SATURDAY’S TRUCKER’S NIGHT AT TOYOTA SPEEDWAY AT IRWINDALE INCLUDES TRUCK AND BIG RIG BEAUTY CONTEST, AUTO SOCCER AND TIGHT DIVISION POINTS BATTLE

Source: Toyota Speedway Medi Relations/ko
Date: 09/24/2008

IRWINDALE, California — Six races highlight Saturday’s (September 27) Trucker’s Night at TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale. A full lineup of NASCAR Whelen All-American short track races are scheduled including Auto Club Late Models, King Taco Super Trucks, Vista Paint Super Stocks, Pure Stocks, USAC K&N Ford Focus Midgets and an Auto Soccer competition.

Truck drivers who drive their rigs to the event will be admitted for free, will have the opportunity participate in a big rig and truck beauty contest and special parade around the Speedway’s one-half mile oval during pre-race ceremonies. Youngsters 15 years of age and under will be admitted for free as part of a special Family Night promotion. Tight point battles are featured in four of the divisions competing Saturday night.

With two races left in the Auto Club Late Model season including Saturday’s contest, defending division champion Tim Huddleston of Agoura Hills (698 points) has a 16 point lead over Nick Joanides of Woodland Hills (682 points). Joanides recently clinched the ACDelco Super Late Model division championship and is attempting to win the Late Model crown which would mark the first time in the history of TOYOTA Speedway that a driver has won championships in two major divisions in the same season. However, Joanides lost some ground to Huddleston in the last race on September 13 when Huddleston won the race and Joanides finished 7th after experiencing front body damage to his race car in an early lap incident. Huddleston has been on a torrid streak since mid season winning four of the last six races.

The battle for the King Taco Super Truck division championship between points leader and defending champion Pat Mintey, Jr. of Quartz Hill (568 points) and 18-year old Connor Cantrell of Valencia (550 points) will be decided in the 100-lap season finale on Saturday night. In the last race on September 20 which was won by rookie Ron Johnson, Jr. of Canyon Country, Mintey saw his 50-point cushion over Cantrell evaporate to 18 points when Mintey encountered a blown rear tire on the 20th lap and finished 18th while Cantrell finished in 3rd place. Cantrell has accumulated the most number of wins this season with six and would serve as the tie breaker should both drivers tie in overall points at the conclusion of Saturday’s race.

Two races remain in the Vista Paint Super Stock schedule and division points leader Bryan Harrell of Riverside (534 points) has a commanding 52 point lead over Rich DeLong III of Santa Clarita (482 points). Harrell has been unstoppable winning the last five races as he attempts to win his second championship in the last three years.

Only 24 points separate the top four positions in the Pure Stocks division standings. With two races remaining, Tommy Agosta of Chino and Chad Kelly of Calabasas are in a deadlock for the division points lead with each accumulating 544 points. Ken Michaelian of Lawndale won the last race on September 13, his first ever in Pure Stocks competition and is in third place with 522 points. Mike Colato, Jr. of Chatsworth is in 4th place with 520 points.

Ian Miille of Pleasanton (831 points) holds a 23-point lead over Alex Bowman of Tucson, Ariz. (808 points) in the California Pavement Ford Focus standings going into Saturday’s event at the Speedway. Brendan Langlois of Kamloops, British Columbia is in third place with 795 points, 36 points off the pace.

Auto Soccer will close out the schedule on a makeshift playing field in the infield portion of the oval. Two-three car teams representing Jan’s Towing and Pick Your Part will compete against each other by “dribbling” a 400 pound empty propane tank converted into a soccer ball and driving it into a goal.

Spectator gates open and qualifying begins at 4 p.m. The King Taco fan appreciation autograph session with drivers, teams and race cars on the race track will begin at 5:45 p.m. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

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TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale’s Drag Strip will host its Test and Tune street legal racing program this Thursday. Gates open at 4 p.m. with racing from 5-10 p.m. It costs $20.00 to compete and $10.00 for adult spectators to watch the action.

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The 29th Annual Truckin’ for Kids event featuring a big rig show and shine and drag racing competition will take place on Sunday, September 28 at TOYOTA Speedway. Gates open at 6 a.m. and tickets may be purchased at the event.

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Tickets for all TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale events are available for purchase at the Speedway ticket office, by calling (626) 358-1100 and online at www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.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 track races when they show their AAA membership card. Restrictions may apply.

TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale is located at 500 Speedway Drive off of Live Oak Ave. and the I-605 freeway, between the I-10 and 210 freeways in Irwindale, Calif. Log on to www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com for information and schedules.

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