Irwindale, Calif. – – Time really does go fast when you’re having fun, and there’ve been a whole bunch of fun times at Irwindale Speedway since it opened on March 29, 1999.
Since then it’s been thousands of races, hundreds and hundreds of drivers, and their faithful crew people, and stands full of excited family fans out on a Saturday night to see some of the best NASCAR short track racing in the country on the track that they call: “LA’s Half-Mile Superspeedway” … And the best part of the above is that at this Saturday night’s Whelen All-American Series it all starts over again for the seventeenth time with thrill-packed opening night that will feature eight different and complete races over the course of the evening.
SEVEN DIFFERENT DIVISIONS IN EIGHT RACES: Beginning with the Pick Your Part Late Models who start their championship season with a set of twin races, each counting for 50 precious points in the chase for the Late Model season crown. Two races in one night is always a challenge because there’s fully 100 points to win. Race hard, but have a car for both races. Damage you car in the first, don’t run the second because of it … and you’re already well behind the 8-Ball on day one. Go fast, but drive smart, be there a the checker (both times!).
Irwindale’s own always entertaining Seidner’s Collision Centers Race Trucks will be running their second race of the year even though the night will be opening night for everyone else. They raced on January 23 in a “pre-season” event that went along with one of the Speedway’s vaunted “Nights of Destruction”. And so, Saugus-based Lucas McNeil (78) has the lead in the SCC Trucks with his neighbor Conner Cantrell (48) from Valencia only 2 points back in second. La Verne’s Andrew Porter (46) is third in points followed by (34) Dennis Arena from Duarte and (40) Ken Michaelian from Lawndale rounding out the top five. Adding to the fun … Both the track’s scrappy Mini Stock and quick Super Stock divisions will be on Irwindale’s tricky (low banked) inner third mile track on Saturday night.
The INEX Legend Cars and the Bandoleros, two of the track’s most popular spec starter series, will both take to the track’s quick and tricky inner third mile at Irwindale, with the “Bandos” doing a double-header running points races on both Friday and Saturday night.
Capping the night off, the hilarious antics of the Seidner’s Collision Centers Skid Plate Cars will make the point that four round rubber tires on steel wheels is not only way to get around a race track and that fun is where you find it (even if you’re going backwards at the time).
PRE-RACE FESTIVITIES: All fans, big and little, old, young, and in between are invited to come out to the track early (5:45PM) to meet, greet, and generally hob-nob with the drivers, their crews and the colorful and interesting machines that they’ll be driving when the first green flag waves at 7PM. That’s right on the race track with every car and every driver who’s there to compete. Photos, autographs … Want to see what it’s like in the seat of one of these things? Just ask. Meet the men and women who are about to put on a show for you, in person, up close and on the 6-degree front straight banking. Gates open at 4:00PM and ticket prices have not changed since 1999 … Adult tickets are still only $15 each.
Fans will save money by ordering their tickets on line for a $5.00 discount on each and every adult ticket that they buy prior to midnight April 1!
AND YOU’RE INVITED TO BE HERE TO
CELEBRATE SEASON 17 AT IRWINDALE
!
www.irwindaleeventcenter.com