ALPINE, California — Karting champion Taylor Miinch will switch to full-time Stock Car racing this weekend at Irwindale Speedway at the 8th Annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Miinch of Alpine, California will be piloting the familiar black #03 Position One Motorsports / King Taco Chevrolet in the Whelen All-American Late Model race Saturday night.
The former champion kart racer is looking to qualify well after several intensive shakeout sessions on the 1/2-mile track and is confident he and his Position One Motorsports / King Taco Team have a car that can win the race.
Position One Motorsports Team Owner, Luis Martinez said "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work with Taylor. We have kept a close eye on Taylor's development since his cadet years in karting, and we think that us teaming up will continue to help his career in stock cars.”
New this year for the Late Model race, the 25-car field will be set by a pair of 20-lap heat races. The Top five NASCAR state champions in attendance will also have a secured starting spot in the Late Model race, creating a prominent field of drivers.
Miinch is revved up for his first Showdown appearance stating that he has Kevin Clark on deck this weekend for spotting. Kevin was spotter for Auggie Vidovich II when Auggie won his 2005 Showdown race. The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale is considered the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing’ including two nights racing action under the lights for bragging rights, as the winners can consider himself or herself the best among the best.
The talented 16-year old will continue to run the #03 Position One Motorsports / King Taco Chevrolet the reminder of the year at Irwindale Speedway running the Late Model series and switching over to the Super Late Model Series at the end of the year.
Position One Motorsports 2011 two-car team also includes Rod Johnson Jr., the 2010 Auto Club Late Model Champion. "RJ has helped me out on my restarts, driving lines and suggestions on how to make my equipment last throughout the race. Position One is first class in motorsports programs and I am excited to be a part of the team. Both Luis and Luis Jr. plus the entire Position One team have welcomed me and helped me out a tremendous amount with my jump from ASA Trucks to my Late Model program,” said Miinch.
Miinch’s Late Model debut at the Vegas Bullring Fall Classic last year was somewhat disappointing with a blown motor after practicing in the top ten all day. “I learned a lot at the Fall Classic and value the experience I gained there. I look forward to returning there again next year,” said Miinch.
Another achievement in 2010 included Miinch finishing the ASA (American Speed Association) Truck Series season third in final point standings along with finishing second in a highly contested 'rookie' battle.
Taylor Miinch and Taylor Miinch Motorsports would like to thank the following sponsors, companies and associations for their sponsorship and support of his 2011 Late Model Program: Position One Motorsports, King Taco, Alpinestars, Charlie’s Hub Caps, Crystal Cleaners, DJ Safety, Eibach Springs, Jon Dell Construction, Image On Trak, Lars Construction and Ron’s Rear Ends.
ABOUT TAYLOR MIINCH
Sixteen-year old Taylor Miinch is a third-generation Southern California racer and the son of Chuck Miinch, 1991 Cajon Speedway Champion (El Cajon, Calif.). Miinch has been racing go karts since the young age of four and competitively since the age of five. He is one of the few young drivers to take lessons at the age of four where he attended the Adams Raceway Kart School (Riverside, Calif.). Truly an exception, Miinch has the drive and dedication needed in today’s competitive society. Miinch was a factory Team Top Kart USA team driver competing in the CKI Series racing throughout North America and Italy. Achieving many wins, poles and championships in IKF, Stars of Karting, SKUSA and CKI and Gatorz Challenge of the Americas go kart series’. Miinch is most proud of his five IKF Duffies, five IKF Screaming Eagles (pole) awards, 2 CKI Championships and his 2008 Lake Speed Achievement of Excellence Award. Taylor attends Christian High School (El Cajon, Calif.) where he is a Junior on the CHS Soccer and Tennis Varsity teams.
www.taylormiinch.com
ABOUT POSITION ONE MOTORSPORTS
After competing in the Formula TR Series in 2007 and 2006 finishing 3rd in the Championship both years, Position One Motorsports entered the 2008 racing season looking to continue its success as a participant in the NASCAR Whelen All American Weekly Racing Series events at Southern California's Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. At the conclusion of the season the team finished 9th in the points. In 2009, Luis Martinez Jr. and newcomer and NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant Mackena Bell, raced in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. 2010 also saw the birth of a new series at Toyota Speedway. Position One bought into the idea of a truly SPEC Stock Car Class (S2) and brought back P1 Veteran Driver, Randel King. King brought home the inaugural championship with 7 wins to him name. Position One Motorsports is housed in a state-of-the-art facility in Southern California.
Check out www.RacingWest.com for all your West Coast racing updates and results.
