IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY RACE SYNOPSIS - MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Source: Irwindale Media Relations
Date: 05/29/2000

In the first of two very exciting 50-lap races for the Foods 4 Less Super Late Models, popular driver Tim Woods III lead the lion's share of the laps and was in squarely the lead on the "only one that counts" when starter Danny Saunders' double checkered flags flew. Jumping to the head of the pack on lap one, the Chino-based Ford Taurus driver ran high and hard around the Irwindale half-mile with fast-qualifier Dan Holtz (Bakersfield), multi-race winner Ben Walker (North Hills), 1999 Champion Rod Johnson (Canyon Country), and current divisional points leader Greg Voigt (Goleta) all clamoring at his heels.

Midway through the race on 31 Holtz slipped past Woods to grab the lead, but Woods, who was driving as though he was on a mission, took it back a lap and a half later. On the Forty-first go-round Voigt whistled his #89 machine past Woods and into the lead with Holtz and Walker now doing serious battle over third place on the race track. With a single lap to go Glendora's Tony Bruncati had a close encounter with the turn 3 wall causing a yellow flag which meant that the scheduled 50-lapper would run long with a rules-called for "green-white-checker" finish. Mr. Woods decided that it was fine with him and took the opportunity to repass Voigt to win his first race of the new season. Holtz and Walker passed Voigt for second and third and Lancaster's Shawn Brink rode his Pontiac home to a well-deserved fifth place.

In the second Food 4 Less 50-lapper the show was all Ben Walker, his jet black number 35 Ford was dominant from the git-go. In contrast to his wild third place performance in race one, the nineteen-year-old ran all alone in front, and in clear air for most of this event. Behind him, the action was fast and fierce with the protagonists from the first heat doing pitched battle up every straight and through every turn. No position on the chart other than first seemed to be secure. This time Greg Voigt hung on for second place with Tommy Fry of Canyon Country collecting his best-ever F4L-SLM finish in third. Brandon Miller from Rancho Santa Fe was fourth, and David Brandon from Palmdale finished in fifth place.

By virtue of his two good finishes Voigt stays in the points lead with 372 points. Eighty points back is Ben Walker at 292. David Brandon (in third at 274)has been quietly gaining each event, with Holtz (said to not be running for the seasonal championship … but doing rather well regardless) hanging in there at 256, followed by a surging Woods at 246. There'll be more great "Super Late" at Irwindale coming up: June 10!

There was something of an upset in the Mini-Stockars as Ross Uppman of Hawaiian Gardens won 25-lap main event over the 1999 class champ Troy Decuir from Moreno Valley. Lyndon Dysinger (Carona) was third, with Randy Shields (Camarillo) and Richard Riley (Lancaster) finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Even though some 30 cars took the starter's flag, The NASCAR Super Stock show was all about one of the best 2-car races seen in a while. The "TK Karvasek and Jeff Green Show" had the fans on their feet for almost the full forty laps. When it was all over the North Hills driver with the skull & crossbones-themed Camaro had nipped the clean-cut Long Beach driver by only a whisker or three. Karvasek showed some spiffy moves in the win, but he was very mindful of Green answering virtually every one of them with moves of his own. The terrifically close and exciting racing had fans by the hundreds flocking to the pits for autographs of these two stars of the Speedway at the close of the event.

FAN NOTE: Visiting the pits after the night's races are concluded is one of the great traditions of short track racing. If you and your family haven't stopped by the pits after a race at Irwindale Speedway you're missing a lot of what short track is all about. Join us (in the pits) after the races, meet the drivers and crews, get autographs, take photos, maybe even sit in a race car. Enjoy the "show after the show".

ROUND TWO: MILLER LITE "BIG TEN CHALLENGE" PRESENTED by EXIDE

FOOD 4 LESS SUPER LATE MODELS FEATURE RACE #1 (50 LAPS)
1) Tim Woods
2) Dan Holtz
3) Ben Walker
4) Greg Voigt
5) Shawn Brink

FOOD 4 LESS SUPER LATE MODELS FEATURE RACE #2 (50 LAPS)
1) Ben Walker
2) Greg Voigt
3) Tommy Fry
4) Brandon Miller
5) David Brandon

NASCAR SUPER STOCK MAIN (40 LAPS)

1) TK Karvasek
2) Jeff Green
3) John Cappi
4) Don Rogers
5) Steve Gilmore

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