RACE REPORTS - JULY 27 PLUS HALL OF FAME

JULY 27 RACE REPORTS:
CAMERON HOLDS OFF NORRIS TO WIN AT IRWINDALE 
 
Austin Cameron held off a hard charging Eric Norris to win the JaniKing 200 NASCAR Winston West Series at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on Saturday night.

Norris, who took advantage of a late-race caution to get fresh tires, charged from fifth place to second in the final nine laps. Although Norris quickly closed in on the leader, Cameron was able to cross the finish line with a margin of victory of .347 of a second.

Kevin Richards took third, followed by Greg Pursley and Johnny Borneman.

Norris, who was a lap down to the leader just past the midway point of the race, took advantage of green flag pit stops to get back on the lead lap.

JaniKing 200 
7/28/2002 2:57:17 AM
    IRWINDALE, Calif. - Final leaders of Saturday's $122,659 NASCAR Winston West Series stock car race with driver's starting position in parenthesis, hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out if any and prize money.
  1.  (1) Austin Cameron, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 200, 76.062 mph, $12,766
  2. (10) Eric Norris, Dana Point, Calif., Ford Taurus, 200, $6,878
  3.  (4) Kevin Richards, Spokane, Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 200, $4,458
  4.  (6) Greg Pursley, Newhall, Calif., Ford Taurus, 200, $3,976
  5.  (8) Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford Taurus, 200, $3,293
  6.  (2) Scott Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 199, $3,119
  7.  (7) Mike David, Modesto, Calif., Ford Taurus, 199, $2,268
  8. (14) Brandon Ash, Umpqua, Ore., Ford Taurus, 199, $2,718
  9.  (5) Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 199, $2,618
10. (21) Todd Burns, Riverside, Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 198, $1,500
11.  (9) Mike Duncan, Lamont, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 198, $1,718
12. (12) David Gilliland, Chino, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 198, $1,668
13. (20) Jeff Davis, Anaheim Hills, Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 196, $1,643
14. (11) Dusty Fielden, Tucson, Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 195, $1,125
15.  (3) Tim Woods III, Chino Hills, Calif., Ford Taurus, 179, Overheating, $2,443
16. (13) Takuma Koga, Japan, Pontiac Grand Prix, 168, $1,075
17. (19) Travis Wieden, Arnett, Okla., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 115, Valve, $1,050
18. (18) Bobby Hillis, Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 80, Electrical, $1,493
19. (16) Gene Woods, Ontario, Calif., Dodge Intrepid, 8, Accident, $1,000
20. (17) Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 7, Fuel Pump, $2,218
21. (15) Clint Vahsholtz, Woodland Park, Colo., Ford Taurus, 6, Accident, $1,000
Did not qualify: (0)   
Time of race: 1 hour 18 minutes 53 seconds
Margin of victory: .347 seconds
Caution flags: Two for 15 (9-23, 187-191)
Lap leaders: Austin Cameron-grid, Scott Gaylord 1-55, Kevin Richards 56-90, Austin Cameron 91-134, Mike David 135, Johnny Borneman 136, Eric Norris 137-139, Richards 140-174, Cameron 175-200.
Eight lead changes among six drivers.
NASCAR Winston West Series Championship Standings: 1. Eric Norris 1009, 2. Austin Cameron 967,
3. Kevin Richards 931, 4. Mike Duncan 875, 5. Mike David 859, 6. Greg Pursley 850, 7. Brandon Ash 835, 8. Johnny Borneman 834, 9. Scott Gaylord 812, 10. Brett Thompson 796.
unofficial
 
-NASCAR

AUTO CLUB LATE MODELS &
GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS

Rookie Scott Youngren utilized his outside front row starting position to impress fellow drivers and a sellout crowd of 6,500 Saturday at Irwindale Speedway. The driver from Fallbrook won his second consecutive Automobile Club of Southern California NASCAR Late Model feature in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge. The second sellout crowd of the season later witnessed a NASCAR Winston West 200-lap race. (See separate W/W story from NASCAR.) 

When fastest qualifier Tim Huddleston spun the inversion wheel after time trials it stopped on nine. That awarded eighth quickest qualifier Youngren the choice outside front row starting position. After second and first place finishes in the last two mains, Youngren's growing confidence in himself and his No. 45 Chevy Monte Carlo produced his impressive victory. 

Earlier, fastest qualifier Roger Carufel, Jr started sixth in the opening 35-lap main event for NASCAR Grand American Modifieds. Point leader Carufel won his fifth main event of eight GAM races run this season. He finished second in the three races he didn't win. He became the third and final race leader on lap seven and won by 1.686 seconds over Travis Thirkettle. Carufel increased his point lead to 66 as he attempts to capture his initial track championship. 

Youngren dropped to third place on the opening lap, behind pole starter George Ruark and defending track champion Dave Hessing. Youngren nipped Hessing for second on lap two; he then passed leader Ruark on the inside at turn four during lap five. Ruark fought back and led lap six, but Youngren was back in front for good on lap seven. 

Three caution flags occurred, including a lap 34 turn two crash that 
sidelined the cars of sixth place Ruark, ninth-place rookie Jeff Green, the two-time super stock track champion, and Jim Conklin. Youngren had a steady 30-yard advantage over the position-swapping duo of Mike Price and Todd Burns on lap 49 when a spinout in the first turn caused a yellow flag. The result when racing resumed was another hectic green, white, checkered flag two-lap race. 

Youngren pulled away quickly to a ten-yard cushion over sixth-starter Price and seventh-starter Burns. The two second-place battlers traded second position four times officially at the line during the final ten laps. Price took second for good during lap 43. Kevin Wood started and finished fourth in his Ford Taurus. 

