OPEN-WHEEL STAR SARAH FISHER
MAKES NASCAR DEBUT WITH BMR AT PHOENIX
ROCKLIN, Calif. – Open-wheel star Sarah Fisher has been named to drive an entry for Bill McAnally Racing in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series race at Phoenix International Raceway on Oct. 3.
Fisher – who has raced four seasons in the IRL IndyCar Series – will be making her NASCAR debut, driving the No. 20 NASCAR Select by NAPA Filters Chevrolet in the Subway 150.
“We are excited to have Sarah be a part of the team at Phoenix,” said BMR President Bill McAnally. “This is a great opportunity for BMR to work with a talented young driver from the open-wheel ranks. She should provide an interesting perspective and some valuable input into our program.”
Fisher, who progressed through the sprint car and midget car ranks to the Indy Racing League, was voted the IRL’s Most Popular Driver the past three seasons. The 23-year-old resident of Indianapolis, Ind., scored a career-best runner-up finish in the IRL IndyCar Series at Homestead-Miami in 2001 and won the pole at Kentucky in 2002. In 2000, she became only the third woman in history to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
“I’m really excited to be making my NASCAR debut,” Fisher said. “It’s a great opportunity. I’ve been working hard to prepare for this.”
Fisher will join BMR at Phoenix as a teammate to Austin Cameron, who is currently second in the championship standings. The event is the 10th in a 13-race schedule for the series this year.
McAnally is a veteran car owner in the NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series with three consecutive series championships (1999, 2000 and 2001) to his credit.
The West Series and the Busch North Series comprise the Grand National Division. Graduates of the West Series include 1998 series champion Kevin Harvick and Brendan Gaughan, who won back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001.
Fisher is filling the seat temporarily vacated by Kerry Earnhardt, who will be at Talladega Superspeedway next week for a Nextel Cup race. Earnhardt is a son of the late Dale Earnhardt.