Nascar races through Valley

On Saturday April 10, NASCAR entered the Valley
of the Sun for Subway’s Fresh Fit 600, held at
the Phoenix International Raceway.

Fans from all over the country will be traveling
to Phoenix to watch their favorite driver battle
in the 375-lap race to win a Sprint Cup Series
trophy.

“I’m excited for the race to come to Phoenix,”
said Amanda Holleb, a sophomore at SCC. “I wish I
could go and watch.”

The Subway Fresh Fit 600 is said to be a new
race.

“New distance, new pit-stop schedules, new fuel
cycles and a new name,” Jim Quinn said, former
motocross racer and current pit crew supervisor
for Justin Quinn Racing.

“This is the longest Sprint Cup event in track
history,” Quinn added.

Being the fi rst evening event for the season,
the Subway Fresh Fit 600 consists of 63 more laps
of high octane action, and is scheduled to last late
into the night.

PIR is sandwiched between NASCAR’s slowest
track, Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Va.,
and one of its fastest, Bristol Motor Speedway in
Bristol, Tenn. Thanks to its unique turns, the fl at
one-mile track is home to one of the more diffi cult
layouts of this season’s schedule.

The challenge gets even tougher for teams
because of the additional 63 laps. The added distance
puts more pressure on every aspect of a race
team.

Justin Quinn, 17, NASCAR sprint car driver said, “I
hope one day I’ll be good enough to drive in a race
like this one.”

“I’ve been racing since I could walk, dirt bikes, gokarts,
rhinos, sprint cars, you name it,” Justin said.

“But I would have to say that sprint cars are my favorite.
Ultimately I’d like to get into Indy cars.”

Recently, Danica Patrick, NASCAR’s greatest female
driver was supposed to attend the April 10
race in Phoenix; however, Patrick has temporarily
switched from racing stock cars, to Indy cars, and
will now be racing at Barber Motorsport Park in
Atlanta, GA, on April 11.

“I think Danica Patrick is a great driver and a
wonderful role model,” Holleb said. “She’s inspiring
young girls all over the world to pursue their dreams."