NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series Winchester 400: Preview
22 September 1997
LUCRATIVE WINCHESTER 400 ON TAP FOR THIS WEEKEND WINCHESTER, IN - Heading into the stretch run of the 1997 NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series schedule, the stakes are rising on many fronts. The points chase to crown the series champion will likely go down to the wire, the remaining events carry large purses, and the battle to finish in the top 30 in points will be a challenge. This weekend the $83,725 Roger Holdeman Memorial/28th Annual Winchester 400 will serve as a financial boon to many, with the event winner expected to earn over $14,000 in purse and contingency awards. An overflow field of cars is expected to vie for the 30 starting spots up for grabs in Busch Pole qualifying. Leading the charge into Winchester will be series points leader Jeff Fultz who hails from nearby Milford, OH. On the strength of 14 top-10 finishes in 16 races the driver of the JaniKing Chevrolet will need to add to his string of solid finishes as Darlington, SC's Hal Goodson and Conyers, GA's Ron Young are 49 and 51 points behind him in the title chase respectively. The final four events of the '97 campaign are critical to all of the drivers as they attempt to improve upon their current position, or at least make it into the top 30 in points by the time the checkered flag waves on the season- ending event in Homestead, FL. Only the top 30 in '97 points will be eligible for provisionals during the first four events of the 1998 season. As a result, finishing out the season in a positive fashion is a must for many drivers. Winchester's high-banked half-mile oval represents the first step in achieving a solid stretch run to the '97 campaign. Track activities get underway on Friday, September 26 with Registration & Inspection beginning at 9:00 a.m., with Practice running from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. First round Busch Pole qualifying, to lock in the top 20 qualifiers, will commence at 3:30 p.m. Saturday's schedule starts at 9:00 a.m., once again with Registration & Inspection, and is then followed by a one-hour practice session commencing at Noon. Second round time trials, to determine starting positions 21 through 26 will follow ARCA Time Trials and a final practice session will follow second round qualifying, as time permits. The 28th Annual Winchester 400 will take the green flag at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. By NASCAR Public Relations