Pierre Bourque is One of Four ESR Drivers Headed to Kansas
Eddie Sharp Racing unloads four teams this weekend at Kansas Speedway. Already scoring a Top-5 at Salem and two Top-10’s at Iowa this season, the ESR squad is a good bet to hit the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand. Having previously found victory lane at similar 1.5-mile tracks such as Kentucky and Chicagoland speedways, ESR looks to add Kansas Speedway to that list.
“It was disappointing that we were unable to get the test in here a few weeks ago,” said team owner, Eddie Sharp. “It would have helped us a lot. However, I am confident that we will still have a very successful weekend. We have very talented drivers that can learn and adapt quickly to a new track, such as Kansas. And we have an experienced group of Crew Chiefs and crew to support them and coach them on the mile and a half. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all of our cars in the Top -10. And hopefully one in Victory Lane!”
The Eddie Sharp Racing team of Scott Speed, Justin Lofton, Ken Butler, III
and Pierre Bourque will be turning their first laps on the Kansas Speedway
this weekend. Attempting to test there a few weeks ago at the ARCA
RE/MAX Series open test, efforts were thwarted due to rain.
Although none have raced at the Kansas Speedway, Speed, Butler, III, and
Bourque each have experience on other 1.5 mile tracks. Most recently, Scott
Speed competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March with the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series. At Kentucky Speedway in May 2007, Ken Butler,
III and his teammate Michael McDowell qualified the Eddie Sharp Racing
machines 1-2, with only 0.02 second separating pole-sitter McDowell from
KBIII. Pierre Bourque finished 25th in his first experience at the Chicagoland
Speedway in September 2007.
Speed will extend his Kansas Speedway experience this weekend in the
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Speed will be behind the wheel of the No.
22 Red Bull Toyota for Bill Davis Racing. This is the first of a multi-race deal with BDR in the NCTS.
Pierre Bourque (No. 02 impreMedia Dodge):
“I have never been to Kansas except for the restaurant across from the speedway. I am told it’s like Kentucky and Chicagoland. I have some experience at Chicagoland and I hope that will be helpful. I’m going in there a really green rookie next week. But my Crew Chief David Leiner, Jr will be back with me and I am confident we will be very successful.”
ARCA RE/MAX Series practice runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008. SIM Factory Pole Qualifying follows on Friday beginning at 1:40 p.m. Driver Introductions begin at 4:35 p.m., immediately following NCTS practice. The green flag for the Kansas Lottery $250 Grand at Kansas Speedway drops Friday, April 25th, at 5:00 p.m. and will be rebroadcast tape-delayed on SPEED Saturday, April 26, 8:30 p.m. All times listed are EASTERN.
Bourque and his #93 ARCA car (ESR Photo)
