Tracks: Fireworks this Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway
27 June 2000
FIREWORKS AT IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY!!! ULTRA WHEELS' EARLY 4TH CELEBRATION ON JULY 1 Figure 8 Mania Returns + Special Sky Show Right After Racing Irwindale, Calif. - - Giving racing fans AND fireworks fans an early jump-start on what, for many, could be the beginning if a great four day weekend … Irwindale Speedway will feature a full evening of on-track and in-sky pyrotechnics on Saturday night, July 1. Presented by Ultra Wheels, the event promises to be one of the best values in local family-style motorsports viewing. On the card for the night's trackside action are the NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Super Stocks, Legend Cars, and Figure 8's. Goleta's James Weston leads the NASCAR Late Models into battle with a thirty point lead (430 - 400) over Todd Burns of Riverside. Tony Green from Oak Hills is third in points at 380. Green had a hard ride into the turn 1 crash wall last race when a hub failed on him in the second lap of the main event … His crew has been hard at work and promises to have Tony's car ready for the 1st. In fourth with 364 points is Dave Hessing from Canyon Country, and Steve Nickolai of Simi Valley and Deryk "The X-Man" Ward from Palm Springs are tied for 5th at 348 points each. All the hard work that Long Beach's Jeff Green has put in chasing North Hills' T.K. Karvasek has finally paid off with Green finally on the top in the NASCAR Super Stock points list. Green's got 384, T.K. 356, and last years' divisional champion Mike Price is closing up the gap at 290. These colorful characters (and about 20+ more) will all be "having a go" at each other on Saturday night. If one goes by the win column it should be Mission Hills' Rip Michels by a country mile in the NASCAR Grand American Modifieds … He's won four out of five events this year. And yet, Dean Kuhn from Oceanside is solidly in second place only a scant 12 points behind. And the one race that Rip didn't win? Yup, Dean got that one. The races that Rip won, yeah good old Dean-o was there picking up the points with good high finishes (including a second place) every time. John Watkinson is right up there too with 200 hard-earned points marked up to the Canyon Country resident's credit. These skinny-tired, 500-horsepower (+) bombs will really be flying on Saturday night … Better get your flight reservations now! And adding to all the fun, the colorful and rollicking Legends Cars will be back on the 1/3-Mile with their own brand of fast AND furious racing antics. Remember, that wacky Figure 8 gang will be back at Irwindale and raring to race in front of the always-appreciative Irwindale crowds on July 1st after more than a month off. These are the one-and-only, original "X-Games" guys and gals who drive with "take no prisoners" aplomb and a tight tunnel vision focus on the finish line. Skill, daring, and a bit of a sense of humor, and an in control imagination are the prerequisites for the prize … Heart-stopping (hopefully) near misses are the road to glory here. After the races, fans will be invited to stay comfortably seated in the grandstands and enjoy a spectacular fireworks show before making their way to the pit area for autographs and photos with their favorite drivers. July 1st will be a fine night for a family outing to Irwindale Speedway, with plenty of time left in the looooong weekend for all the other traditional (beach, backyard B-B-Qs, mountains, pool, park, etc.) 4th of July pursuits. PLEASE NOTE: This event will kick off Irwindale Speedway's participation in the 8th annual "Spark of Love" Toy Drive sponsored by the Southern California Firefighters and ABC7. The object is to collect holiday toys for some of the less fortunate children throughout the area. Called "Christmas in July", fans donating a new, unwrapped toy or sporting goods item will receive either a child's ticket to that night's event or a $5.00 gift certificate good at the track's souvenir stands. In addition, they'll receive a copy of that night's program book (a $4.00 value). Collection of toys and sporting good will continue throughout the month of July (all five racing events) at Irwindale Speedway. Fans are further advised to get to the race track early for numerous good reasons. Among them easiest entrance and the closest-in parking place, witnessing practice and qualifying rounds, taking part in the pre-event grandstand contests (like "Know Your NASCAR" which pays off in track $50 gift certificates and other great prizes), getting the autograph of a favorite driver or two at the Alta Dena Milk Chugs Autograph Session, listening to great local live bands on the Team Simpson Stage from 4:00 to 6:30, meeting the track mascot "Lug Nut Jr.", or perusing the free car club show in the nearby Chalet Village area just west of the grandstands. Irwindale's right-on-site ticket office opens at noon on Saturday, the spectator gates swing wide at 4:00 p.m., and a most memorable start for a marvelous weekend begins at exactly 4:01 p.m.