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1/20/2009
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CHAMPIONS ACTIVITIES KICK OFF
ACTION LEADING
TO NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN |
Brian Loftin edged Antonio Perez to take the early bragging rights as the
top drivers of the NASCAR Developmental Series jumped into go-karts on
Tuesday for a special competition with Los Angeles-area media.
Five NASCAR champions from across North America took part in the
event, one of many special activities planned for them leading up to the
prestigious NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
on Friday and Saturday.
Loftin, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified champion, shot into the
lead on the final lap to take the honors in the go-kart challenge at K-1
Speed in Anaheim. Perez, the NASCAR Mexico Series Champion, appeared to
struggle with a slowing kart as they dashed to the finish.
“It was a lot of fun, but everybody’s still very competitive,”
Loftin said. “Everybody wants to win and go as hard as they can. It’s still
an honor to beat them, anytime you can get on anything. Four-wheelers,
motorcycles, go-karts, race cars – it don’t matter. We’re going to go hard.”
In addition to Loftin and Perez, other champions taking part in the
event were Matt Kobyluck, the NASCAR Camping World Series East champion,
Scott Steckly, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion, and Philip Morris,
the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion.
Joining the NASCAR champions at K-1 Speed on Tuesday were residents
of Covenant House California – Los Angeles. Established in 1988, Covenant
House California has opened its doors to more than 145,000 homeless youth
who suffer from the trauma of trying to survive on the streets.
The champions’ celebration kicked off with a welcome brunch Tuesday
morning. Following the go-kart action, the group headed to a Champions/Media
Dinner at the Petersen Auto Museum on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Tuesday’s activities will wrap up with the champions taking in a
behind-the-scenes viewing of the Emmy Award-winning “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Wednesday’s schedule for the champions includes a VIP trip to
Universal Studios, in Universal City, Calif. Wednesday evening, the
champions will head to the Staples Center to take in a Los Angeles
Lakers-Los Angeles Clippers NBA game.
The NASCAR Developmental Series is the umbrella under which all of
the NASCAR series that lead up to three national series (NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series) fall.
The best short-track drivers throughout NASCAR’s developmental
series are headed to Southern California this week to compete in the
postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. It will feature a 250-lap
Camping World Series race, as well as NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Super Late Model and Late Model races.
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Source: Jason
Christley / NASCAR
Posted: January
20, 2009 |
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