NASCAR competitors ready for Roseburg race

ROSEBURG, Ore. - NASCAR comes to Roseburg Saturday night June 5th, and drivers and promoters were at the track Friday. Preparing for the event. They were doing some test laps, checking out their cars to make sure they are operating properly, and to just get familiar with the one-third mile Douglas County Speedway track.
Chris Walker with NASCAR Marketing said most of the major  tracks are on the east coast, so races like the one in Roseburg are vital to the sport.
"NASCAR wants to be on the west coast.  It is a very important market for them to have a NASCAR  presence in the state of Oregon.  It's not only huge for NASCAR, but the citizens and residents of the state of Oregon," said Walker.
This is the 9th year of the NASCAR Pro Series in Roseburg.  Driver Eric Holmes, who raced in the first event in 2001 said the Roseburg track has become one of his favorite tracks on which to compete.
"It was just a tremendous amount of people that we had, a beautiful part of the country, and then I didn't come back again until "07 and '08, and just every year it's a lot of fun.  I really like the people in this area," said Holmes.
Promoter and team owner Bill McAnally said the short track makes for interesting race conditions. Holms, who is McAnally's driver, has won two years in a row, and McAnally says he knows other racers will be gunning for Eric.
"So he has a big bulls-eye on the side of his car and you come out here to the Douglas County Speedway on Saturday night you are going to see short track racing at it's best, banging and pounding and rubbing,  and Eric's got the mark on his car," said McAnally
Anyone who buys a ticket in advance from NAPA Auto Parts gets half off.
The race is set for Saturday June 5th at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Speedway, and the gates open at 3:00 p.m.