WILKINGS WELCOMES WEST

IRWINDALE, CA -- This Saturday night Irwindale Speedway is ready to put on the show of shows. The NASCAR Winston West will go 250 laps in the longest race the track has held. It is what everyone has been waiting for and one of the events that the track's chief operating officer, Ray Wilkings, had planned for all along.

On top of the Irwindale Speedway administration building overlooking one of the best short tracks ever designed, was a gathering of media this week. As cars from the race school circled the oval, setting the backdrop, Wilkings told the press that "Racing [at Irwindale] has been spectacular. Best racing on a short track ever. Why? Because we designed it that, way and it worked. One of the events we were anxious to go after was Winston West. We had the Winston West at Saugus. It was a great show out there on that flat track. I always wanted to have one on a real racetrack and now we have that opportunity and we are very anxious to see this event." He then thanked Jan Qualkenbush of Jan's towing for putting their name on the event.

Continuing Wilkings said, "When the Southwest Tour came to town, we were anxious to see that event. They were three wide almost the entire event. The finish ended within a quarter panel of first and second. And the finish had to be figured out by a computer. It was that close."

What's new for this race? Well for one thing, the cars are going to pit in middle. Part of the design of the racetrack was so the track's staff could set it up to pit in the middle. It was designed all along for Winston West. Winston West was its desire. Wilkings feels confident that, "It will be the finest short track these guys have ever gone to. The fact is it is the best short track in the country. We did it right. We are happy and proud of it. The competitors like it, the fans love it, so far the facility at Irwindale has had very few complaints."

Kevin Green, media coordinator for the NASCAR Winston West, had this to say about Irwindale, "This is a beautiful facility. I tell you driving up here you get the feeling you are at a super-speedway".

Indeed, the fans are beginning to discover what Irwindale is all about. This weekend the track may well be hosting its biggest event to date. Friday night they have 3 divisions of racing. Saturday they will have the trucks joining the Winston West. And Sunday Arrowfest with Arrow radio, Joe Walsh, REO Speedwagon and Kansas will have their live performance broadcast over a PA that has no less than 18,500 watts!

For further information please visit the track's website at http://www.irwindalespeedway.com/.