The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will return to Tucson (Ariz.) Speedway for the third consecutive year. NASCAR via Getty Images





Analyzing the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Tucson Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West begins with the NAPA Auto Parts Tucson 150 at Arizona’s Tucson Speedway on Saturday, March 18. Below is a look at the NAPA Auto Parts 150 and some of the selected participants.

NAPA Auto Parts Tucson 150 Race Setup:

- For the first time since 1999, Tucson Speedway hosts the opening race of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season.

– Tucson becomes the third different track in as many years to host the season-opening event, and it is the first race in the four-race NAPA Challenge 500 series.

– Ryan Partridge swept the pole and the race win at the track last year.

At Tucson Speedway:

History:

- Tucson Speedway was built in 1968 and the surface was originally clay.

– Was named Raven Speedway from 1968-93 and then Tucson Raceway Park from 1993-2010.

– The track was closed in 2010 and was re-opened in 2013 at Tucson Speedway.

– Tucson re-joined the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2014.

– For several years, Tucson was the host of the "Winter Heat" series that launched the careers of such future NASCAR national series drivers as Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Matt Crafton.

Notebook:

- This is the series’ 14th event at Tucson and the third since 2001.

– Thirteen different drivers, led by Ron Hornaday Jr. with two victories, have won at Tucson.

– Nine different drivers, led by Butch Gilliland with five, have earned the pole award at the track.

– The most cautions for a K&N Pro Series West race is nine and occurred in June 1993 and January 1995, while the fewest cautions is two in May 2016.

– The most caution laps for a race is 51 in November 1994 and January 1995, while the fewest is 15 in May 2016.

Tucson Data:

Race: #1 of 14 overall

Race Date: Saturday, March 18, 8:30 p.m. MT

Broadcast Date: Friday, March 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT

Track Layout: .375-mile paved oval

Banking/Corners: Variable, between 8 and 12 degrees

Race Length: 150 laps (56.25 miles)

Qualifying/Race Data:

2016 Winner: Ryan Partridge

2016 Pole Sitter: Ryan Partridge

1-lap Qualifying Record: Butch Gilliland, Chevrolet, 15.284 seconds (88.328 mph), June 1996.

150-lap Race Record: Ryan Partridge, Ford, 54 minutes, 26 seconds, (64.483 mph), May 2016.



Category Leaders at Tucson:

Wins

Ron Hornaday Jr. … 2

Johnny Borneman … 1

Mike Chase … 1

Gary Collins … 1

Butch Gilliland … 1

Doug George … 1

Noah Gragson … 1

Mark Krogh … 1

Ryan Partridge … 1

Bill Sedgwick … 1

Gary Smith … 1

Dirk Stephens … 1

Sean Woodside … 1

Poles

Butch Gilliland … 5

Ron Hornaday Jr. … 2

John Baker … 1

Jerry Cain … 1

Gary Collins … 1

Ron Norman … 1

Ryan Partridge … 1

Jason Small … 1

Gary Smith … 1

Laps Completed

Butch Gilliland … 1725

Scott Gaylord … 1395

Wayne Jacks … 1379

Bill McAnally … 1362

Laps Led

Ron Hornaday Jr. … 383

Butch Gilliland … 361

Mike Chase … 215

Ryan Partridge … 214

Gary Smith … 200