Source: IS Media Relations
Date: 05/30/2007

IRWINDALE, California -- This Saturday night’s (June 2) racing action at Irwindale Speedway features a full race schedule including hotly contested points battles in both the ACDelco Super Late Model and Auto Club Late Model divisions.

The event is sponsored by Whelen Engineering, the Chester, Conn. headquartered company which designs and manufactures visual and audible warning products for the police, fire, emergency medical services and towing industry and is the title sponsor of the Whelen All-American NASCAR Weekly Racing Series.

Five races headline the schedule including the BG Products Pure Stock, Legend Cars and Bandoleros divisions.

Only 24 points separate the top five drivers in the Auto Club Late Model standings. Chris Carmody of Valencia leads the division standings after five races with 198 points. Doug McComb of Thousand Oaks is only four points back with Michael Wright of Yucca Valley in third with 192 points. However, recent outings by Jace Meier, the 18-year old rookie and Las Vegas area high school senior honors student and his team owner / teammate Tim Huddleston of Agoura Hills have secured the 4th and 5th positions respectively and are only 12 and 20 points off the pace set by Carmody. Meier has scored 2nd and 4th place finishes in his last two starts while Huddleston has a victory and runner-up finish in his last two races.

Rip Michels of San Fernando, Irwindale Speedway’s winningest driver with 48 victories, has been on a tear winning his last four consecutive ACDelco Super Late Model races. Michel’s win streak has moved him into 3rd place, 20 points off the pace set by division leader and rookie Travis Thirkettle of Newhall. Thirkettle has amassed 302 points thanks to a consistent effort which includes three top-four finishes in his first seven starts. Andrew Phipps of Simi Valley is in second place with 290 points.

While Ron Davis of Norwalk leads the BG Products Pure stock division standings with 216 points followed by Jeff Elder of Redlands with 202 points, it was Michelle Rouse of San Bernardino who stole the show by winning the race in the division’s last outing on May 12.

Thanks to a win and three 2nd place finishes in his first four races, Darren Amidon of Santee is the early season leader in the Legend Cars division with a 22-point cushion over Austin Grabowski of Upland. Chad Schug of Oak Hills won the division’s most recent race on May 19, his second victory of the season, but did not compete in the first race of the season and finished 27th on May 5.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to view Whelen’s demonstration vehicles as well as a special vintage military vehicle display which will be set up adjacent to the Speedway’s oval track main grandstand. Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. with the King Taco fan appreciation autograph session taking place on the track with the drivers and their cars at 5:45 p.m. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets for all Irwindale Speedway events are available for purchase at the Speedway ticket office, by calling (626) 358-1100 and online at www.irwindalespeedway.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 racing when they show their AAA membership card. Auto Club members can also receive discounts on special offers at the concession and souvenir stands.

Irwindale Speedway is located at 500 Speedway Drive off of Live Oak Ave. and the I-605 freeway, between the I-10 and 210 Foothill freeways in Irwindale, California.

See Also .:

• Rip Michels Driver Card
• Irwindale Speedway Track Page

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