Saturday, January 17, 2009

Moses Smith and the Hasa/Toyota Team Ready for NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown

by Kaye Reshaw

It seems like a very long time since Moses Smith and the No. 16 Hasa Pool Products Toyota Camry team competed at the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The last event was held in 2007 in which Smith was involved in an accident ending his race early. Smith, who drives for Bill McAnally Racing (BMR), comes to this race after finishing sixth in the chase for the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series West and recording two top-ten finishes at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California.

“I am looking forward to going racing again,” said Smith. “It is nice to have the showdown right in the middle of the off season; it kind of breaks it up. Hopefully this year’s showdown will be better than the last.”

New to the No. 16 Hasa Toyota team but not to BMR is crew chief, Mario Isola. He was the crew chief of the No. 20 BMR entry beginning in 2003 working with drivers Jim Inglebright, Kerry Earnhardt and IRL driver Sarah Fisher. His accomplishments include a NASCAR West Series championship in 2007. This is the first race he will team up with Smith and the Hasa team.

“I am looking forward to working with my new crew chief Mario Isola,” continued Smith. “We tested together towards the end of December, and things went very well. We seemed to hit it off. I’m looking forward to getting out there and contending for the win at the Showdown.”

The NCWS race, the “NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown” will be on January 23-24 at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California. Thirteen drivers have each already secured a spot in the by winning a NASCAR Camping World Series race this year. Other positions in the starting lineup will be determined through time trials, which are slated for 6 p.m. on Friday, and limited provisionals for NASCAR Camping World Series regulars. Rounding out Friday’s activity for the NASCAR Camping World Series will be a “Last Chance Open” race at 9:10 p.m. that provides drivers one final opportunity to make the final 40-car starting grid for Saturday’s feature race.

The 250-lap event for the NASCAR Camping World Series features a 40-car field, is set to take the green flag at 8:31 p.m. Both nights’ races will be televised live on SPEED. All time listed are Pacific Time. Check your local listings.

BMR would like to thank the continued support of our race partners. For more information on Bill McAnally Racing and our race partners, please visit our website at www.billmcanallyracing.com. For more information on Moses Smith, please visit www.mosessmith.com. For more information on Hasa Pool Products please visit www.hasapool.com.

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