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Hodges announces plans for NASCAR California state
championship run
Steven
Blakesley / Bobby Hodges Racing
Carson City,
NV. – Bobby Hodges of
Carson
City, NV has announced plans to compete for both the Westcar
Late Model Series title and the NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series California state and National championships in 2009.
Hodges will
pilot a pair of Western Late Model stock cars sponsored by
Nevada Automotive Test Center.
The 19
year-old racer will compete in at least 18 feature events in
2009, hoping to build off of his amazing 2008 season. The Cal
Poly San Luis Obispo engineering student will compete in the
16 Westcar Late Model Series / NASCAR features at All American
Speedway
in Roseville, Calif. which takes place over nine race nights.
He will
also compete at NASCAR-sanctioned races at Stockton 99
Speedway and Madera Speedway.
“The state
title is a new animal,” Hodges said. “It will be a cool deal
and more a touring-type schedule.”
In 2008,
Hodges accumulated enough NASCAR points to rank in the top 250
drivers in the nation, despite only running nine NASCAR points
races. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rules allow drivers
to pick their best 18 finishes for the national title chase.
“It’s
definitely going to be more intense running twice as many
races,” Hodges said. “We looked through and saw that we had
one of the highest points averages per race in the nation and
that makes us optimistic about our chances.”
The 2008
season also saw Hodges come home second in the Westcar Late
Model Series, along with the
Altamont
Motorsports
Park mini-series for the Big Dog and Tri-Holiday. His
relationship with his fellow racers earned him Sportsman of
the Year with Westcar, making him the youngest winner of the
award in four seasons.
In the
off-season, Hodges’ team purchased the Phil Perry-built car
that Jason Fensler piloted to two wins in the three race Big
Dog Series.
Hodges
debuted the car at the prestigious Toyota All Star Showdown in
January, and led many laps before being gathered in a late
race crash.
Hodges will
the new car in the Westcar Late Model Series events at
Roseville, using his 2008 mount for the Stockton 99 and
Madera
events.
“Having two
cars will be a huge advantage,” Hodges said. “With as good as
California racers are, we have to win races and earn a lot of
points. We need to break through that barrier (winning
races).”
Despite
Hodges racking up an impressive career average of 75%
top-tens, he has yet to win a Late Model feature event. He had
four runner-up finishes in 2008.
The young
student’s season will get started on March 21st
with a twin-50 event at Madera Speedway.
He will
test this weekend at All American Speedway to prepare for the
season.
Complete tentative schedule is at
www.bobbyhodges.netriver
Bobby Hodges is brought to you by Nevada Automotive Test
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