Center Line, Mich. - Josh Wise and the No. 20 Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises team are geared up and ready to begin their defense of the 2005 USAC National Midget Car Series Championship. With Wise coming off a stellar performance in last week's O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, both team and driver are ready to shift gears and go to work on the pavement in this weekend's USAC Copper World Classic at Phoenix International Raceway.
"We're taking this weekend, as well as this season, race by race," Wise said.
"Consistency and focus are what helped us to win the championship last year, and we're going to continue to work on those two components. We're looking forward to going back to Phoenix this weekend, and we're confident that we will be in contention for the win."
Wise and company know they're facing some stiff competition, especially in the newly rejuvenated Steve Lewis Racing team. As the Lewis team prepares its assault on the midget car world with the new Toyota powerplant, Wise and the No.
20 team are confident that their Mopar power will prove its reliability on the track.
"Steve Lewis has a very strong race team," Wise said. "They have the new Toyota engine, but the fact that their team and their drivers have all won championships is what makes them such great competition. We've got a great team as well. Combining the reliability and horsepower of the Mopar engines and our team's experience, there isn't any reason we can't be a contender for this year's championship."
The No. 20 will also do double duty this weekend. Following qualifying for the USAC Midget portion of the Copper World Classic, the team heads to nearby Manzanita Speedway to compete in the USAC/CRA California Sprints event, scheduled for Saturday night.
"I'm looking forward to getting to run both the dirt and the pavement this weekend," Wise said. "Competing in different types of cars and on different tracks in a short span of time proves how versatile a driver is. There will definitely be an adjustment period, but we've worked hard in the shop to prepare for this scenario and we're ready for the challenge."
With teammate Levi Jones, Wise and the Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises 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 team will move to Manzanita Speedway later that day to compete in the USAC/CRA California Sprints event.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. PST.
For more information regarding Wise, Phoenix International Raceway, Manzanita Speedway or USAC Racing, log on to www.joshwiseracing.com, www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com, www.manzanitaspeedway.us 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.
"We're taking this weekend, as well as this season, race by race," Wise said.
"Consistency and focus are what helped us to win the championship last year, and we're going to continue to work on those two components. We're looking forward to going back to Phoenix this weekend, and we're confident that we will be in contention for the win."
Wise and company know they're facing some stiff competition, especially in the newly rejuvenated Steve Lewis Racing team. As the Lewis team prepares its assault on the midget car world with the new Toyota powerplant, Wise and the No.
20 team are confident that their Mopar power will prove its reliability on the track.
"Steve Lewis has a very strong race team," Wise said. "They have the new Toyota engine, but the fact that their team and their drivers have all won championships is what makes them such great competition. We've got a great team as well. Combining the reliability and horsepower of the Mopar engines and our team's experience, there isn't any reason we can't be a contender for this year's championship."
The No. 20 will also do double duty this weekend. Following qualifying for the USAC Midget portion of the Copper World Classic, the team heads to nearby Manzanita Speedway to compete in the USAC/CRA California Sprints event, scheduled for Saturday night.
"I'm looking forward to getting to run both the dirt and the pavement this weekend," Wise said. "Competing in different types of cars and on different tracks in a short span of time proves how versatile a driver is. There will definitely be an adjustment period, but we've worked hard in the shop to prepare for this scenario and we're ready for the challenge."
With teammate Levi Jones, Wise and the Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises 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 team will move to Manzanita Speedway later that day to compete in the USAC/CRA California Sprints event.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. PST.
For more information regarding Wise, Phoenix International Raceway, Manzanita Speedway or USAC Racing, log on to www.joshwiseracing.com, www.phoenixinternationalraceway.com, www.manzanitaspeedway.us 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.
