IRWINDALE, California – Irwindale Speedway’s popular Laidlaw’s Harleys On The Half Mile Night takes place this Saturday (Sept. 22) and features six races including a Pick Your Part Outlaw Figure 8 race. Any individual and companion who ride to the Speedway on their Harley Davidson will receive a half-off discount when purchasing $15.00 general admission tickets. Kids 5 and under are admitted for free. Harley riders will be able to park their motorcycle in a special corral and take a lap around the track during pre-race ceremonies. Laidlaw’s Harley Davidson of Baldwin Park will have the 2008 Harley models on display and will conduct contests to win prizes including a special three-day, two-night stay trip to Las Vegas.
San Fernando’s Rip Michels will attempt to improve his division point lead and take a step closer to clinching the division championship during this Saturday’s ACDelco Super Late Model race. Two races remain and Michels holds a 62 point lead over rookie Travis Thirkettle of Newhall. Michels is victorious in 11 of the 17 races this season including wins in four of his last five starts.
While 14-year old Donny St. Ours of Upland notched his first ever Legends Cars victory last Saturday, his rear view mirror showed division leader Darren Amidon of Santee and defending champion Tom Landreth of Alta Loma waging a spirited battle for second place and attempting to gain ground on each other with only 20 points separating the two drivers. Saturday’s race is one of two that remain on the schedule including a double points finale on September 29.
Division leader Pat Mintey Jr of Quartz Hill will also keep an eye on his rear view mirror for second place Matt Hicks of Santee during Saturday’s King Taco Super Trucks race. Only 14 points separate the two drivers with the hard charging Hicks winning five races in his last six campaigns including the last outing on September 8.
Until recently the Vista Paint Super Stock division has been dominated by the impressive performances of points leader Darren Cheek of San Bernardino and second place Bryan Harrell of Riverside. Only 16 points separate the drivers with both having accounted for 10 wins in the division’s 12 races. However, Greg Crutcher of Covina is serving notice that he intends to make the battle for the division championship interesting. Crutcher won the last race on September 8 allowing him to pull within 26 points of the leader.
Two races remain on the Justice Brothers Mini Stock schedule including a double points race on October 6 and Kevin Bernhardt of Fontana will have the full court press on division leader Tyler Rogers of Riverside in Saturday’s race. Rogers is the defending division champion and has 498 points including a 38 point lead over Bernhardt. Rogers has scored five victories but Bernhardt has stayed within striking distance thanks to top-five finishes in nine races this season.
The Pick Your Part Outlaw Figure 8s close out the evening. Steve Stewart of Long Beach holds a 10 point lead over “Barefoot” Billy Ziemann of Bloomington. Stewart’s brother Rusty is in third place, 18 points off the pace. Jesse James, host of the television show Monster Garage and owner of West Coast Choppers is also scheduled to compete.
Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. with qualifying sessions. The King Taco fan appreciation autograph session will take place on the track with drivers, crew members and race cars at 5:45 p.m. and the first green flag waved at 7 p.m.
Tickets for all Irwindale Speedway events are available for purchase at the Speedway ticket office, by calling (626) 358-1100 and online at www.irwindalespeedway.com. Auto Club of Southern California members receive a 10% discount off of the purchase of up to four (4) adult general admission tickets for Saturday oval racing when they show their AAA membership card. Auto Club members can also receive discounts on special offers at the concession and souvenir stands.
Irwindale Speedway is located at 500 Speedway Drive off of Live Oak Ave. and the I-605 freeway, between the I-10 and 210 Foothill freeways in Irwindale, California. Log on to www.irwindalespeedway.com for further information
