Former Australian Champion Heads to All-Star Showdown
Marcus Zukanovic, one of Australia’s rising young stars and a multiple Australian champion in ‘saloon’ cars has formally entered one of the biggest events on the annual NASCAR calendar; the 2009 Toyota All Star Showdown set for LA’s Irwindale Speedway.
Marcus Zukanovic is one of Australia’s leading drivers in V8 Supercars, although unlike Ambrose, Zukanovic campaigns the local GM brand [Holden] an association he is looking to carry over at Irwindale.
A regular visitor to the US, Marcus tested with Camping World West Series team Phelps Motorsports during mid-2008 with a view to taking a full-time ride with the team this season.
“I had a blast,” Zukanovic admitted at the time. “I was expecting them to be a big heavy, poor handling car, but they’re fantastic things to drive. Okay, so they’re different to my V8 Supercar at home because we predominantly drive on circuits – road courses and street circuits [not ovals], but I was really surprised. They’re a bit like the Ute I won the 2006 Australian title in, you’ve really got to get up on the wheel and drive them hard.”
Despite Zukanovic’s maiden NASCAR drive coming on the Irwindale oval, he negotiated the course at a pace that surprised even team-owner Tracy Phelps.
“To be honest I was surprised,” Phelps agreed. “He started cautiously, but quickly, and by the end of a couple of sessions he was turning in lap times that would have put him well into the front half of the field for the previous round there. His feedback was good too, and he didn’t put a wheel wrong.
“Since then I’ve been trying to convince him to come back and do not just a road course event for us, but the entire season.”
“Maybe I was lucky,” Marcus laughed. “It felt good, it felt comfortable, but it’s not racing, and the best young drivers in America aren’t just going to move over for a funny-talking, red-headed kid from the wrong side of the tracks from ‘Down Under’.
I know full well that this is a prime event run by some of the best young stars in the US; guys like Joey Logano and Marc Davis and even Ricky Carmichael - they’re great competitors, but hey, I didn’t win dual Australian championships in one year by being Mr Nice Guy and moving over. Racing’s racing, and yeah these guys might be good, but they’re just drivers, just like any of the guys back home, so I’ll treat them the only way I know how.”
Opening practice for the All-Star event begins at 10:55am on Friday January 23, with qualifying at 6:00pm the same day.
“First things first, I need to get through practice in one piece, then look to qualify, because as it stands now there are more than 55 entries for 40 starting spots in the final. If I don’t qualify well then I’ll be in the ‘last chance’ race later on Friday night, all in an effort to make my way into the 250-lap feature on Saturday night.
“One things for certain though, whichever way it works out, it’s going to be one hell of a ride!”
Marcus Zukanovic is proudly supported in Australia by AMI Collision Centres, No Fear, DBA Brakes, Kevin Dennis HSV Centre, Motor Cars International, Mercedes Benz Trucks, Dandy Pre-Mix and Pirtek Dandenong.
January 23 (Dates & times are U.S. West Coast times.)
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
The Daytona 500 of NASCAR Short Track Racing!
• 4 p.m. Spectator Gates Open
• 4 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Open
• 6 p.m. NASCAR Camping World Series Qualifying
• 7:30 p.m. Super Late Model 150-lap race
• 9:10 p.m. Camping World Series 50-Lap Open race
• NASCAR Camping World Series
• ACDelco Super Late Models
January 24
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
The Daytona 500 of NASCAR Short Track Racing!
• 4 p.m. Spectator Gates Open
• 4 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Open
• 7 p.m. Late Model 75-lap race
• 8 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies
• 8:30 p.m. Toyota All-Star Showdown 250 laps
• Auto Club Late Models
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