Bakersfield, CA -- There is a record number of drivers in the 2013 rookie class of the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, and the driver who claims the rookie title in 2013 will be rewarded in a big way. 

“It’s always a great battle for the Rookie-of-the-Year title, and this year we wanted to create a big award package worthy of the efforts of our 2013 rookie titlist,” stated the SRL’s Brian Olsen.  “With the help of six of our series sponsors, Hoosier Tire West, SUNOCO Race Fuels, DJ Safety, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, AmeriPride Services and ANplumbing.com, our Rookie-of-the-Year will be presented with over $5,000 in racing merchandise.”

At the 2013 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Championship Awards Banquet, the Rookie-of-the-Year will be presented with the following; four Hoosier Tires, a 55-gallon drum of SUNOCO Race Fuel, $500 product certificate from Five Star RaceCar Bodies, a new driver’s suit, shoes and gloves from DJ Safety, six team uniform shirts from AmeriPride Services and a $1,500 product certificate from ANplumbing.com.

“We are really proud of the programs we have brought together for our teams in 2013,” added Olsen.  “In addition to this new package for our rookie champ, we also introduced the ‘Flowmaster Young Guns Championship’ for drivers under 24 years of age.  This will also be the second season for the ‘SPEARS Frequent Flyer’ program, which pays up to $1,000 to drivers for simply starting a SPEARS Southwest Tour Series event.”

The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will begin its thirteenth season on Saturday, March 16th at Madera Speedway.  The series ten-race schedule will also visit The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (twice), Rocky Mountain Raceways, Stockton 99 (twice), Redwood Acres Raceway and the one-mile oval at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

For more information on the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, the SRL Legends Series and the new SRL S2 Tour Series, go to www.srlsouthwesttour.com <http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com> .