Source: High Point Racing
Date: 03/23/2008

IRWINDALE, California - After months of late nights and early mornings, High Point Racing kicked off the 2008 season at the newly renamed Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Saturday night.

It started in November last year as plans to relocate the High Point Racing shop to Simi Valley and merge with Super Late Model powerhouse Thirkettle Racing began to unfold. “Travis has been a High Point driver for several years and with the expansion of our team over the off season it just made sense to merge our resources and put it all under one roof,” team owner Tim Huddleston said. “It’s phenomenal the amount of knowledge and experience the Thirkettle guys brought to our program this year.”

The off season merger between High Point Racing and Thirkettle Racing, and the addition of a sixth late model to the program meant a total of seven cars to be ran under the High Point Racing banner.

On Saturday, it all came to reality as the team landed all six late model drivers in the top half of the field during qualifying. With four of the six rookies at Toyota Speedway, it was an impressive start to the season.

Former open-wheel racer, Colin Fleming put his #55 King Taco Chevrolet narrowly missed fast time to Camping World West Series regular, Andrew Meyers. The second place qualifying effort would land him starting on the pole position after the two car invert.

“First time out, I’m very happy,” Fleming said. “All the late nights and hours testing made it all worth it because we are quick and we’re at the front. It’s going to be a learning experience going into the race. My goal tonight was to qualify in the top five and to finish the race. We did the first part now we’ve got to finish it up.”

Fleming did more than just finish the race. He lost the lead on lap one but quickly secured the second spot and held on until the end of the forty lap event.

“I learned a lot tonight. To be able to get up there and run with guys like Andrew Meyers and Tim Huddleston, two guys that have a lot of experience and wins at this track is something I’m really excited about this week. I know what I need to do now so we’ll come back next week and try to get King Taco and Global Swift Funding in victory lane.”

Fleming’s car owner and teammate Tim Huddleston brought his brand new Justice Brothers Chevrolet home in third place after picking the car up from Racecar Factory on Friday and turning its first laps Friday afternoon.

“I couldn’t tell you how proud I am of the blue team to bring all these cars here and be in the top half of the field. I know we’ll be able to take the cars home and polish on them and be back next week stronger.” Huddleston commented.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver, Lindsey King, improved her Toyota Speedway late model career best finish by one position as she finished sixth. Her first start in a HPR car proved that she will be a force this season.

2007 USAC Champion Ryan Kaplan started and finished in the eighth position in his first stock car race. He battled side by side for most of the race with Toyota Speedway veterans Sean Bennett and Kevin Callahan.

Female driver Alison Quick finished sixteenth. She gained valuable race experience over the weekend. Her team overcame a leaking water pump gasket during practice which oddly let go after five days of testing. “I’m learning the line and getting more comfortable with the car. It’s all in one piece so we can keep improving next week.” Quick said.

Not so lucky was eighteen year old, Jennifer Greenberg. After flying in from New Mexico and making her first career stock car start, Jen was involved in a three car incident that removed her from the race after completing just ten laps.

In the AC Delco Super Late model competition, Travis Thirkettle finished eighth. He qualified thirteenth after he was forced to slow and swerve to avoid hitting the car before him who had slowed too early while exiting the track. “We had to adjust our setup a little bit to account for starting mid pack and we were a little to loose,” he explained. “Fifty laps are over in a heart beat when you’re trying to come through like that.”

Overall, High Point Racing was pleased with the results of their season opening weekend. The rookie drivers received much attention from press, fans and track owner Jim Williams who brought his friends, Indy 500 winners Danny Sullivan and Parnelli Jones by to personally introduce them to the “future talent of Toyota Speedway.” It was just some of the training that the development drivers will receive on and off the track this season.

High Point Racing’s next race is March 29. Gates open at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale at 4:00pm. The on track autograph session kicks off at 5:30pm where you’ll have the opportunity to meet all the new HPR drivers. Races start at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit www.highpointteam.com.

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