IRWINDALE, California — Ten years ago, on September 12, the Speedway staff sat down on a very sad Wednesday morning trying to focus on what the track's response would be on the awful attack on America that had happened the day before. Race? No Races? Many major sports events were being cancelled because of the shutdown of all civilian air traffic But the Speedway was not dependant on cross-country flights for fans or racers. A quick poll was taken, a few epithets were uttered, and the staff decided not to let the terrorists take any more of the country away from us We would race, dedicate the night to the victims and heroes of 9-11 and collect funds for the Red Cross. That night (September 15, 2001) was one that anyone who was there will long remember, not for the racing, but for the sincere acknowledgement of the losses and the strong resolve to go forward
"Saturday night's feature race is the Lucas Oil Slick Mist Super Late Models, seventy-five laps, the second-to-last race in the series and young Rod Johnson Jr. from Canyon Country in the lead."
This Saturday night we'll welcome and honor Fire Fighters and First Responders not only with free admission but with recognition from the fans. Many local fire companies will be on hand before the event as well, and fans are all invited to come out early and thank these heroes personally.
Just after 9-11 a number of the Speedway's own safety personnel volunteered and went back to New York to work in the rescue and recovery work. They're all pretty quiet about what they did at ground zero, but the Speedway is very proud each and every one of them.
With that, and in the same spirit that the Speedway went on with the races 10 years ago, we'll give a little rundown on the races for this Saturday night:
Race eight in the Justice Brothers Mini-Stocks 2011 championship series will start with Sunland's Daryl Scoggins in the points lead (only 14 though) over Beaumont's Ryan Bragdon (330-316). The minis are a scrappy bunch and run on the unforgiving inner one-third mile oval at Irwindale. They are always among the most popular drivers at the 5:45PM On-Track Autograph Party that's sponsored by King Taco. Remember Pintos? They've got 'em!
And, speaking of King Taco, their 2011 Super Truck Series is red hot with Conner Cantrell (Santa Clarita) and Ryan Partridge (Rancho Cucamonga) trading places all season long. Cantrell, who leads the chase by 10 points, has won two and finished second three times, Partridge has six wins and three seconds but he also had a bad night in race 7 and that's the difference. Monrovia's Todd Cameron, only 44 points out of first at 470 is hanging in there with good finishes and a good attitude. (Meet him and his crew right on the track on Saturday at 5:45PM).
Saturday night's feature race is the Lucas Oil Slick Mist Super Late Models, seventy-five laps, the second-to-last race in the series and young Rod Johnson Jr. from Canyon Country in the lead. Third-generation racer Johnson has won six of the seven races run thus far this season, but another young third-gen driver has put up a sting of good finishes that see him (that's Ryan Partridge, from Ranch Cucamonga) only 26 points behind 332 to 306. Racing commuter, Kevin Thompson, who flies in from his home in Conroe, Texas for the Lucas SLMs, is only 4 points back from Partridge.
Corona's Jason Patison is planning on being back after nearly destroying his number 17 Super Late Model in a very hard hit during the sixth race in the series. "We'll probably be finishing the car up the morning of the race, but we'll be there," said Patison who was in contention early in the season, but who lost ground with two zeros in the points columns for the last two races at Irwindale.
OK ... Jeff Williams may now legitimately be accused of officially "stinking up the show" in the South West Tour Trucks. The winner of ALL of the seven races run so far in the series. Of course the show that these trucks put on really doesn't "stink" at all and the "no-hitter" that the Newbury Park driver has on the line makes every lap a lip-biter at Irwindale. Brady Helm and Ed Cutler are second a third in the points with 312 and 292 respectively. Brady, from Huntington Beach, and Cutler, from Ventura both would like nothing better than being known as the guy who broke Williams' winning streak That's what gets the fans in the stands' attention.
The track's own new experimental division the "Local Monster 4x4 Racers" will be back taking another unpredictable shot at stardom on the Speedway's infield At press time the course design was still "up in the air" (get it?) for here, we'll just call it "freestyle". But, believe it, some amazingly strange stuff is suspected.
And, finally, the unpredictable, often unbelievable, super-slo-mo-slide-cars that everyone who's ever snapped You Tube on, has seen from every conceivable angle. The Siedner's Collision Skid Plate Cars will take to the third mile and shower the night with mini-fireworks displays from the rather large chunks of metal which are firmly affixed where the rear wheels should be
Saturday will be a special night of recognition and remembrance, but also a night of celebration that the bad guys did not win, not then, not now and that drivers, crews, officials, track safety workers, and NASCAR Home Track fans aren't easily scared off.
A very special night in one way, but also a symbol that we're still standing tall, proud, and taking our freedom very seriously. See you at the Speedway on Saturday!
Gates open at 4PM Autographs at 5:45PM ... Racing at 7:30PM
www.toytoaspeedwayatirwindale.com
