IRWINDALE, California -- Irwindale Speedway kicks off its Dog Days of Summer by offering a special spectator promotion each Saturday night beginning July 28 through August 25. This Saturday the Speedway provides fans the opportunity to purchase two tickets for the price of one with kids five and under admitted for free.
Three Whelen All-American NASCAR Weekly Racing Series division races and one USAC Ford Focus Midget race are on tap Saturday night including the ACDelco Super Late Models, King Taco Super Trucks, Vista Paint Super Stocks and K&N Ford Focus Midgets.
Despite his consecutive victory streak halted at seven wins, San Fernando’s Rip Michel’s has taken over the ACDelco Super Late Model division points lead from rookie Travis Thirkettle of Newhall. Both drivers experienced problems in the racing twin bill back on July 14, but Michels managed to accumulate 56 points in the two races, 10 points better than Thirkettle. While Michels holds a slim six point cushion over Thirkettle, Andrew Phipps of Simi Valley and David Beat of Blossom Valley have inched their way up the division standings. Phipps won the second race of the twin bill and is in third place, 34 points out of the lead while Beat captured 4th and 2nd place finishes and is in 4th place, 40 points behind the division leader.
With back-to-back wins in his last two starts, Santee’s Matt Hicks is riding a wave of momentum going into Saturday’s King Taco Super Truck race with the hope of challenging Pat Mintey Jr of Quartz Hill for the division lead. Only 38 points separate the two drivers.
The Vista Paint Super Stock standings are even closer. Only two points separate division leader and defending champion Bryan Harrell of Riverside and Darren Cheek of San Bernardino. Both drivers have had remarkable seasons to date with Harrell accumulating four victories and four runner-up finishes and Cheek posting four victories and three runner-up finishes in eight outings. Greg Crutcher of Covina is in third place, 34 points off of the pace for the division lead.
The USAC Ford Focus Midgets make the second of five appearances to compete in a special K&N Filters sponsored series at Irwindale Speedway. Tim Skoglund of Fresno won the first race, 0.420 of a second ahead of Nic Faas of Huntington Beach. Skoglund leads the Ford Focus Midgets California Paved standings with 542 points.
Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. for Saturday’s event with the King Taco fan appreciation autograph session with drivers, teams and race cars on the track at 5:45 p.m. The first race starts at 7 p.m.
