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Historic Hickory
to play pivotal role in title chase McFarland looking for four in a row in 4 Brothers 250 Myrtle Beach, S.C. —With just two races remaining in the Greased Lightning Southern Division season, Mark McFarland has a 59 point lead over Michael Ritch in the points standings coming into the 4 Brothers 250 presented by Galaxy Food Centers.McFarland, driver of the No. 81s Sears Auto Center Chevrolet, has built his lead with a three-race win streak in the Southern Division. But no lead is safe, especially at Hickory Motor Speedway. "Hickory is a small, demanding track," said McFarland. "You just have to be patient there because it’s a long race - 250 laps is a long race anywhere - but especially long at Hickory." Last season at the .363-mile track, McFarland finished 31st at HMS, succumbing to a mechanical failure on Lap 127. That could’ve been the case this time around, too, but a bit of bad luck in an out-of-division start could’ve been a blessing. In the Hooters 250 at Jennerstown Speedway, McFarland lost a motor, one that probably would’ve been used this weekend. "It was lucky it came in a Northern Division race," McFarland stated. "We’re lucky it didn’t happen this coming weekend because we were planning on running the same car and the same motor at Hickory in the Southern Division event. If we hadn’t have raced at Jennerstown, it might have happened at Hickory. You’re never happy when you have a DNF (did not finish), but we’re happy it happened where it did." Ritch may need some misfortune by McFarland and a win to climb close enough to strike at Bristol, the final race of the regular season. But a win may be tough if Trevor Bayne performs like he did last season at HMS. Bayne, driver of the No. 29s Chevy Racing Chevrolet, led a race-high 167 laps en route to his first Hooters Pro Cup win. "I knew if we messed around at the front enough we’d get a win," said Bayne after his breakout win. "We just had an awesome car. I could pass three-wide anytime I wanted. I was able to pass for the lead on the outside. What more can you ask for out of a car?" The odds of Bayne repeating are long, considering only Bobby Gill, who has three wins at HMS, has been able to defend his win the following season. The 4 Brothers 250 presented by Galaxy Food Centers is scheduled for a green flag at 8 p.m., but fans are encouraged to come out early for Awesome Awnings Pole Qualifying at 4:45 p.m. Following qualifying, the Allison Legacy Series will compete in a 50-lap feature at 5:30 p.m. Fans will be permitted on the racetrack starting at 6:45 p.m. for the Wraps INK Autograph Session. Prerace ceremonies begin at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, contact HMS at (828) 464-3655. ### HOOTERS PRO CUP QUICK FACTS FOR THE GREASED LIGHTNING SOUTHERN DIVISION WHAT: 4 Brothers 250 Presented by Galaxy Food Centers WHERE: Hickory Motor Speedway .363-mile, banked oval WHEN: Saturday, August 2 DISTANCE: 250 laps/90.75 miles POSTED AWARDS: $127,136 STARTING FIELD: 32-car starting field. Top 28 on time, four provisionals PROMOTER: Sherry Clifton Website – www.hickorymotorspeedway.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Warner, USAR Media Relations Director, 843-390-4224 Email Address: pwarner@usarprocup.com
TELEVISION: VERSUS NETWORK —Monday, August 11 at 4 p.m. (ET)Regional Networks: Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Altitude Sports, Comcast SportsNet New England, SportsTime Ohio, Comcast SportsNet West, Cox Sports, Lonestar Sports, Mediacom, America One, DirectTV & Dish Network (Check Local Listings for Regional Airings)
WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Friday, August 1, 2008: 5:00 p.m. – 7 p.m. Early Parking & RegistrationSaturday, August 2, 2008: 8:30 a.m. USAR HPCS officials Meeting 8:45 am Transporter Parking 9:00 a.m. USAR HPCS Crew Chief Meeting 9:30 a.m. Pit Gates Open 10:00 a.m. USAR HPCS Tech Inspection Begins 10:30 a.m. USAR HPCS Rookie Meeting 12:00 p.m. USAR HPCS Practice Begins 2:00 p.m. USAR HPCS Practice Ends 2:15 p.m. USAR HPCS Drivers Meeting (Engines Off) 2:30 p.m. Chapel Service (Engines Off) 2:45 p.m. Allison Legacy Practice Begins 3:15 p.m. Allison Legacy Practice Ends 3:30 p.m. Front Gates Open 3:45 p.m. Allison Legacy Qualifying 4:45 p.m. Awesome Awnings Qualifying for the USAR HPCS 5:30 p.m. Allison Legacy Race 6:45 p.m. Wraps Ink Autograph Session for the USAR HPCS 7:30 p.m. Pre-Race Ceremonies for the 4 Bothers 250 8:00 p.m. Start of 4 Brothers 250 HPCS Track Qualifying Record HMS: Driver: Caleb Holman Date: 8/4/07 - Time: 15.219 SEC/ 85.866 MPH Results from 2007 Hickory Event 1. Trevor Bayne 2. Jay Fogleman 3. Matt Carter 4. Mike Garvey 5. Derrick Kelley 6. Brian Scott 7. Wade Day 8. Dusty Williams 9. Gary Helton 10. Mart Nesbitt Awesome Awnings Pole Award- $1000- Caleb Holman- (15.219 / 85.866 