2/20/2007
Bill Lester
LESTER AND BALLEW RIDE WAVE OF MOMENTUM INTO CALIFORNIA
Bill Lester and the Billy Ballew Motorsports team ride into the California Speedway on momentum from the season opening NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race last week at the Daytona International Speedway. Lester, in his first race with the championship caliber team, started in a disappointing 33rd place position on the grid but drove the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado to an 11th place finish in the 100 lap event at the famed superspeedway. Lester and Ballew hope they can keep that energy flowing when they take to the track this weekend for the running of the San Bernardino County 200.
“I’m excited and anxious to ride our Daytona momentum into California Speedway,” Bill Lester said. “It is always fun racing back to back weekends. In the past the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series had to wait over a month to five weeks to race again. But the last two years we have gone right from Daytona to California, which keeps the excitement rolling.”
Billy Ballew Motorsports has visited the Fontana track five previous times with a best start and finish of 12th in 2002 with Andy Houston piloting the No. 15 Craftsman Truck. Lester, a California native, is also no stranger to the two mile speedway in Fontana. He has five prior starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with his best start of third place in 2002 and his best finish coming in 2006 in the 15th place position. Lester also made an attempt to qualify for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event in 2006. Unfortunately, Lester spun on his way to take the green flag for his first qualifying lap then managed to gain control of the car and go for a second run. As he built up speed to take the green, he realized that something was amiss with the car so instead of endangering himself or the car, he pulled into the pits, not making the event.
“California Speedway is considered my home track,” said Lester. “Growing up outside San Jose, going to college at Berkley and working in Northern California makes this a very special part of the country for me. The California Speedway is a really fast race track. From the time they throw the green until they drop the checkered, you can race hard. I really like the track and am hopeful that we'll be more competitive, power-wise, against the competition so we can come out of there with at least a top-10 in the No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado.”
The NCTS drivers take to the track for their first practice Thursday afternoon with qualifying televised live on SPEED Friday, February 23, 2007 at 4:00pm ET and race coverage begins at 8:30pm ET that evening. MRN Radio and their affiliate stations will broadcast the race live beginning at 9:00pm ET.
For more information on Bill Lester and Billy Ballew Motorsports visit www.BillLester.com and www.BillyBallewMotorsports.com.
Submitted By: Philip Hampton
