NASCAR Stars to battle Sunoco Super Series regulars in 150 Lap event at Columbus Motor Speedway

(Salem-IN) –The Federated Auto Parts “Buckeye Bash” at Columbus Motor Speedway in Ohio on Sunday September 7^th has uncovered a lot of excited racers, and two of the most notable ones are NASCAR drivers Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace.  Each of the drivers will be involved in the Richmond NASCAR Winston Cup event the night before, and will fly in early the next morning to prepare for the Federated Auto Parts 150 for the Sunoco Super Series later that day.  Also, on the card will be the USA Modified series, and the $1000-to-Win Ohio Street Stock Championship.

"The Federated Auto Parts Buckeye Bash is going to be a great race for Kenny Wallace and me to run,” Schrader said recently. “We race each other a lot - in Winston Cup, on short tracks, on dirt...wherever. The Columbus event is great for me too, because Federated Auto Parts is the title sponsor, which is our sponsor on a lot of our short track stuff.  I'm going to be running one of Andy Ponstein's cars and he has good equipment. It should be a great race for all the fans to see.”

Kenny Wallace shared similar enthusiasm for the event.  “I love these kinds of cars…they are the same kind of cars I started my career in.  Plus, I enjoyed racing at Columbus in my ASA days.”  Wallace was the 1986 ASA Rookie of the Year.  Recently, he had the chance to return to a straight rail late model at Lake Erie Speedway, where he started 26^th and finished 3^rd.

Both stars recognize the tough challenge they have ahead.  Besides the top stars in the Sunoco Super Series, 2-time ASA national champion Gary St. Amant will make his return to the series with the start at his home track.  “We’re going into their backyard,” Wallace noted, “and it’s going to be tough to beat them.”  Schrader added, “The guys who run the Sunoco Super Series are good racers. I know they won't lay down for us.”  The two Winston Cup stars know they’ll be battling some of the toughest short track stars in racing, including Scott Hantz, J. R. Roahrig, Bobby Parsley, Jeff Lane and the legendary Junior Hanley (all in the top five in Sunoco Super Series point standings).  Hanley was the winner in the inaugural Series visit to Columbus last year and is the current point leader.

Racing for the Sunday September 7^th Federated Auto Parts Buckeye Bash at Columbus Motor Speedway is slated to start at 2 pm.  Tickets for the event will go on sale Saturday, August 16^th.  Seating is limited, so everyone is encouraged to get their tickets early.