THE KENNEDY RACE REPORT - MAY 21, 2005

IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY RACE REPORT 
By Tim Kennedy
 
Irwindale, CA., May 21 - Second generation driver Travis Thirkettle 
started on the pole as the third fastest qualifier and led 47 laps of the Auto Club 
Late Model 50-lap main event Saturday at the half-mile Irwindale Speedway. He 
led the first two laps, then laps five-48 and the all-important 50th lap for 
his first NASCAR Late Model $1,000 payday following a furious last lap battle 
with fellow front row starter and High Point Distributing co-worker Tim 
Huddleston. 
 
Thirkettle, a 27-year old Grand American Modified veteran at IS, 
dedicated the victory to his four-month old son Luc. The winner lost the lead to 
Huddleston's inside pass from turn four to the starting line at the end of lap 49. 
Huddleston led laps three and four and waged a close battle with Thirkettle 
all 50 laps with Thirkettle on the outside and Huddleston on the inside. The two 
drivers appeared set for their third consecutive one-two finish, with 
Huddleston the apparent winner.
 
However, Thirkettle roared back during the final lap on the outside 
through the third and fourth turns and forged into a narrow lead exiting turn four. 
As the leading duo raced towards the waving checkered flag, Thirkettle's left 
side door and Huddleston's right side door made contact, sending Huddleston's 
Monte Carlo spinning across the finish line. He was second by 0.045 seconds 
to Thirkettle's Monte Carlo. Huddleston's car spun tail first towards the 
attenuator at the first turn crash-wall between the third and half-mile tracks, 
missing it by inches. The left side of Huddleston's car hit the third-mile first 
turn wall and slid along the wall to a stop with damage to the lower left 
front suspension. He drove the car back to the finish line for interviews of the 
top three finishers and congratulated Thirkettle.
 
Thirkettle, the son of long-time stock car racer Jim Thirkettle, became 
the third Late Model rookie winner this season. Rookies have won four of the 
seven races this year, but veteran Huddleston's three victories and a pair of 
seconds have given him a point lead of 42. Thirkettle, who has GAM main event 
triumphs and a second place in final GAM points in his racing resume, now ranks 
fourth in IS Late Model points. He is the leading rookie in the strongest 
rookie class in track history.
 
Dan DiGiamarino equaled his Late Model career best third place finish. 
Mike Johnson and George Ruark completed the top five. Seventeen of 21 starters 
finished and 14 drivers ran all 50 laps. Ninth place Scott Youngren received 
the hard charger award from race control. Three caution flags for multi-car 
tangles sidelined five cars and sent two drivers to the back of the lead lap for 
their involvement in the mishaps. 
 
Matt Hicks, from Santee in San Diego County, joined the ranks of 
first-time main event winners in a 32-car King Taco Legend Car field. He led all but 
the first lap of a 35-lap main on the third-mile. The teenager and second year 
Legends driver waged a stirring battle with three-time IS Legends champion and 
20-time feature winner Tom Landreth, who paced the first lap in his replica 
1934 Ford coupe. Poleman Landreth, a two-time main event winner this season, 
trailed by 0.195 seconds at the finish. Seven-year veteran Landreth, 37, and 
Hicks concluded the evening tied for the IS point-lead at 190 points after four 
of 11 races. J. D. Hendley, Steve Twilligear and Kenton Gray rounded out the 
top five finishers. Twenty-nine of the 32 starters finished and 28 drivers ran 
all 35 circuits in a five-caution flag event. 
 
A $2,000 ten-car demolition derby in the infield concluded evening. 
Tyrone Klingbeil, from Hemet, drove the final car running after 13-minutes and 
collected $1,000. Steve Cook earned $500 for second place. Varick Pimenta ($250), 
Chuck Gillock ($150) and past DD winner John Zimmerman ($100) were the other 
money earners.
 
The touring Monster Trucks brigade brought eight of the behemoths to IS. 
They staged individual time trials over two dirt ramps and two cushioning 
piles of old cars in the infield. The fastest time was 21.25. Monster Truck 
bracket match races of two laps followed the Legends main and went to Dan Runte in 
his famous Summit Racing Equipment Big Foot. Monster Truck free-style 
exhibition matches followed the Late Model feature and preceded the demolition derby.
 

KING TACO LEGEND CARS: (32 cars)
 
Fast Time: Ryan Partridge, 17.005.
 
Main: Matt Hicks, Tom Landreth, J. D. Hendley, Steve Twilligear, Kenton Gray, 
Cory Miles, Lindsay King, Bob Landreth, John Barnett, John London, Mark 
Gaiser, Bill Bonney, Connor Cantrell, Jason Alsop, Brian Wong, Ryan Schug, Chad 
Schug, Lynn Sours, Tom Skahill, Bill Watson, Larry Alsop, Brian Vandehey, Van 
Iungerich, Larry Stone, Bree Brewer, Ed Rashid, Don Teller, Kevin Wong, Kenny 
Chastain, Larry Meredith, Partridge, John McIntyre. 
 
AUTO CLUB LATE MODELS: (21 cars)
 
Fast Time: Jameel Saied, 19.156.
 
Main: Travis Thirkettle, Tim Huddleston, Dan DiGiamarino, Mike Johnson, 
George Ruark, Craig Yeaton, Brian Jones, Daniel DiGiacomo, Scott Youngren, Robert 
Rice, Austin Grabowski, Brian Kelley, Danny Renko, Chris Houwen, Dennis 
Schlarbaum, Johnny White, Richie Altman, Candace Muzny, Sean Bennett, David Whitson, 
Saied.
 
Demo Derby: (10 cars)

(Top five)--Tyrone Klingbeil, Steve Cook, Varick Pinenta, Chuck Gillock, John 
Zimmerman. Others-Al Rocha, Joel Mumford, Kenny Hall, Harry Kuenniger, 
Enrique Gomez.
 
Monster Trucks: (8 trucks)
 
Winner-Bracket Racing-Dan Runte in Summit Racing Equipment Big Foot.