re looking to get a great start with him at Concord this weekend.”
Showcasing the USAC National Sprint Car and Midget Car Series, the Mopar All-Star Showdown will feature two 50-lap feature event finales. The USAC Sprint Car Series event will present competitors with an opportunity to take home a piece of the $30,000-plus purse, while USAC Midget Car Series competitors will vie for over $20,000 in purse money and contingencies.
Metrolina Brand Promotions has dedicated a Web site, www.MetrolinaBrand.com, solely to the Mopar All-Star Showdown event. The site provides event information, ranging from technical information about the machines of the USAC National Sprint and Midget Car Series, to event schedules and photos. Official Mopar All-Star Showdown event merchandise is available for purchase on the Web site.
Gates are scheduled to open to the public at 3:30 p.m. EST, with qualifying slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. EST. Racing will begin at 7 p.m. EST. Fireworks will follow the conclusion of the two 50-lap feature events. Tickets can be purchased in advance by logging on to www.MetrolinaBrand.com. Prices range from $10 to $25 per ticket.
For more information regarding Mopar, the Mopar All-Star Showdown, Metrolina Brand Promotions or USAC Racing, log on to www.moparspeed.com, www.mopar.com, www.MetrolinaBrand.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.
