NASCAR WWEST: Mike Walker Makes Winston West Plans for Irwindale

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 15, 2001

July 15, 2001 (North Hollywood, Calif.) - When the NASCAR Winston West Series visits Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway for this Saturday's Food 4 Less 250, look for Mike Walker, co-owner of Team Walker Motorsports and driver of the #23 Team Walker/Ron's Rear Ends/Quixote/Sunset Expendables/NAPA Chevrolet in Irwindale's Super Late Model division, among the entries.

Walker will attempt to qualify his newly built #46 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Winston West car with a solid run. Once the racing begins, Walker's next goal will be to hold his own against the Winston West regulars, stay out of trouble and be there at the end of the race.

Walker is laying the groundwork for an eventual full-time involvement in the Winston West Series. Although the timeline for his transition into the Winston West has not yet been set, Walker is beginning the process of acclimating to the cars and entering races that will grow his driving skills within the series.

"Irwindale is a good place to begin the process of transitioning into the Winston West," noted Walker. "I race there full-time in Irwindale's Super Late Model program, so I have track familiarity on my side. This will be a shakedown race for us. We're planning to take this step-by-step. We're going to make an honest attempt to qualify for and finish the race, go back to the shop, evaluate every detail, then set our next goal."

Walker could enter another Winston West event as soon as the September 1st race at Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City, Utah. He and the team are planning a test session at the 3/8-mile oval in August, and will evaluate the possibility of entering the race at that time.

Walker began his racing career in the Pomona drags at age 17, where his was the fastest non-import car in 1996. From 1997 to 1999, he competed at Orange Show Raceway in San Bernadino, Calif. where he won two rookie-of-the-year awards in Late Model cars and Spec Trucks.

He is currently a full-time competitor in Irwindale Speedway's Super Late Model program, and set his career first fast time in the program earlier this month with a qualifying lap of 18.211 seconds around the half-mile oval.

Team-mate Sean Woodside, who is a regular in the Winston West Series, will not only be racing to solidify his championship standings in the series, but will also be there to support Walker in his effort.

Team Walker Motorsports is a multi-team racing operation owned by Donna Walker and her son, Michael. The team fields the #45 Team Walker/Ron's Rear Ends/NAPA Chevrolet in the NASCAR Winston West Series, featuring driver Sean Woodside, and the #23 Team Walker/Ron's Rear Ends/Quixote/Sunset Expendables/NAPA Chevrolet in Irwindale Speedway's Super Late Model program, driven by Mike Walker. North Hollywood, Calif.-based Team Walker Motorsports debuted in 1999 with a limited Late Model schedule.

Text provided by Donna Walker

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