Racing becomes pet project for Prendeville

Andrew Prendeville’s racing career has gone to the dogs.

And cats, for that matter.

The recent transplant to Las Vegas from the East Coast competes in the Indy Racing League’s developmental Indy Lights series, and his mission goes beyond on-track performance.

The 26-year-old native of Summit, N.J., uses racing to support the Best Friends Animal Society (BestFriends.org) and its sanctuary for abandoned or injured animals in Utah.

The cause has added urgency this weekend with the animal population suffering in flood-ravaged Iowa, where Prendeville will race Saturday at Iowa Speedway in Newton.

Prendeville, who moved to Southern Nevada late last year, has four top-10 finishes in six races, including a best of fourth place three weeks ago for RLR/Andersen Racing.

Animal lovers can make donations to Best Friends at RacingLapsForBestFriends.com or (435) 644-2001, ext. 4801.

• NASCAR — Las Vegas resident Paul Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, will drive for Germain Racing in the Sept. 20 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the driver told SceneDaily.com.

“It was pretty easy because the truck was set up good,” Tracy said. “I was pretty surprised at how well the truck drove because my only experience in stock cars has been in really bad equipment.”

Tracy’s NASCAR experience consists of six starts in the former Busch series in 2006, with a best finish of 24th at Daytona.

He has been idle most of this year after Forsythe Racing opted not to field a team in the newly unified Indy Racing League.

“At this point, I’ll drive anything anywhere,” Tracy said. “I think there’s a misconception that people think I don’t want to drive in the IRL or I don’t want to drive in NASCAR.

“I’d love to drive, but I want to drive good stuff. I don’t want to run down and be struggling and look like an idiot. Nobody does.”

• DEATH VALLEY — Las Vegan Randall Boren, 48, overtook Jim Castaneda on the 18th lap to win Saturday’s 25-lap Classic Coupe feature at Death Valley Raceway in Amargosa Valley.

Other winners were: Dan Fitzgerald (IMCA Modifieds), Anthony DeBiase (Super Stocks), Mike Lysinger (Mini Stocks), Eric Slusher (Mod Minis) and Steve Edwards (Factory Stocks).

• QUARTER MIDGETS — David Aizenberg finished first in Jr. Novice and Austin Blair won the Unrestricted Honda class Saturday in Quarter Midget racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Go to LasVegasQuarterMidgets.com for information on the youth racing club.

• SCHMIDT FUNDRAISER — The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is taking reservations for its annual golf tournament, which will be Nov. 3 at South Shore Golf Course at Lake Las Vegas.

The event will coincide with the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show and the Indy Racing League Championship Celebration banquet Nov. 5 at the Palms.

For information on the fundraiser: (317) 236-9999 or idacahill@comcast.net.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.