TOOELE - People will wonder how well Shane Hubbard will do today in his first professional auto racing appearance.
But this isn't just any debut.
Hubbard will race in the NASCAR Camping World Series - the top developmental league in the sport - at Miller Motorsports Park, which is nearly 80 miles from his hometown of Spanish Fork. And undoubtedly, he will have home-track advantage, since he expects "a couple hundred" of family and friends to attend.
"A little pressure," said Hubbard, who's a second-generation driver. "But as soon as you get in that car, it all goes away. You're nervous until you sit down and strap in."
The 37-year-old will drive a black Ford with orange flames running across it. Once on the track, he just wants to do well.
However, he'll be an underdog in the Camping World NASCAR Series 125, which is advertised as a chance for fans to see tomorrow's star drivers. Eric Holmes and Jason Bowles have been battling for the top position in the points standings - with Holmes holding an 81-point edge over his No. 1 rival heading into the 10th race of the season. Jeff Barkshire, Mike David and Jim Inglebright round out the top five.
Hubbard says he feels fortunate just to be in the mix this first time around. But he knows he can't take anything lightly, especially with the higher risk factor driving with other professional racers.
"It's fast, it's fun," he said. "And you gotta always be thinking. If you stop thinking for a second, you've overshot the turn and that overshoots the next one and everything that you've gained, you're about to lose it."
Hubbard started dreaming about a professional racing career when he first got into a race car at about age 10. Five years later, he was racing at a track in Springville.
He enrolled in a driving school at MMP two years ago, and now he's a professional driver hoping to carry on a legacy. His family holds three championship titles and a bunch of track records in Utah, Idaho, California and Nevada.
This weekend, Hubbard said, will be "a big party."
Briefly
Jeff Westphal won the first of two races in the Formula 2000 World Championship Series on Friday afternoon, finishing in 25 minutes, 11.1 seconds at MMP - more than five seconds ahead of runner-up Robert Podlesni.
The second and final race takes place at 12:30 p.m. today.
csun@sltrib.com
Shane Hubbard
* At age 37, Shane Hubbard of Spanish Fork will make his professional debut today in the NASCAR Camping World Series at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele. He will be driving a black Ford with orange flames.
* Hubbard is a second-generation driver, as he grew up watching his father compete in various states.
NASCAR Camping World Series
At Miller Motorsports Park
Today
Formula 2000 Qualifying, 8 a.m.
MPRA Race 1, 9:30 a.m.
Camping Worlds Series Qualifying, 10:10 a.m.
Formula 2000 Race 2, 12:30 p.m.
Camping World Series 125, 1:30 p.m.
MPRA Race 2, 3:20 p.m.
MPRA Race 3, 4 p.m.
For more information, go to millermotorsportspark.com
