NASCAR K&N West Series features significant bonus to open 2017 season

NAPA Auto Parts has announced the largest season kickoff award program in the history of NASCAR’s only West Coast-based touring series with an opportunity for competitors to win bonus money for competing in the first four races of the 2017 season.

The prize amounts to be awarded vary based on finishing position, but if a driver can sweep all four races they’ll collect a $50,000 bonus courtesy of the NAPA 500 Challenge.

The NAPA 500 Challenge will feature 500 laps of competition, involving four races at three tracks in a span of eight days in Arizona and southern California.

“We look forward to a tremendous week of competition as NAPA AUTO PARTS sponsors the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in its launch of the 2017 season,” said Bill McAnally, president of Bill McAnally Racing Promotions. “These three tracks – Tucson Speedway, Kern County Raceway Park, and Irwindale Speedway – have come together with NASCAR to provide a great package of four events in eight days.”

Opening season events

The series will open its season with a NAPA 150 event at Tucson (Arizona) Speedway on Saturday, March 18. The circuit will then travel to Kern County Raceway Park near Bakersfield, California for a NAPA 150 on Thursday, March 23. The four-race package concludes at Irwindale (California) Speedway with Twin NAPA 100s on Saturday, March 25.

A giant $50,000 award is at stake for any driver who wins all four events in the NAPA 500 Challenge. A $10,000 award is available to drivers who finish in the top three positions in all four races. Drivers who finish in the top five spots in all four events could take home a $5,000 award. Additionally, a $1,000 award is available to drivers who finish in the top 10 positions in all four races.

“We anticipate the posted awards, along with the NAPA 500 Challenge awards, will attract top drivers from throughout the country,” McAnally said. “These are three excellent venues and should provide great competition for the fans. We’re grateful to NAPA, NASCAR, and the three tracks for making this happen.”

The four races in the NAPA Challenge mark the start to a 14-race schedule for the series.

“NAPA AUTO PARTS is pleased to be part of this big season kickoff for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The series provides a showcase for young talent being developed in NASCAR and we are a proud supporter.”
- Mike Rearden, NAPA Director of Events/Sponsorships

The season kicks off on March 18 at Tucson Speedway on the same weekend the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series compete at Phoenix International Raceway. The NAPA 150 at Tucson will be the 15th visit by the K&N West to the 3/8-mile track, which hosted five season openers for the series from 1995 to 1999.

The events at the half-mile Southern California track will be the same weekend the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series are in action at nearby California Speedway. Irwindale Speedway has hosted 24 K&N West events since it opened in 1999.

Having these marquee events on the same weekends as NASCAR national series events should only increase the opportunity for fans and NASCAR insiders to see up close the talent in one of NASCAR’s longest running touring series.

“With NAPA Auto Parts sponsoring the first four races of the season it was the ideal time for NAPA to be able to say thank you to the competitors that have helped support the K&N Pro Series,” McAnally said. “This is a great opportunity for drivers from all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico to come participate and gain valuable seat time at three unique race tracks and also race for some big prizes thanks to our partners at NAPA.”

Drivers must be pre-registered to be eligible for the special awards from the NAPA 500 Challenge. Pre-registration and additional information is available at the BMRNAPA.com website.