One of the biggest NASCAR events ever staged in the greater Sacramento area is set for All American Speedway in Roseville on March 29, as the NASCAR Camping World Series West kicks off its 2008 campaign with the Toyota NAPA Auto Care 150.

The season opener for the West's oldest stock car racing circuit – previously known as the NASCAR Grand National Division, and before that as the NASCAR Winston West Series – will be televised live in high definition to a national audience on HDNet and will air on a delayed basis on SPEED.

The event marks a return to the historic track, located just 16 miles from the state capital of Sacramento at the Placer County Fairgrounds, where the series last visited 25 years ago.

NASCAR Camping World Series West 2007 champion Mike David of Modesto is returning to defend his title. He faces some tough competition, however, from other West Coast veteran drivers as well as talented young newcomers to the series. One of his chief rivals, 2006 champion Eric Holmes of Escalon, is returning full-time to the series – driving for the championship team of Bill McAnally Racing based in Antelope.

Others expected to contend for the title in 2008 include his teammate at BMR, Austin Cameron – along with Mike Duncan, Jason Bowles, Johnny Borneman and Jeff Jefferson.

The NASCAR Camping World Series is the top level of the NASCAR Developmental Series and is made up of two regional tours, the East and West, competing with identical race cars. The cars are similar in appearance and design to those cars used in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The cars are powered by 350 to 358 cubic-inch V-8 engines. The series travels to many of NASCAR's most historic short tracks as well as making appearances in combination events with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Alumni of the series include Kevin Harvick, who won the NASCAR Camping World Series West championship in 1998, and David Gilliland, who won the Rookie of the Year title in 2004.

The return of the series to Roseville follows a major renovation to the track last year. “The All American Speedway is delighted to host the March 29th season opener for the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Series and All American Speedway racing program,” said  Brock Wimberley, CEO of the Placer County Fair Association. “ Our staff worked diligently throughout the 2007 season to improve local home track racing on the West Coast by completely renovating the track. The All American Speedway continues to raise the bar for home track racing this season by adding the NASCAR Camping World Series to our schedule for the very first time, solidifying the facility as the premier stockcar destination on the West Coast for drivers and spectators alike.”

Also on the schedule for the season opener will be the Flashco SRL Southwest Tour Series, the Modifieds and the Western Scale Racing Association (WSRA) Series.

“The inclusion of the SRL Southwest Tour Series season opener is another first for the All American Speedway,” continued Wimberley. “Drivers in the SRL Series are exceptionally competitive, which will contribute to an electrifying night of stock car racing.  The SRL's inaugural race at our facility is sure to generate an enthusiastic response from both drivers and race fans after a long off-season.”

“Fan support for last year's season opener was tremendous, which we expect to repeat on March 29th.  With limited seating, this event is sure to be a sell-out.  Our goal this year is to provide first-class NASCAR racing entertainment to as many fans as possible."

The SRL series executive director Steve Fensler expects a car count of 25 competitors including the return of last season's champion, Dave Byrd.

“We are excited to begin our race season at All American Speedway,” said Fensler. “We have wanted to get into the Sacramento market. The level of motorsports competition is second to none and there is always great fan support.” Attendance figures at AAS topped 37,000 fans last season.