Source: NASCAR
Public Relations
Date: 10/10/2003
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Throughout the history of NASCAR,
there have been several pairs of brothers that have raced
against one another. This year in the NASCAR Elite Division,
Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, Jason and Jeff Jefferson
added their names to that list and both are headed to the
inaugural NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Jeff, 31, and Jason, 28, finished first and second in the
Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series championship standings,
becoming the second pair of brothers to finish 1-2 in the
championship standings in a NASCAR series.
Jeff and Jason will be their series? top representatives at the
Toyota All-Star Showdown, Nov. 6-8 at Irwindale (Calif.)
Speedway. The Jefferson brothers earned their invitations to the
event as two of the top 10 drivers in the Raybestos Brakes
Northwest Series standings.
They?ll join the rest of the Northwest Series top 10, along with
the top 10 drivers from the other three series that comprise the
Elite Division ? the Featherlite Southwest Series, International
Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series and the Kodak
Southeast Series ? for a 100-lap Elite Division All-Star race at
Irwindale.
TheJefferson brothers? success on the Raybestos Brakes Northwest
Series is not surprising, considering their family?s racing
involvement. Their father, George, has been a well-known crew
chief and car owner in the Pacific Northwest for many years.
While Jeff and Jason were growing up, George fielded cars for
two of the region?s most famous drivers ? 1990 Daytona 500
champion Derrike Cope and Chad Little ? during their first years
in racing.
Jeff, who won this year?s Northwest Series championship with
four wins and eight top-five finishes in 14 starts, says the
Toyota All-Star Showdown will be a highlight of his career.
?One of the most important races we?ll ever race in is this
race, because of the national TV coverage and the amount of
exposure that Toyota and NASCAR have brought to it,? Jeff said.
Despite the hoopla surrounding the event, Jeff says his goal is
the same as it?s been all season.
?We go to the race track, to try and win the race. That?s our
goal right now.?
As if by brotherly intuition, Jason is headed to Irwindale with
the same mindset.
?Obviously, it?s going to be one of the biggest races we?ve ever
run,? Jason said. ?The best thing for me is to throw the points
out the window. We?re going there for one reason. We?re there to
win the race, that?s the bottom line.?
Despite growing up in the midst of their father?s extensive
racing activities, the 2003 season marked the first time that
Jeff and Jason competed against each other on a regular basis in
the same series. When it comes to the Toyota All-Star Showdown,
however, Jason says it?s every driver for himself.
?Since we started racing, we?ve never raced against each other,?
Jason said. ?It?s kind of cool, we finished one-two and we both
had pretty good years. But, somebody?s got to win this race and
somebody?s got to lose.?
NOVEMBER 5 STREET FESTIVAL PROVIDES ALL-STAR PREVIEW FOR RACE
FANS ? One day before the Toyota All-Star Showdown officially
begins, fans can get a sneak preview of the event in Arcadia,
Calif. Located less than 10 miles from Irwindale Speedway,
Second Street, between Huntington Drive and Santa Clara Street,
will be closed to automobile traffic and opened up for race fans
from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Several activities are planned for fans
of all ages, including hauler displays, King Taco mobile
kitchen, Matt Denny?s beer garden, interactive displays from
Toyota Racing Technology and Craftsman Tools, face painting,
driver appearances and autograph sessions, appearances by ?Lug
Nut,? the popular Irwindale Speedway mascot, and live musical
performances.
The event is free and open to the general public. A highlight of
the evening?s festivities will be the Ringer?s Gloves All-Star
Pit Stop Challenge, a live competition between the top Grand
National Division teams in the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Participating teams will conduct a timed pit stop on their race
car and the team with the lowest time wins a $2,500 prize from
Ringer?s Gloves. For more information, contact Irwindale
Speedway at (626) 358-1100
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