NASCAR has been running road courses for a while. There is even debate floating about for having a road course in the final “Chase” portion of the Sprint Cup season. The “Big Guns” are racing the storied course at Watkins Glen this weekend (8/10-11).

However, few sanctioned development series offer the up and coming drivers a taste of the twists and turns found on road courses. This year, the K&N Pro Series (East) is doing so. The western series has been, which includes Sonoma also on the Sprint Cup schedule.

The East series now has Virginia International Raceway on their schedule as the first visit to a road course. Later, they will run at Road Atlanta. That is later… The first, at VIR, is coming up fast on August 23rd and 24th.

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We’re used to seeing Grand-Am, and coming in October, American Le Mans as well as other sports car series running laps around this little bit of beauty tucked away in Southside Virginia. Heavy, and somewhat cumbersome, stock cars are something different. Sprint Cup and Nationwide series test here annually because of some rules about sanctioned tracks and sanctioned testing and all that but racing stock cars, under a NASCAR series title, is something new.

A few of the young drivers stopped by to get a taste of the racing to come (and of biscuits) and were open to conversation. Biscuitville is title sponsor (Biscuitville 125) and brought out a variety of flavors. The drivers, also, offered a variety of skills and experience from their racing background.

Austin Dyne and Dylan Kwasniewski came to the East series after running in the West so have a little road course driving in their belts. Dylan is even the 2012 K&N West Series champion.

Two young women were in on the fun ready to run with the boys. Kenzie Ruston and Mackena Bell have their own qualifications and records. Kenzie has been a champion in Legends, Bandoleros and several track honors at Texas Motor Speedway. Mackena has an Outlaw Dirt championship, Legends wins and Rookie of the Year honors. While the road course offers new challenges to both they are ready to take it on.

Bryan Ortiz may be tuned in to VIR quite well haveing raced here before with Grand-Am and the Koni Challenge. He holds Formula Renault championships and has stepped through the Whelen All-American series on his way to K&N. Stock cars are a bit different but he is certainly taking to the drive and ready to race.

Brandon Gdovic may be familiar to race fans in the area having appearances (and a win) at South Boston and a pole at Martinsville. He is already marking the board with top 5 / top 10 finishes and is eager to run the K&N debut at VIR.

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Danville Toyota-Scion Pace Car for the Biscuitville 125

These drivers, and the roster of K&N Pro Series East qualifiers, are bringing NASCAR to the rolling hillside of Virginia International Raceway. No retaining walls, no high grandstands, and, unless they all pitch in for a blimp with passenger capacity, no spotters giving full track advice. VIR has no real vantage point for a spotter to follow their driver over the full track. Drivers are left to their own mirrors and wits to make their moves and race the course.

For fans, this venue offers a varied experience as you are able to move about and see different aspects of the race. You can easily walk across the meadow and see the “esses”, the “roller coaster” and the straights. Unlike an oval and your single seat, every view at VIR changes the race for the spectator.  Move about and see how the drivers handle the changes. Racing here is not gas, brake, left, repeat like many of these drivers are used to. It is gas, brake, right, gas, left, left, brake, right, left, right, left, gas, brake, right, up, down…  You get the picture, sort of. For the full view, get to Virginia International Raceway for the K&N Pro Series Biscuitville 125!

There will also be late models stock cars and some other mixers thrown in for the “Dixie Cup Double Header”. This is, as near as we can tell, somewhat of a free-for-all for late model racers and history owners who want to race. “History” owners, and there are more than you think, have retired Cup cars and can bring them and race them. The “Dixie” is a bit like “open season” so it’s going to be a fun watch.

There will be autograph sessions, qualifying, racing, spinning…  It will be surrounded by trees and birds and hillsides. You might see a butterfly. You will see speed and twists and straights and fun racing. Mark your calendars for August 24th!

There is a lot of racing still to come to VIR. Chump Cars (this weekend 8/10-11), CCS motorcycles, Heacock Classic, the showcase American Le Mans, Headlight Brigade…  Check the full schedule online at VIR!

The drivers of the K&N Pro Series are gearing up for the race. They are ready to put the show on for you. Go racing!

* — PHOTOS from the K&N Pro Series Preview at Virginia International Raceway —*

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