BAKERSFIELD, CA – Veteran Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series competitor Carlos E. Vieira has made each of the first five Winter Showdown events. That streak will remain alive, as Vieira will be heading to Kern County Raceway, hoping to score his first series win, and take home a possible $15,000 on March 21st. The 51 FIFTY LTM owner is looking to “Live the Madness”, and celebrate in Kern County Raceway’s Victory Circle, three weeks from now.
Vieira has garnered a good deal of success in his last seven SRL Championship season events, at Kern County Raceway. He has three top-five and six top-10 finishes in those races. Those results include a career-best second-place finish in the series, behind four-time champion and teammate Derek Thorn. His participation in the Winter Showdown has been nearly the opposite, however. The first four attempts all ended in DNF’s, but in 2019 he may have turned the corner by finishing eighth, among the 37 starters.
“It (Kern County Raceway) has been a good track for me, but I am still looking for that win”, Vieira described. “The best I’ve ever finished there was second, which was to my teammate Derek (Thorn). But Kern is a fun track with lots of speed and room to race.”
To win at the Winter Showdown, Viera knows the key is to have a good handling car. With the brain trust at Campbell Motorsports, and the quality of the team, Vieira is confident that he can pilot his Super Late Model to victory. That is, as long as another element required for the team’s success is present.
“Well, when it comes to car set up, and the quality of my team, there’s no doubt that I have a chance to win”, Vieira stated. “I am going into this race with confidence, so I guess all I need is some luck. We’ll see if we can put it all together.”
SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series Photo
Vieira will be making series start number 95, which will tie him with Troy Ermish for fourth all-time in SRL history. He has amassed 45 top-10 finishes which is good for sixth all-time. The Livingston, CA driver has won in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Models, has three victories in the Pacific Challenge Series Super Late Models, and finished second in Madera Speedway’s televised Nut Up Pro Late Model Division in 2019. But Vieira is still looking for his first SPEARS Southwest Tour Series victory. A victory in the Winter Showdown would be the biggest of his career.
“A win would be huge for me”, Vieira explained. “I’ve won races in other divisions, but I still have yet to win a race in this tough SRL Series. I’ve come close numerous times, but luck wasn’t on my side. My fingers are crossed for this upcoming race, to be able to finish in Victory Lane.”
The business entrepreneur, philanthropist, and man with the million-dollar smile has helped many along the way, and throughout the course of his career. But he is also thankful for those who continue to help him chase his dreams, behind the wheel of a race car. He is thankful for the opportunity to chase that dream. That dream continues at Kern County Raceway, and at the Sixth Annual Winter Showdown.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Campbell Motorsports with Byron and Vicky Campbell”, Vieira expressed. “They have done so many great things with my race program. I also want to give a shout out to my sponsor Allied Packaging, and everyone else that supports me and believes in 51FIFTY.”
The 2020 Winter Showdown, from Kern County Raceway, is entering its sixth season of competition. The previous winners of the event include Bubba Pollard Fan Page (2015, 2016), Derek Thorn (2017), Kyle Busch (2018) and Ty Majeski (2019). The previous Feature Events have included several formats, with distances of 250 laps (2015 – 2017), 300 laps (2018 – 2019) and this year’s 200-lap version. 2020 will feature a halfway break, where half of the purse money will be awarded based on its’ result. The completion of 200 laps will wholly determine the final championship event finish, with the second half of the purse payout. Drivers eligible for the Spears Manufacturing Frequent Flyer Program will receive a minimum of $1,400 to start the feature. If required, eligible drivers who do not transfer from the Last Chance Qualifier will receive $1,000.
The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Super Late Models will be joined by the Spears Modified Series, as well as the Kern County Raceway Super Stocks. The SPEARS Modifieds will be racing for $4,000-to-win. The event will be Nationally televised on MAVTV, at a date to be named later, and Live-Streamed on https://spearsracing.tv/
Celebrating its twentieth season in 2020, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
