IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY, A NIGHT OF FIRSTS

Irwindale, CA.-- Spectators at Irwindale Speedway enjoyed a night of firsts Saturday during a five-division card. The first wedding ceremony in the track's seven years of operation took place at the starting line at 6:00 p.m during the weekly driver autograph session. Tim Huddleston became the first IS 2005 track champion (Auto Club Late Model Series) and won his first title in 17 years of racing. Travis Thirkettle, ranked third in points, won the Late Model 50-lap feature in his Monte Carlo. He became the third race leader on lap three, led the final 48 circuits, and secured rookie of the year honors with his fifth main event triumph in 15 races on the half-mile.

Other first-time highlights included a victory by the Connor Cantrell, a 14-year old rookie driving in his ninth King Taco Legend Cars race. He became the youngest feature winner (except for the smaller Bandolero Cars) in IS history. As third fastest qualifier, Cantrell started from pole position in a 31-car field and led all 35-laps on the third-mile. He held his inside line after nine caution flags caused a 31-minute race. Cantrell beat two series feature winners to the checkered flag despite their intense pressure all the way. Runner-up Matt Hicks and third place Jim Smith walked to Cantrell's car afterwards and shook his hand enthusiastically to congratulate him for his deserved victory.

Cantrell's second consecutive top four finish from pole position moved the blond ninth-grader into fifth place of 59 drivers with points. He is just 12 points from third place after nine of 11 races. "It's a good handling car. I was praying the whole way," the youngster told an appreciative crowd that applauded loudly when informed he is a 14-year old rookie. He also thanked his sponsor Cantrell Aire, dad/crew chief Jim and his mom. Proving his victory was no fluke, Cantrell was fourth fastest qualifier at the last race two weeks ago, started on the pole and finished a close fourth.

Two truck divisions made news as well by running a pair of all-green flag 50-lap main events on the half-mile. Point leader Chris Johnson led all the way in the Jasper West Coast Pro Trucks 19-truck race. The series 2004 track champion drove his own Ford F-150 to his sixth victory in ten races and opened a 60-point lead. Last week Johnson sub-drove Cecil Phelps' F-150 to eighth place last week after his own No. 20 broke a valve during qualifying.

The second truck race featured Dodge Super Trucks. Ron Peterson, the fastest qualifier and 2004 series champion, started his Dodge Dakota first in a 26-truck field and led all the way. He defeated runner-up Rich Geisler by 30 yards (1.210 seconds). Rookie Scott Fortier was third, 5.751 seconds back. "That proves the motor isn't everything. It's in the engine tuning," Peterson told fans via the infield microphone. Following his July 23 victory point leader Cory Fancy's team posted the required $3,000 and protested Peterson's engine. The winning owner departed with his equipment before completion of a post-race inspection-resulting in disqualification. Peterson bought the truck and borrowed an engine from Scott Davidson before finishing third July 30. Peterson's fifth official victory in 12 races moved him only 38 points behind Fancy with two races remaining.

The final feature was for Pick Your Part Figure 8s. In a field of 11 (nine winged specials), two drivers dominated. Steve Stewart (from fifth) and Billy Ziemann (from fourth) traded the lead near mid-race. Point leader Stewart passed Ziemann, who led three laps, on lap 12 and won by 40-yards. They were the only drivers who finished all 25 laps. It was Stewart's sixth victory in seven races this season and gave him a 64-point lead with two races remaining. Figure 8 drivers drew for their starting spots. Jesse James, TV's "Monster Garage" host, drew seventh position. With actress Sandra Bullock, his wife of one month, watching from a track suite, James raced to fourth place. His spin on the seventh lap cost James a lap and he finished sixth. Ten of 11 cars reached the checkered flag.

The 22-car Late Model main had three leaders in the first three laps. Fourth quickest qualifier Huddleston had the pole and led lap one. Then third starter Brian Kelley paced lap two. Fifth starter Thirkettle forged to the front and led by 30-yards at lap 15. One caution flag to check for oil on the track slowed action. Mike Johnson passed Huddleston for second on lap 49 and barely edged the new champion during the last two laps of close racing. Joihnson trailed Thirkettle by 2.063 seconds and edged third place Huddleston by 0.050 seconds.

