NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series

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.

Racing Schedules

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

2010 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Schedule

2009 SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Schedule

• April 3/4 – All-American Speedway – Roseville, CA
• May 3 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 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 Speedway, The Bullring – Las Vegas, NV

Champions

Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series

• 2010: Jonathon Gomez
• 2009: M.K. Kanke

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 Crafton
• 1999: Kurt Busch
• 1998: Steve Portenga
• 1997: Brian Germone
• 1996: Chris Raudman
• 1995: Lance Hooper
• 1994: Steve Portenga
• 1993: Ron Hornaday, Jr
• 1992: Ron Hornaday, Jr
• 1991: Rick Carelli
• 1990: Doug George
• 1989: Dan Press
• 1988: Roman Calczynski
• 1987: Mike Chase
• 1986: Ron Esau

External links

• Stockcar Racing League Southwest Tour