Rip Michels enters Saturday's Stock Building Supply “100” at Irwindale (CA) Speedway leading the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest point standings for the second race in a row on the strength of four top five and five top ten finishes this season. Michels finished fourth in the last event at Stockton 99 Speedway last month and holds a slim five-point advantage over 2002 Southwest Series champion Eddy McKean. Michels is still searching for his first Southwest Series victory and would like nothing more to win at his favorite track.
Frazier Park, California’s M.K. Kanke collected his 22nd career Southwest Series victory at Stockton for first on the Southwest Series all-time win list. Kanke has moved into fourth place in the point-standings with two wins, three top fives and four top ten performances so far this season. He sits just 49-points behind Michels in what is shaping up as a four-way battle for the championship with three races left to go. Kanke won this event at Irwindale last season and is going for three wins in a row.
Eddy McKean from Jerome, Idaho is looking to win a second Southwest Series title this season and knows that a solid finish this weekend at Irwindale could mean all the difference. “Irwindale is an interesting track to figure out,” McKean said. “Each time you come back the track is different. We have a good baseline set up but you have to dial your care in the day of the race. Sometimes you hit it and sometimes you don’t.” McKean has five top ten finishes in 2006. McKean finished in this event at Irwindale last year.
Eric Homes edged closer to Michels in the points chase after a second place effort at Stockton. Holmes sits third in the standings just six points behind Michels. Holmes won the 2004 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown and is looking forward to a return trip to victory lane at Irwindale.
Holmes is also competing full-time in the NASCAR Grand National AutoZone West Series where he is second in the standings and hopes to become the only driver to qualify for an invite to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown to be staged later this year.
“Trying to prepare and maintain two cars for two very different series’ is a tough task,” Holmes said. “So far this season we have managed to not have too many issues on-track and that has saved us a lot of time back in the shop. The racing at Irwindale is always really good and with only 100-laps the car is going to have to be nearly perfect.”
Greg Voigt of Santa Barbara, Calif. is quietly having another solid season and currently holds down the fifth position in the standings collecting four top ten finishes. Voigt is the 2000 Late Model champion at Irwindale and is searching for his first Southwest Series victory
The rest of the top ten, which includes Sunoco Rookie Leader David Mayhew, two-time series champion Jim Pettit II, Thomas Martin, Stephan Sadler, and Kevin Vernon, who are separated by just 91 points.
HOME IMPROVEMENT: The Stock Building Supply home improvement show at Irwindale this weekend will have displays from many of the nation’s largest manufacturers and distributors of the top brand name power tools, windows, doors, decking, siding, fasteners, connectors, paint, and more, will be the prelude to a great night of Southwest Series stock car racing at Irwindale Speedway running from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM Saturday night.
Along with this spectacular racing event, Stock Building Supply will host the 2nd annual Irwindale Home Improvement Show at the speedway prior to the start of the racing. “This year we will have close to 40 vendors representing all aspects of the building industry,” stated Rick Smith, Los Angeles Market Manager for Stock Building Supply. “Last year’s event was very successful and we will have 50% more vendors than last year. We expect a huge crowd and along with this home improvement show, we will have some of the best short track racing in the country, all in one night,” stated Smith.
THE TRACK: Irwindale Speedway is hosting its 16th Southwest Series event since the track opened back in 1999. Bryan Germone holds the qualifying record at Irwindale with a quick lap of 17.363 seconds, while M.K. Kanke holds the 150-lap race record after his victory in 2001. M. K. Kanke and David Gilliland have three Southwest Series victories at Irwindale since it opened in 1999 Burney Lamar have two wins apiece with six other drivers claiming one victory.
LOCAL CONNECTION: Brandon Loverock, Stephan Sadler, Greg Voigt, and Rip Michels all have history at Irwindale and looking forward to a great night in front of their “hometown” fans.
COUNTING LAPS: Rip Michels is the only drivers to complete all 616 laps contested so far this season. M.K. Kanke has led the most laps in competition so far this season with 129 circuits at the point.
THE ROOKIES: The battle for the Southwest Series’ Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year award will be one to watch this weekend. David Mayhew leads a talented rookie class that includes Eric Richardson, Brandon Loverock, Cody Pruitt, Terry Lawrence, Bobby Latham III, Travis McCullough, and Danny Mientka. This year, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year will be awarded to the rookie driver with the highest finish in 75% of the events respective to the other rookie contenders.