Huddleston celebrated his first championship by stopping beneath the starter's stand, climbing out and requesting the checkered flag. After retrieving the flag dropped to him, Huddleston climbed by into his Monte Carlo and took a reverse direction Polish victory lap waving the checkered flag to fans. He then said, "This was a dream season. I love everyone." He thanked his sponsor (Justice Brothers), track management, fans, wife and three children, crew chief and crew, "racing ambassador" Lee Ladd, and car constructor Jeff Schrader. Then he and his joyful crew sprayed champagne on everyone near them at the starting line. Huddleston will receive the fifth award of a one-week vacation for two to Hawaii from series sponsor-the Auto Club. Rick Lalor, Auto Club motorsports/events manager, told spectators, "Tim Huddleston is a fine champion. He's paid his dues. And Travis Thirkettle, what a title contender he'll be next year. And what a competitor Mike Johnson is."

Three series rookies earned hard charger awards. Mini stock veteran Steve Rogers (Legends), Josh Barker (Super Trucks) and super stock veteran Chris Houwen (Late Models) received their awards prior to the top three finishers receiving plaques at the finish line. Of special interest, IS diversity program first alternate Nate Hardiman, a 20-year old from Altadena, made his initial start in the No. 05 Legends house car maintained by Joe Oddo's Performance Race Training Center. Diversity program winner/usual driver Lindsay Kernohan was racing her USAC Ford Focus Midget in Stockton Saturday so alternate Hardiman raced the car for the first time. As 24th quickest qualifier in a 31-car field, he started 24th and finished a promising 16th, on the lead lap and in front of eight other finishers; 23 drivers completed all 35 laps. Summary: (pickup agate)

PICK YOUR PART FIGURE 8s: (12 cars)

Main: Steve Stewart, Billy Ziemann, Dan Burns, Rod Proctor, Robbie Stutzel, Jesse James, Don Rogers, Earl Cox, Harry Kuenninger, Tony Curtis, Steve Cook. -DNS-Sean Hansen.

KING TACO LEGEND CARS: (31 cars)

Fast Time: Bill Bonney, 16.981.

Main: Connor Cantrell, Matt Hicks, Jim Smith, Bob Landreth, Van Iungerich, Mark Gaiser, Tom Skahill, Brian Wong, Steve Twilligear, Steve Rogers, Bill Calhoun, Lynn Sours, Ryan Partridge, Chad Schug, Lindsey King, Nate Hardiman, Robert Meneley, Larry Stone, Tom Landreth, Larry Meredith, Don Teller, Eric Alton, Jim Pantier, K. J. Garrison, John London, David Bremer, Bonney, Eric Brett, Darren Amidon, Dennis Howell, Joseph Daniello.

JASPER WEST COAST PRO TRUCKS: (19 trucks)

Fast Time: Jeff Williams, 20.229.

Main: Chris Johnson, Rick Wall, Ryan Black, Aaron Staudinger, Williams, Brent Cusick, Todd Cameron, Don Helgeson, Brian Pannone, Tim McMillin, Neil Conrad, Barry Kelperis, Jr, David Timewell, Dustin Vandermooren, Cecil Phelps, Robert Wright, Ivan Arias, Jim Satterfield, Ron Davis.

DODGE SUPER TRUCKS: (26 trucks)

Fast Time: Ron Peterson, 19.742.

Main: Peterson, Rich Geisler, Scott Fortier, Paul Brennan, Logan Hanson, Pat Mintey, Jr, Cory Fancy, Brian Reed, Matt Saied, Bob Barker, Rich Legere, Dante Cerchio, Josh Barker, Louis Mammolito, Justin Carmody, Scott Davidson, Jim Smith, Steve Latina, Darren Sigwing, Danny Mathus, Mike Trottochau, Tim Doyle, Dave Scarcella, Ryan Fortier.

AUTO CLUB LATE MODELS: (22 cars)

Fast Time: Mike Johnson, 18.927.

Main: Travis Thirkettle, Johnson, Tim Huddleston, Chris Carmody, Brian Jones, Justin Lofton, Scott Youngren, Chris Houwen, George Ruark, Robert Rice, Jeff Saelid, Craig Yeaton, Brian Kelley, Dan DiGiamarino, Richie Altman, Austin Grabowski, Jameel Saied, Daniel DiGiacomo, Todd Southwell, Dennis Schlarbaum, Del Dalrymple (#07), Sean Bennett.

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