ALL STAR SHOWDOWN STARTING LINEUP SET

Source: NASCAR Public Relations
Date: 11/12/2005

Lynch scored a dramatic win in the first AutoZone Elite Division qualifying race by catching race-long leader Greg Pursley at the white flag and racing side by side for the final lap. His margin at the checkered flag was .004 seconds, or less than six inches. “That’s the most fantastic finish I’ve ever been in,” he exclaimed in victory lane, adding later “I got loose in turn three and then he got loose and I didn’t know who won.” Lynch began his drive from the 12th starting position, while Pursley stared fourth. M.K. Kanke was a close third, giving the home team Southwest Series drivers a top three sweep and J.R. Norris took fourth after coming from 15th in the lineup. Nick Joanides was fifth followed by John Bender, Kevin Prince, Wilbur Bruce, Steve Carlson, and Eddy McKean. In the second AutoZone Elite Division qualifying race, Irwindale Speedway’s all-time leading winner, Rip Michels, led a string of four Southwest Series drivers to the finish after taking the lead on lap 4 from his sixth starting spot. Thomas Martin, who led the fist three laps, edged Burney Lamar for second, with Auggie Vidovich advancing from 18th to fourth. Eddie Hoffman of the Midwest Series was fifth, followed by Chris Davidson, Northwest Series champion Jeff Jefferson who started 20th and last, Midwest Series champion Justin Diercks from 19th, Brent Kirchner, and Pete Harding. Michels’ margin of victory was .817 seconds. “When you’re at home, winning is special. The Showdown brings together the best of the best,” Michels declared.

The first Grand National Division qualifying race also featured a dramatic finish as Mike Olsen passed fellow Busch North Series driver Joey McCarthy on the green-white-checker restart. “I knew on the restart if I could hold him down on the bottom I could pass him coming off the corner,” related Olsen, who started 12th. McCarthy finished .239 seconds behind after leading laps 4 through 48. Steve Portenga, who benefited when Mike Stefanik spun while trying to pass Dale Shaw for third with two laps remaining, grabbed the show position and was the best West Series finisher. Shaw retained fourth with Mike Duncan fifth. Mike David, Eddie MacDonald, Daryl Harr, Bryon Chew, and Tim Smith completed the top ten. Stefanik settled for eleventh. Busch North Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Sean Caisse dominated the final Grand National Division qualifier, winning by 1.455 seconds over defending Toyota All-Star Showdown champion Mike Johnson. He started ninth and needed only four laps to surge ahead. Ryan Moore took third and David Gilliland, the best West Series finisher, muscled past Matt Kobyluck for fourth in the closing laps. Kobyluck came back to edge Andy Santerre for fifth. Tim Woods III, Brett Thompson, John Salemi, and Andrew Lewis were seventh through tenth. “I was actually hoping for a restart so I could size myself up against the competition,” Caisse remarked of his dominant victory. “This is like the 50-lap dash at the end of the main race. We didn’t scuff our tires today and that made a big difference," he added. The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown concludes on Saturday night with the 125-lap AutoZone elite division feature race, followed by the 150-lap Grand National Division main event. Both will be telecast live by SPEED Channel, starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. For more information, contact: Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations, (386) 566-8540 or jdavidson@nascar.com

NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
NASCAR Grand National Division
Irwindale Speedway November 12, 2005
Starting Lineup (showing car numbers in parentheses) 1. (61)Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet
2. (5)Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet
3. (8)Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet
4. (96)Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford
5. (16)Steve Portenga, Sparks Nev., Chevrolet
6. (74)Ryan Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet
7. (17)Dale Shaw, Center Conway N.H., Chevrolet
8. (88)David Gilliland, Chino Hills Calif., Chevrolet
9. (9)Mike Duncan, Lamont Calif., Chevrolet
10. (40)Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet
11. (2)Mike David, Modesto Calif., Ford
12. (44)Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Maine, Chevrolet
13. (77)Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet
14. (54)Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills Calif., Ford
15. (71)Daryl Harr, St. Albert Alberta, Chevrolet
16. (81)Brett Thompson, Jerome Idaho, Chevrolet
17. (99)Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet
18. (63)John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Pontiac
19. (7)Tim Smith, Roseville Calif., Ford
20. (23)Andrew Lewis, Corona Calif., Chevrolet
21. (55)Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet
22. (0)Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet
23. (18)Johnny Borneman, Ramona Calif., Ford
24. (09)Takuma Koga, Nagoya Japan, Chevrolet
25. (30)Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Chevrolet
26. (51)Rich Ruzbarsky, Tracy Calif., Chevrolet
27. (15)Jack Sellers, Sacramento Calif., Pontiac
28. (20)Sarah Fisher, Indianapolis Ind., Ford
29. (14)Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Chevrolet
30. (6)Kip Stockwell, Braintree Vt., Chevrolet
31. (00)Scott Gaylord, Lakewood Colo., Chevrolet
Starting Lineup
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
Irwindale Speedway November 12, 2005

1. (2)Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet
2. (12)Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet
3. (70)Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet
4. (28)Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet
5. (33)M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet
6. (1)Burney Lamar, Kernersville N.C., Chevrolet
7. (5)J.R. Norris, Mulga Ala., Ford
8. (11)Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet
9. (45)Nick Joanides, Woodland Hills Calif., Chevrolet
10. (0)Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill., Chevrolet
11. (18)John Bender, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet
12. (41)Chris Davidson, Pearland Tex., Chevrolet
13. (87)Kevin Prince, Wilmington N.C., Chevrolet
14. (42)Jeff Jefferson, Yakima Wash., Chevrolet
15. (8)Wilbur Bruce, Tacoma Wash., Chevrolet
16. (29)Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet
17. (66)Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet
18. (88)Brent Kirchner, La Crosse Wis., Chevrolet
19. (19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac
20. (39)Pete Harding, Surrey B.C., Chevrolet
21. (15)John Dillon, Boise Idaho, Chevrolet
22. (9)Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet
23. (69)Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet
24. (40)Dusty Williams, Garden City Ga., Chevrolet
25. (25)Dexter Bean, Westby Wisc., Chevrolet
26. (21)Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet
27. (54)Jeff Fultz, Cincinnati Ohio, Chevrolet
28. (64)Garrett Evans, East Wenatchee Wash., Chevrolet
29. (20)Andrew Morrissey, Deforest Wis., Chevrolet
30. (63)Greg Pope, Monroe N.C., Chevrolet
31. (01)Josh Bauer, Random Lake Wis., Chevrolet
32. (71)Greg Fowler, Erie Colo., Chevrolet
33. (23)Terry McMahan, Asheville N.C., Chevrolet
34. (73)Gary Lewis, Bothell Wash., Chevrolet
35. (3)Robert Richardson, II, McKinney, Tex., Chevrolet
36. (27)Jeff Bailey, Kennewick Wash., Chevrolet
37. (03)Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford
38. (98)Justin Wakefield, Woodstock Ga., Ford
39. (46)Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge
40. (06)Eddie Stivers, III, Columbia, S.C., Chevrolet

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