NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Etc.
David Gilliland (No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet) will be a home-state driver racing for a California-based team in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.
Last year, the Bakersville native finished a career-best second, driving for then-owner Doug Yates. He is a veteran of NASCAR's West Series, where he won at Infineon two years ago.
Entering the 2009 season without a ride, Gilliland joined forces with rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner Kevin Bucker two races into the campaign, and has made every race since.
While new to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Buckler is an accomplished road-course veteran. He was the overall winner in the 2003 Rolex 24 At Daytona -- beating all of the Daytona Prototypes in a GT class Porsche -- and won his class later that year in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
His Adobe Road Winery is headquartered in nearby Petaluma, with TRG based at Infineon Raceway.
"I can't wait for this weekend," Gilliland said. "Last year during qualifying on Friday, we fought being loose with the car. On Saturday in the final practice we got the car really good and were third in practice. That gave us a lot of confidence going into the race.
"We took our time and got to the front. We played the fuel mileage game right, halfway through the race we got into the top five and stayed there and made a run at the end.
"I have won there in two other series and ran second last year in the Cup race. I'm going to Infineon with a lot of confidence. It is a lot of fun for me to go there, I really enjoy it."
The team tested last week at Virginia International Raceway with veteran Andy Lally, who drives for TRG in the Grand-Am Rolex Series.
AJ Allmendinger, from Los Gatos, brings plenty of road-course experience to Richard Petty Motorsports. He won five races in 2005 Champ Car competition prior to making his move to NASCAR, and finished second in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Another California driver to watch is Scott Speed, a native of Manteca. He is looking for a strong showing Sunday in the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota to make his move in the standings. The team is currently 36th in the car owner standings, only 53 points out of 35th and a guaranteed starting position.
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's-Transformers Toyota) and Scott Speed will be looking to do some more road racing after Sunday's round at Infineon. The two are set to make their Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series debut at Daytona International Speedway in the July 4 Brumos Porsche 250. They will co-drive the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates No. 01 Waste Management Lexus Riley -- the same car that won the 2006 Rolex 24 with Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet) at the wheel.
"I am really looking forward to seeing Kyle and Scott in one of our Grand-Am cars," Ganassi said. "Kyle is one of the best race car drivers in the world and Scott is a young talent with a lot of road course experience."
Ganassi also fields the No. 01 TELMEX Lexus Riley for Daytona Prototype point leaders Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas.
The Brumos Porsche 250 is a one-day show, with practice and qualifying preceding the green flag at 2 p.m. Completing the holiday extravaganza will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Coke Zero 400, which takes the green flag at 8 p.m.
Three drivers will be doing double-duty this weekend. Gilliland will drive the No. 45 Dreyer's Ice Cream/Speed Wong Racing Toyota in Saturday's NASCAR Camping World West Series race; Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Joey Logano will also drive the No. 11 Home Depot Toyota; and Boris Said is set to pilot the No. 57 DenBeste Motorsports Ford.
Saturday's entry also includes legendary veteran Hershel McGriff, in the No. 04 Park Corporation Chevrolet, and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long, a two-time class winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Brandon Ash will be attempting to make the race with a new primary sponsor, Efusjon Energy Club -- an Oregon-based company that produces 100% all-natural energy drinks.
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