Bakersfield, CA - After missing all but the opening round of the 2008 SRL Southwest Tour Series due to injury, M.K. Kanke is ready to bring his familiar red #33 RPM Motorsports Chevy back to the competition in 2009.

"It was tough last year, sitting out due to my accident," stated Kanke from his Frazier Park home.

"We conducted a tire test for the SRL at Irwindale, had a good run at Roseville at the opener, then I broke my hip in a work incident." Kanke further explained.

Kanke is a true veteran of Southwest Tour competition with 212 career starts and 22 wins in the NASCAR Southwest Series.  He also has five starts in the SRL .  The 46 year old driver has more top fives finishes than any driver in the history of the NASCAR Southwest Series.

"The SRL is a great series...its fun racing with guys like Pettit and Raudman and its more affordable than running a weekly series at one track all year.  We have a great tire from Hoosier that is a blast to race on and one set is all we need on race weekend." Kanke continued.

Kanke and car owner Dan Nikolai have committed to running the entire SRL Southwest Tour Series in 2009.  The SRL will compete at the following tracks in 2009; All-American Speedway, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Madera Speedway, Toyota Speedway at Irwindale and Stockton 99 Speedway.

"There are great tracks and some tough guys in the SRL and we are looking forward to the challenge.  The top guys in the series are tough competitors and when you beat them you have really done something."  Kanke added.

Kanke and the RPM Motorsports team will be ready as the SRL makes its season debut at All-American Speedway in Roseville on April 4th, where the SRL will be joined by the NASCAR Camping World Series West.

For more information on the SRL Southwest Tour Series go to http://www.SRLSouthwestTour.com/.

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