ALUMNI REPORT: Former Southwest Series competitor Kevin Harvick has a run away point lead in the NASCAR Busch Series after claiming is fifth win of the season last Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park. Harvick also holds down the fourth points in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Standings. Burney Lamar finished 16th in the NASCAR Busch Series event with Ron Hornaday finishing 23rd andAuggie Vidovich finishing 34th. Hornaday finished 3rd in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at ORP while Matt Crafton finished 20th.
Ticket information for the Stock Building Supply"100" can be obtained by calling the track at or by logging on to: www.irwindalespeedway.com.
Fast Facts
What: Stock building Supply "100"
Where: Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, Calif.
Who: NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
When: Sat., August 12 at 8:45 p.m. (Pacific Time).
Posted awards: $56,584
Race length: 100 laps, 50 miles
Track layout: 1/2-mile oval.
Track contact: Bob DeFazio, (626) 358-1100 or rdefazio@irwindalespeedway.com
Pre-Race Schedule (All Times Local): Haulers Enter 9:00 a.m., Registration begins 10:00 a.m., Practice 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.(Alternating), Bud Pole Qualifying 5:00 p.m., 5:45 p.m. On-Track Autograph session, Stock Building Supply "100" 8:45 p.m. Tickets: $20 for adults.
Probable Entry List
Stock Building Supply "100"
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, SOUTHWEST SERIES
Irwindale Speedway, August 12, 2006
Car#/Driver/Sponsor/Hometown/Car Make
1. 1 Cody Pruitt, Bakersfield Calif. * Lennox Homes/Codyco Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2. 02 Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades Calif. Beverly Hills Rejuvination Center Ford Taurus
3. 03 Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif. Racing for the Missing Ford Taurus
4. 04 Stephan Sadler, Brea Calif. Padco Carpet Cushion Inc. Chevrolet Monte Carlo
5. 4 Scott Ivie, San Ramon Calif. Ivie Motorsports Chevrolet Chevrolet Monte Carlo
6. 5 Don Campbell, Campbell Calif. GKI/Waterproofing Associates/Chevrolet Chevrolet
7. 07 Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo. Sirius Satellite Radio/Kenwood Car Audio Chevrolet
8. 9 Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif. Auto Pro Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo
9. 12 Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif. Stock Building Supply/LADCO/Victory Circle
10.19 Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho Wide World of Maps/Eibach/Longacre Pontiac Grand
11. 21 Eric Richardson, Bakersfield Calif. * Grapeking/Green Frog Roasting Ford Taurus
12. 26 David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif. * Bryco Funding/Victory Circle Chevrolet Monte Carlo
13. 28 Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif. Strictly Toy-Ondas Chevrolet Monte Carlo
14. 31 Greg Potts, Manteca Calif. Nascimento Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo
15. 33 M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif. Sims Trucking/RPM Motorsports Chevrolet Monte
16. 36 Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif. Jim's Towing Chevrolet Monte Carlo
17. 37 Keith Spangler, Chatsworth Calif. Spangler Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo
18. 44 Bobby Lyon, Aqua Dulce Calif. Alliance Rentals/Ron's Rear Ends Chevrolet Monte
19. 47 Richard Johnson, Antioch Calif. Radcap Products/Shell Dust Chevrolet Monte Carlo
20. 48 Brett Edwards, Los Angeles Calif. Ultimate Motorsports Ford Taurus
21. 61 Jason Fraser, Snohomish Wash. VRI/Rich's Car Corner Chevrolet Monte Carlo
22. 62 Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif. Paul Oil/Beebe Racing Chevrolet
23. 75 Garrett Knill, Tucson Ariz. J&M Construction Chevrolet Monte Carlo
24. 91 Dave Finley, Denver Colo. Tri County Parts Dodge Intrepid
25. 92 Brad Peters, Lakeport Calif. Freight Train Peters Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte
26. 94 Darrell Lamoure, Phoenix Ariz. NAPA Auto Parts/Racing for the Missing Chevrolet
27. 98 Brandon Loverock, Santa Fe Springs Calif. * Quick Change Exchange Chev Monte Carlo
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