Deryk Ward (aka "The X-Man") posted the fourth fastest qualifying time, but his car failed the post-qualifying technical inspection. He forfeited his position in the trophy dash and had to start last in the 22-car feature after his time was disallowed. Ward earned the hard charger award and post-race interview after he charged forward to a fifth place finish with 17 cars racing at the finish. Sixteen drivers ran all 50 laps. 

Winner Youngren, 32, told the appreciative crowd, "With just two years racing experience at Cajon Speedway, I didn't expect to win here in my rookie year and to get two main events in a row is awesome. To have a green, white, checker finish (with the last two laps pressure) makes it even better." The winner is one of 13 drivers currently using a General Motors "spec" engine. 

Runner-up Price congratulated Youngren at the finish line after the top three finishers climbed from their cars for interviews. "This rookie is showing us veterans how to drive." Third place Burns increased his 24-point lead over Huddleston to 30-points (532 to 502). Youngren advanced from tenth to ninth in points. Following his Late Model third place run in his Monte Carlo, Burns then started his Pontiac Grand Prix 21st in the Winston West 200. He finished tenth in his second W/W career start and first W/W attempt this season. 

Wood started on the pole in the six-lap trophy dash. His No. 34 Ford led the first three laps before Burns passed him on the inside and led laps four and five. Wood got a run on the outside in turns three and four on the last lap and defeated Burns by 0.072 seconds in a thriller that brought fans to their feet. 

In the GAM feature, Lloyd Mack, Jr-the younger brother of Indy Racing League and 2002 Indy 500 rookie George Mack-made his initial series start of the season from the pole as the sixth fastest qualifier. Mack led the first two laps before relinquishing the lead to Eddie "the Eagle" Ernst, who paced the next four circuits. Carufel took charge on the seventh lap. Ernst later slowed with a problem, lost two laps and finished 13th. 

Thirkettle's runner-up finish was his second in a row. John Watkinson III was third and Charlie Wahl fourth. Mack finished fifth, as seven drivers completed all 35 trips around the banked half-mile. Three of the 16 actual starters in the 18-car announced lineup did not finish. 

GRAND AMERICAN MODIFIEDS: 
Fast Time: Roger Carufel, Jr, 18.749. 
Main: Carufel, Travis Thirkettle, John Watkinson III, Charlie Wahl, Lloyd Mack, Jr, Robert Rice, Joe Ruggles, Dennis Schlarbaum, Richie Altman, Tim Morse, Joe Nuccitelli, Mike Trottochau, Eddie Ernst, Chuck Foreman, Dennis Eckert, Garrett Yamada.
 
AUTO CLUB of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LATE MODELS: 
Fast Time: Tim Huddleston, 19.367. 
Dash: Kevin Wood, Todd Burns, Mike Price, Jess Flores, Dave Hessing, Huddleston. 
Main: Scott Youngren, Price, Burns, Wood, Deryk Ward, Huddleston, Mike 
Johnson, Ron Schartau, Johnny Lathrop, John Ahrendt, Tom Eurton, Johnny Butler, Barry Karrr, Tim Harris, Pat Ackley, John Cran, Hessing, Eugene Dewberry, Flores, George Ruark, Jeff Green, Jim Conklin.   

-Tim Kennedy

WEST COAST STOCK CAR HALL OF FAME 
INDUCTS FIRST 30 MEMBERS

The first annual West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame banquet took place Friday at the Sheraton-Four Points Monrovia here on the eve of the NASCAR Winston West Jani-King 200 at nearby Irwindale Speedway. The initial 30 inductees were honored in ceremonies attended by approximately 200 persons, including NASCAR Chairman Bill France, Jr, NASCAR executives Brian France and Paul Brooks who flew from Florida for the ceremonies. Winston West executive Mike Verlatti also attended. 

The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame honors drivers, car owners, 
mechanics, officials and race promoters/organizers who have made significant contributions to the success and colorful history of stock car racing in the West. Tim Meyer, editor/publisher of Racing News West, was instrumental in making the hall of fame a reality. The second annual induction ceremonies and third West Coast Stock Car Reunion are scheduled to take place on the Winston West race weekend at Irwindale Speedway in the 2003 season. 

Honorees and guests attended the NASCAR Winston West race and second annual West Coast Stock Car Reunion Saturday from 4to 7PM at the Speedway. They met fans and signed autographs again this year in the track's chalet village area and during the King Taco On-Track Autograph Session. Jack McCoy's purple No. 7 high-winged Dodge Daytona, a vintage No. 29 Hudson Hornet that still started, and Don Basile's No. 15 1946 Ford coupe post-WW II stock car from Carrell Speedway were on display. 

Following dinner Friday at 7:00 p.m., the Hall of Fame ceremonies 
commenced at 8:00 p.m. Most of the inductee and family members were able to attend. Inducted were 20 drivers, five car owners and five 
officials/promoters. Drivers inducted were: Ray Elder, Bill Amick, Danny Letner, Eddie Gray, Lloyd Dane, Marvin Porter, Ron Hornaday, Sr, Marvin Panch, Hershel McGriff, Scotty Cain, Bill Schmitt, Jack McCoy, Jimmy Insolo, Jim Robinson, Roy Smith, Parnelli Jones, Troy Ruttman, Johnny Soares, Sr, Lou Figaro and Ernie Conn. 

Car owner inductees were: Cos Cancilla, Carl and Jim Dane, Bill Stroppe and tire innovator Bruce Alexander. Race organizers/officials inducted into the hall of fame were: J. C. Agajanian, Ken Clapp, Bob Barkhimer, Charlie Curryer and "Coach" Les Richter - track manager of Riverside International Raceway, a founder of IROC and a NASCAR vice-president. 
-Tim Kennedy