MPH) New Track Record Lucas Oil Products 1/2 Way Leader-$1000-Trevor Bayne Miller Lite Rookie of the Race -$1000- Brian Scott Aaron’s Do The Math Hard Charger -$500- Dusty Williams Greased Lightning Clean Team - $250- Mark McFarland/$250 Jay Fogleman Number of caution flags-15 Total laps under caution- 88 iCard Time of Race- 2:06:00 Green Flag Average Speed- 81.992 MPH Margin of Win- .805 sec Lap Leaders- 1-3 Frank Deiny Jr(3); 4-29 Caleb Holman(26); 30-126 Trevor Bayne(167); 127-138 Matt Hawkins(12); 139-180 Jay Fogleman(42); 181-250 Trevor Bayne Past Winners at Hickory Year Race Winner Pole Winner 2007 Trevor Bayne Caleb Holman 2006 Clay Rogers Shane Wallace 2005 Shane Huffman Clay Rogers 2004 Clay Rogers Clay Rogers 2003 Jason Sarvis Joe Gaita 2003 Shane Huffman Shane Huffman 2002 Bobby Gill Shane Wallace 2001 Bobby Gill Hal Goodson 2001 Mario Gosselin Mario Gosselin 2000 Lee Tissot Hal Goodson 2000 Bobby Gill Clay Rogers 1999 Derrick Kelley Mario Gosselin 2008 HPCS Winners Date Event Race Winner Pole Winner March 15 Sears Auto Center 200, USA Int’l Speedway Benny Gordon Mark McFarland March 29 BFGoodrichTires.com 250, South Georgia Michael Ritch Mark McFarland April 19 Miller Lite 250, South Boston Dan Abold Benny Gordon April 26 Racing Electronics 250, Concord Michael Ritch Wade Day May 31 Sears Auto Center 150, Milwaukee Mark McFarland Matt Carter June 14 Greased Lightning 250, Mansfield Derek Kale Benny Gordon June 21 Greased Lightning 250, Myrtle Beach Mark McFarland Dange Hanniford Jun 28 Lucas Oil 200, Salem Speedway Mikey Kile Mike Hampton July 12 Kmart 250, Motor Mile Benny Gordon Clay Rogers July 19 Crane Cams 250, Southern National Mark McFarland Clay Rogers July 26 HOOTERS 250, Jennerstown Benny Gordon Benny Gordon 4 Brothers 250 Fast Facts • The 4 Brothers 250 will be the 13th time that the Hooters Pro Cup Series has competed on the historic, .363-mile track. • There have been eight different winners at HMS in the previous 12 races. Only Bobby Gill, Clay Rogers and Shane Huffman have multiple wins at HMS. • Huffman and Rogers are the only drivers to win from the pole at HMS. Huffman did it in 2003, and Rogers did it in 2004. • Lee Tissot holds the record for worst starting spot for a winner. Tissot started 17th in 2000 win, which was the only victory of his career. Only four times in history has the winner come from outside the top-10 starting spots. • Clay Rogers, a two-time Hooters Champion, has won three poles at HMS, but he’s averaging a 10th-place finish through nine starts at HMS. • Bobby Gill and Mart Nesbitt are the only drivers to compete in every Hooters Pro Cup event at HMS. With Nesbitt competing in the Northern Division this season, Gill will be the only drivers to have run all 13 events. • Brad Rogers will be back in action this weekend. Rogers, a former Southern Division ROTY, is driving the No. 51 Chevrolet. The youngest Rogers finished fourth in his only start at HMS. • Logano vs. Vickers: Vickers averaged a 6.7 finish in his three Hooters Pro Cup starts at HMS. Vickers finished in the top-10 in all three starts. Logano averaged a 5.5 finish in two starts and finished in the top-10 in both. Each drivers’ best finish was fifth. • After six years of declining speeds at HMS, Caleb Holman set the track record (15.219 seconds) during last year’s qualifying, shaving nearly half a second off the pole speed in 2006. • Hickory native Shane Huffman holds the record for most laps led by a winner at HMS. Huffman led 245 laps during his 2003 win. • Bobby Gill holds the record for the least amount of laps led by a winner. In 2002, Gill led just 26 laps en route to victory.Participating Special Award Sponsors: Awesome Awnings Pole Award ($1,000) Lucas Oil Products Halfway Leader Award ($1,000) Miller Lite Beer Rookie of the Race Award ($1,000) Aaron’s "Do the Math" Award ($500) Longhorn Win from the Pole ($500) Greased Lighting "Clean Team Award" ($500) Comp Cams "Engine Builder of the Race" Official Series Sponsors Hooters • Miller Lite • BFGoodrich Tires • Sears Auto Center • Greased Lightning • Aaron’s Sales & Lease • Longhorn • Lucas Oil • Sunoco Race Fuels • Awesome Awnings • Pepsi • Racing Electronics • Crane Cams Ignition • iCard • Club Car • Fatheadz Sunglasses • TriStar Racewear • Wraps INKParticipating Contingency Award Sponsors: Automotive Specialists • Auto Meter • Brown and Miller Racing Solutions • Brodix Cylinder Heads • Crane Cams • Crane Ignitions • Comp Cams • Eaton Corporation (Detroit Locker) Edelbrock • Eibach Springs • Five Star Bodies Fuel Safe • Gaerte Engines • Hawk Performance • Heintz Performance • Hess Racing Products • Holley Performance • Impact Racing Products • JE Pistons • K & N Filters • Kool Mat • Longacre Racing Products •Pro Systems Brake Solution • Quarter Master • RE Suspension • Leavitt Racing Components • Tex Racing • Trailers of the East Coast • Whelen Engineering |
