LATE MODEL AND MINI STOCK CHAMPIONSHIPS UP FOR GRABS DURING SATURDAY’S LAIDLAW’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON ON THE HALF MILE FAMILY NIGHT AT TOYOTA SPEEDWAY

Source: Kevin O'Brien
Date: 10/01/2008

IRWINDALE, California — TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale’s popular Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson On The Half Mile Night takes place this Saturday (October 4) and features five races on its NASCAR Whelen All-American short track schedule including season finales for the Auto Club Late Models, Justice Brothers Mini Stocks, Vista Paint Super Stocks, Legend Cars as well as a DriveTech Late Model exhibition race.

Sponsored by Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson of Baldwin Park, Calif., any individual and companion who ride their Harley-Davidson to TOYOTA Speedway will be admitted into the event for free. Harley riders will be able to park their motorcycles in a special corral and take laps around the half-mile oval track during a pre-race parade. Youngsters 15 years of age and under will be admitted for free as part of a special Family Night promotion.

The battle for the Auto Club Late Model division championship between points leader and defending champion Tim Huddleston of Agoura Hills (722 points), second place Nick Joanides of Woodland Hills (716 points) and third place Andrew Myers of Huntington Beach (682 points) will be decided in a 100-lap race. Huddleston hopes to capture his third Late Model division crown with previous championships won in 2005 and 2007. Joanides recently clinched the 2008 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 would win championships in two major divisions in the same season. Myers who has also competed in the NASCAR Camping Series and TOYOTA All-Star Showdown is also attempting to win his first division championship at the Speedway. Only six points separate Huddleston and Joanides while Myers is 40 points off of the pace.

Rich Garver of Torrance leads the Justice Brothers Mini Stock division standings with 554 points and is looking to clinch is first division championship. Meanwhile Jacob Rogers of Riverside is in second place trailing Garver by only 24 points and is not only trying to win his first division championship but has the pressure of extending his family’s dominance of winning Mini Stock division championships with older brother Tyler capturing consecutive crowns in 2006 and 2007. Daryl Scoggins of Sunland is in third place with 512 points and trails Garver by 42 points.

While Brian Harrell of Riverside captured his second Vista Paint Super Stock championship on September 27 by winning the race which was his sixth consecutive victory, business remains unfinished with runner-up honors up for grabs between Rich DeLong III of Santa Clarita, currently in second place with 526 points and Larry Cerquettini of Redlands who is in third place with 516 points. Jeff Grill of Acton is in fourth place and remains mathematically eligible with 480 points but trails DeLong by 46 points.

With Tom Landreth clinching his sixth Legends Cars division championship and 41st career victory on September 20, the rest of the standings are unsettled with many of the positions between second place through 20th place too close to call. One battle that will receive close attention is between rookie Eric Gunderson of San Diego currently occupying second place with 528 points and Ryan Reed of Bakersfield who is in third place with 494 points. With runner-up honors at stake, only 34 points separate Gunderson and Reed. Both drivers have had impressive seasons with Gunderson already clinching top division rookie honors scoring three wins, two second place finishes and a third place finish. Reed has kept close pace to Gunderson with three wins, one second place finish and three third place finishes.

The DriveTech Racing Series, a racing program featuring equally prepared Late Model race cars driven by racing students who receive the opportunity to compete in a race in professional conditions, makes its second appearance of the season at TOYOTA Speedway.

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. Harley parade laps will take place at 6:45 p.m. with racing beginning 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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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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Contact: Kevin O’Brien, TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale Marketing and Public Relations, (626) 358-1100 ext. 212 and kobrien@irwindalespeedway.com

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