NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
Encyclopedia
The SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series is a Late Model racing league operating since 1985, originally with NASCAR
sanction as the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour and later AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series, and before being sanctioned by a group of West Coast racers under the premises of the Stockcar Racing League.
The cars feature a perimeter frame chassis where rails of equal lengths must kick out, compared to the more modern offset chassis where one side is straight and one side kicks out. They weigh 2,900 pounds and have a fiberglass body.
The original NASCAR Southwest Tour began in 1985 and ran until NASCAR discontinued the Elite Division in 2006.
When NASCAR eliminated the Elite Division at the end of the 2006 season, former IRL driver Davey Hamilton
's SRL sanctioning body gave the former NASCAR Southwest Tour teams in the Southwest a series to race, under the SRL Wild West Shootout name.
With management of the series now under the control of the Collins family of Mesa Marin (both old and new) tracks, the series decided to return to the more familiar Southwest Tour name in 2008.
Current SRL rules require a Five Star racing body complying with any NASCAR Southwest Tour-approved body from 2000–2006, or SRL since 2007, and complying with the Approved Body Configuration program used nationally in short track racing.
The SRL has a green-white-checkered finish rule. Nathan Tucker won the first championship under the SRL sanction.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
sanction as the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour and later AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series, and before being sanctioned by a group of West Coast racers under the premises of the Stockcar Racing League.
The cars feature a perimeter frame chassis where rails of equal lengths must kick out, compared to the more modern offset chassis where one side is straight and one side kicks out. They weigh 2,900 pounds and have a fiberglass body.
The original NASCAR Southwest Tour began in 1985 and ran until NASCAR discontinued the Elite Division in 2006.
When NASCAR eliminated the Elite Division at the end of the 2006 season, former IRL driver Davey Hamilton
Davey Hamilton
Davey Jay Hamilton is a race car driver in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series. He has made 50 series starts and while never winning a race, finished second 3 times...
's SRL sanctioning body gave the former NASCAR Southwest Tour teams in the Southwest a series to race, under the SRL Wild West Shootout name.
With management of the series now under the control of the Collins family of Mesa Marin (both old and new) tracks, the series decided to return to the more familiar Southwest Tour name in 2008.
Current SRL rules require a Five Star racing body complying with any NASCAR Southwest Tour-approved body from 2000–2006, or SRL since 2007, and complying with the Approved Body Configuration program used nationally in short track racing.
The SRL has a green-white-checkered finish rule. Nathan Tucker won the first championship under the SRL sanction.
2011 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Schedule
- April 2 – The Bullring at LVMS – Las Vegas, NV – 111 laps
- April 16 – All-American Speedway – Roseville, CA – 135 laps
- May 14 – The Bullring at LVMS – Las Vegas, NV – 121 laps
- June 4 – Stockton 99 Speedway – Stockton, CA – 150 laps
- June 25 – Madera Speedway – Madera, CA – 125 laps
- July 23rd – Rocky Mountain Speedway – Salt Lake City, UT – 115 laps
- August 20 – Stockton 99 Speedway – Stockton, CA – 135 laps
- September 24 – Madera Speedway – Madera, CA – 150 laps
- October 15 – All-American Speedway – Roseville, CA – 135 laps
- October 29 – The Bullring at LVMS – Las Vegas, NV – 111 laps
2009 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Schedule
- April 3/4 – All-American Speedway – Roseville, CA
- May 3 – Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, The Bullring – Las Vegas, NV - May 23 – Madera Speedway – Madera, CA
- July 4 – Madera Speedway – Madera, CA
- July 18 – Toyota Speedway at Irwindale – Irwindale, CA
- August 8 – Stockton 99 Speedway – Stockton, CA
- September 5 – Madera Speedway – Madera, CA
- October 3 – Stockton 99 Speedway – Stockton, CA
- October 10 – Toyota Speedway at Irwindale – Irwindale, CA
- October 31 – Las Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayLas Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
, The Bullring – Las Vegas, NV
SRL Stockcar Racing League Wild West Shootout Champions
- 2008: Jim Pettit II
- 2007: Dave Byrd
- 2006: Jason Fensler
- 2005: Eric Schmidt
- 2004: Steve Belletto
- 2003: Ron Strmiska Jr
- 2002: Jeff Anthony
- 2001: Nathan Tucker
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
- 2006: Rip Michels
- 2005: Jim Pettit II
- 2004: Jim Pettit II
- 2003: Auggie Vidovich
NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour
- 2002: Eddy McKean
- 2001: Craig Raudman
- 2000: Matt CraftonMatt CraftonMatthew Crafton is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He currently drives the #88 Menards Toyota Tundra for ThorSport Racing.-Early career:...
- 1999: Kurt BuschKurt BuschKurt Thomas Busch is an American NASCAR and NHRA driver. He drives the No. 22 Shell Oil Company/Pennzoil Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and will race on an "opportunity permitting" basis in the Pro Stock division of NHRA...
- 1998: Steve PortengaSteve PortengaSteve Portengais a NASCAR driver. He currently races in the NASCAR Grand National Division, AutoZone West Series. He won the Featherlite Southwest Series championship in 1994 and 1998....
- 1997: Brian Germone
- 1996: Chris Raudman
- 1995: Lance HooperLance HooperLance Allen Hooper is a race car driver in NASCAR as well as several touring divisions. Hooper attended his first race when he was just two weeks old, and also came from a long line of racing champions, including his uncle, father, and brother...
- 1994: Steve Portenga
- 1993: Ron Hornaday, Jr
- 1992: Ron Hornaday, Jr
- 1991: Rick CarelliRick CarelliRick Carelli is an American race car driver from Arvada, Colorado. He was nicknamed the "High Plains Drifter". He won multiple times in the #6 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series truck.-Racing career:...
- 1990: Doug GeorgeDoug GeorgeDoug George is a NASCAR driver and mechanic. Currently, he is the crew chief of the #51 NOS/Miccosukee Gambling Toyota Tundra driven by Kyle Busch and Brian Ickler in the Craftsman Truck Series. He has made a total of 58 starts in NASCAR.He began racing professionally in the 1980s, driving for his...
- 1989: Dan Press
- 1988: Roman Calczynski
- 1987: Mike Chase
- 1986: Ron EsauRon EsauRon Esau is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who has competed from 1975 to 1990.The primary vehicle for this driver was the #56 Marc Reno-owned Gear Vendor Chevrolet. He has competed in 1704 laps - the equivalent of of racing - while picking up 8 DNQs in the process...