Paulie Harraka Wins NASCAR Late Model
Season Opener For Toyota TRD
04.17.2008 - In what was to be a day of many firsts for Paulie Harraka, the teenage driver opened the NASCAR Whelen All American Late Model season with a hard fought and well deserved Victory at All American Speedway in Roseville, Ca.. The 18 year old Harraka, who is originally from New Jersey but is now residing in North Carolina, commutes cross-country to Sacramento, Ca. from North Carolina to drive for premier NASCAR team owner Bill McAnally.

Paulie was choosen by Bill McAnally Racing to drive the BMR Late Models through the NASCAR backed Drive for Diversity Program through Access Marketing. To hear Harraka put it; "It's well worth the effort to commute back and forth from North Carolina to California each weekend to be able to take advantage of this great opportunity to drive for Bill McAnally Racing. Bill has helped developed so many top drivers; including Clint Boyer, Brendan Gaughan, & Austin Cameron."

"To win this race is a testament to BMR and my entire crew. Ryan, Travis, Herman, and Alex had the new RaceCar Factory car running great. My dad helped us out with the set-up and it handled perfectly".

Paulie qualified 3rd out of a field of 26 cars. His qualifying time of 13.75 just missed the Pole position time of 13.73 turned in by NASCAR Late Model veteran John Moore. Due to the inversion of the top 6, Harraka started the 50 lap feature in 4th position. After settling into the 5th spot by lap 5, Harraka first took the lead with an outside pass of Outside Pole qualifier Gary Glenn on lap 28. On lap 30 Glenn passed Harraka back to regain the front spot, relegating Harraka back to second place.

After a lap 38 restart, Harraka was able to move underneath Glenn to again challenge for the lead. The Harraka / Glenn duo ran side by side for 4 laps, with Harraka taking the top spot on lap 42. Paulie went on to lead the rest of the laps and go on to take a .8 sec Victory over John Moore, who passed Glenn with 2 laps to go to finish in second place.

"This was a very exciting, fun race to run. I had a blast out there running side by side with Gary Glenn and John Moore. Jeff Shrader from The RaceCar Factory built us a very good racecar, and my crew did an awesome job preparing this Ruth Chris Steakhouse Toyota Camry for tonights race. I'm very proud to have been able to bring Toyota TRD their very first victory in the NASCAR Whelen late Model Series here at All AMerican Speedway," Harraka said in Victory Lane.

"I want to thank my Crew Chief Ryan, Travis, Herman, Alex, Shop Foreman"Cheesecake" Nelley, my Dad for the set-up help, and Bill McAnally. I also want to thank Mike McKnight from Aim / Mychron, Holley Carb corp., Willy's Carbs, Drive for Diversity, and Simpson Safety Equipment. I also want to thank Ronnie Crooks, Wally Brown and Scott Hewitt from the Engineering Department at Joe Gibbs Racing; Kenny Francis and Rodney Childers of Gillett Evernham Motorsports; and Nick Hughes of Michael Waltrip Racing for all of their help and advice."

Paulie, who was recently, accepted to Duke University, will next race on April 19 in the second race of the 2008 season at All American Speedway. Harraka will run the full 20 race NASCAR Late Model schedule at All American Speedway and he will also race in select Camping World NASCAR Grand National races throughout 2008.