2007 SRL BANQUET CROWNS CHAMPION AND ANNOUNCES BIG 2008

BAKERSFIELD, California – The Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace was the perfect setting for the 2007 SRL Awards Banquet. Buck Owens a legend in the country music industry would have been proud that Dave Byrd, a driver who is establishing his own legacy in west coast racing was honored as champion at Buck’s showcase dinner theater.

Byrd and team owner, Bob Strandwold were each presented with beautiful 2007 Championship Cups and special edition championship jackets. Strandwold then invited his team on stage to present a championship jacket to each of them in appreciation for their hard work in 2007.

Byrd and Strandwold were preceded on stage by the other drivers ranking in the top 10 in the 2007 SRL championship standings, including Rookie-of-the-Year Brian Herzog who gave a very heartfelt thanks to his family and crew while on stage.

The night was full of surprises, including series photographer, David Misco presenting Series Director Steve Fensler a professionally produced full color hard bound pictorial book of the entire 2007 SRL season.

Other surprises included Fensler announcing that he would be joined by the Collins Family (Mesa Marin Raceway) and their staff to form the management team that will guide the SRL Series in 2008 and beyond.

Upon that announcement, Larry Collins came to the podium to touch upon the 2008 SRL schedule of events which will include twelve races starting at All-American Speedway in Roseville on March 29th. The balance of the races include stops at the new Bakersfield track – five times, Altamont Motorsports Park – three times, and Colorado National - once, with negotiations underway with Madera Speedway, the Las Vegas Bullring, Tucson Raceway Park and Irwindale Speedway.

Brian Olsen, Vice President of the new Bakersfield track, unveiled a new series logo and announced Flashco Incorporated as the series sponsor for 2008. Flashco is an industry leader in contractor supplies, specializing in traffic safety serving the western U.S.

Stock Building Supply will sponsor the three-race “Stock Building Supply Challenge” in 2008, in which a bonus will be awarded to the driver who has the best overall performance in the three races designated as part of the “Challenge”.

Marion Collins was then invited to the podium to make what was the most exciting announcement of the evening, a $100,000 event for the “Flashco SRL Southwest Tour Series” at the 2008 October Classic hosted at the new Bakersfield track. $100,000 total payout, $30,000 to the winner. Additionally, any driver who competes in each of the SRL Series events in 2008 will be eligible for an additional $10,000 bonus at the October Classic event. The $100,000 SRL event will be nationally televised on the Lucas Oil Motorsports Hour on the VERSUS Network.

Wow, what a night.

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