NAPA Oil Filters back as sponsor

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (MARCH 24 2000) - The Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring, has been the stepping stone for many drivers before advancing to other NASCAR Touring Divisions. Drivers like the late Davey Allison, Lyndon Amick, Morgan Shepherd, Hut Stricklin, Phil Parsons, Michael Waltrip, the late Rob Moroso, Larry Pearson, Robert Pressley, Mike Swaim Sr. and Jr. and Shawna Robinson have left their mark with this series at one time or another since the division became a part of NASCAR in 1975. Like other NASCAR Touring Series, a solid Rookie of the Year program is vital to the success of that division in developing a foundation on which to build. Again in 2000, NAPA Oil Filters has returned as title sponsor of this program. At every event on the 2000 schedule, the highest finishing eligible Rookie of the Year candidate will receive $300 with the second highest finishing eligible Rookie of the Year candidate receiving $100. At the conclusion of the 2000 racing season, NAPA will award the Rookie of the Year $3,500 with the second highest finishing rookie candidate receiving $1,500 at the awards banquet. Eight drivers, ranging in age from 19 to 47 years, have indicated their intentions to compete for the NAPA Rookie of the Year program with the Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring, in 2000. Brandon Ward at 19 years and four months is the youngest driver to vie for rookie honors. He started racing in 1989 and has won numerous North Carolina State Championships in go-kart racing as well as North American Karting Championships in 1997 and '98. Ward hails from Winston-Salem, N. C. Cam Strader started his racing career in 1991 in go-karts. The last four years he has been competing in Super Pro Truck racing as well as Late Model Stock racing at tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Strader failed to make the starting field at Daytona in 2000 but came back strong at Montgomery, Al. to win the Bud Pole Award. His third place finish at Montgomery ties him for the early lead in rookie points. Strader is from Wilson, N. C. and has longtime Goody's Dash Series crew chief Barry Owen turning the wrenches this year. Nolan Wilson, a Florida native, started racing in 1991 in his home state. He is a graduate of Central Florida University. He has one start with the series this year and when not racing enjoys Bull Riding. Wilson lives in Sanford, Fl. Mark King made his debut with the Goody's Dash Series at Daytona in February and almost came away with a win his first start. King has competed in various forms of racing since 1977 with greater direction toward Late Model Stock type cars. He was second in LMSC points at Lonesome Pine Speedway in 1996 - '97 and fourth in LMSC points at Nashville Speedway USA in 1999. King is from Seymour, TN. Eric Van Cleef brings uniqueness to the Goody's Dash Series in 2000. Driving the only Toyota Celica in NASCAR racing, Van Cleef is sponsored by Toyota since he has extensive experience in SCCA and IMSA road course racing from 1982 - 1998 driving a Toyota. This team is doing research and development on the 24 valve, four-cam V-6 engine with close scrutiny from NASCAR. Van Cleef, originally from Florida, started racing at tracks in central Florida in 1979 but now resides in Huntsville, Al. Tommy Ballard joins the Goody's Dash Series after starting his racing career at Hickory Motor Speedway in 1998. He won a rookie honor at Hickory in 1998 in his class then in 1999 was selected as Most Valuable Driver. Ballard is sponsored by ETS PayPhones and through that sponsorship is working with the Adam Walsh Foundation for missing and exploited children to raise $500,000 for the foundation. Ballard ran his first race with the series at Montgomery finishing a respectable 18th. Ballard resides in Kannapolis, N. C. Doug Gainey, from Bunnell, Fl., started racing in his home state in 1993 on dirt at Putnam County Raceway. He then moved to Volusia County Speedway in 1996 competing in Late Model Stock type cars. He made three starts with the series in 1998 and two starts in 1999. He made his first start in 2000 at Montgomery Motor Speedway where he finished 19th. Ricky Woodward has many years' experience in racing, since 1973, primarily in Super Late Model Dirt cars. Montgomery Motor Speedway was also his first start with the series in 2000 where he finished 14th. When not racing Ricky enjoys spending time with his children and playing softball. At 46 years, Ricky is the oldest rookie contender with the series and he makes his home in Martinez, Ga. Rookie points in each Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring event, will be based on the 10-1 point system regardless of the number of rookie candidates in any particular event. The candidate who finishes highest among the rookie candidates will receive 10 points, the second highest finishing rookie will receive nine points, the third eight points, the fourth, seven points, etc. The driver accumulating the most points at the end of the year will be declared the 2000 NAPA Goody's Dash Series Rookie of the Year. Nine NASCAR Touring Series blanket the United States, bringing special events to many NASCAR Weekly Racing Series tracks and some NASCAR superspeedways and road courses. NASCAR Touring Series are extremely popular with fans and competitors. NASCAR Touring Series can provide a competitor with an entire career, or they can provide valuable experience to competitors moving through the NASCAR ranks. Corporate sponsors make significant contributions to NASCAR Touring Series point funds. These sponsors include Anheuser-Busch, Featherlite, Goody's Headache Powders, Raybestos Brakes, RE/MAX International, Inc., Slim Jim and R. J. Reynolds brand, Winston.