Strong State, Regional Representation At Gateway

Saturday night at Gateway will represent more than a competition – it’ll also be the foundation for a reunion of some area racing stars. But they’ll have to save the pleasantries until after the event.

One of the largest contingents of local and regional drivers in the series will be “home” in Madison this weekend.

Carl Edwards, the 2007 series champion, is from Columbia, Mo., while up-and-comer Justin Allgaier (No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge) is from nearby Riverton, Ill. Allgaier is the series’ Raybestos Rookie standings leader and also is in sixth place in the driver rankings.

Erik Darnell (No. 6 Northern Tool+Equipment Ford) is from Beach Park, Ill. He’s sharing his 16-race rookie season with David Ragan.

The Gateway race wouldn’t be complete without the presence of the St. Louis-based Wallace family – represented on the entry list by Kenny (No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet), Steve (No. 66 USFidelis Chevrolet) and Mike (No. 0 J-D Motorsports Chevrolet).

“I can’t say enough about the talent that comes from Illinois and Missouri,” Darnell said. “With the likes of Allgaier, the Wallaces and my teammate (Edwards), the field is going to have their hands full.”

Some of the “locals” sport heady stats coming to Gateway. Allgaier has two consecutive top 10s, including last week at Chicagoland, and has an average finish of 10.5 in his last nine races. Steve Wallace is a career-best ninth in the standings while his uncle, Kenny, is 14th. Edwards leads the series with five poles and Darnell has a pole, two top fives and four top 10s in his six races thus far in 2009.