IRWINDALE RACE REPORT ... TIM KENNEDY TAKES IN THE SEPTEMBER 10 SHOW ...

Irwindale CA., Sept. 10 - RACE REPORT BY TIM KENNEDY

Rod Johnson led all 75-laps of the Lucas Oil Super Late Models 25-car feature Saturday on the banked, half-mile Irwindale Speedway. Johnson, the IS 1999 SLM champion, jumped from fourth to second place in points, 38 behind the leader with the final point race scheduled next Saturday. Other winners were Bryan Harrell in a 40-lap Vista Paint Super Stock race on the half-mile, Greg Tucker in a 35-lap Grand American Modified event on the third-mile, and Steve Stewart in a 25-lap Pick Your Part Figure 8 contest.  Mark Whitson won a Justice Brothers Pure Stock 35-lap main on the third-mile and Michelle Rouse took the Pure Stock women's league race. 
A crowd of almost 4,000 included 60+ evacuees from the Gulf States following Hurricane Katrina. Families and individuals who did not go to Disneyland accepted the offer from Irwindale Speedway management of free admission to enjoy a night of NASCAR racing and complimentary food from track concessions.  Foothill Transit provided free of charge two busses and transported all of the displaced persons from their Dream Center residence in Los Angeles to the track and back to their local housing after the final race. When asked for their thoughts as they departed at 10:00 p.m the evacuees used words such as “wonderful” and “fun” followed by smiles. They said the racing night took their thoughts from their losses for a few hours.
Movie actress Sandra Bullock, who attended to watch her husband of two months (Jesse James) compete in the Figure 8 race, hosted a number of the evacuees in her suite.  Bullock and James, host/star of “Monster Garage” on the Discovery Channel, also signed autographs and posed for photos with hurricane evacuees earlier in the evening. 
James later became part of a controversial fracas during the 11-car, 25-lap Figure 8 race that concluded racing at 9:50 p.m. James started seventh and had his self-built, winged creation in fourth place on lap 17 when his bumper hooked Harry Kuenniger's bumper at the X intersection. James continued, but Kuenniger's car stopped. 
What followed was bizarre. Kuenniger drove against oncoming cars towards turn three and just missed James' passing car. He went out of his way and tried to ram James' car two more times. On the final attempt Kuenniger cut from turn three and rammed the right side of James' car as it exited turn four.  Kuenniger left his car and jumped up and down on James' car. James emerged and fists flew before the two angry drivers were separated. An Irwindale Police patrol car at the track for traffic control drove onto the track and into the infield. Officers put Kuenniger in the police car and removed him from the premises.
Hurricane evacuees and track regulars watched the conclusion of the Figure 8 race after an eight-minute red flag. Figure 8 point leader Stewart took charge on lap 12 and won his seventh of eight mains run this year. He became the second 2005 IS track champion with one race remaining. Earl Cox led the first 11 laps and finished second. Interestingly, with a $2,000 Figure 8 purse (and $1,000 to win) two GAM cars competed and they finished fifth and sixth, down two laps. 
SLM winner Johnson's Chevy Monte Carlo carried the name Dream Center on the rear quarter panel in tribute to the church-affiliated organization that brought Hurricane Katrina evacuees to Los Angeles and is housing them at the former Queen of Angels Hospital near Echo Park. Following his third victory in 17 races this season, Johnson addressed the crowd from the front straight. He said, “I want to dedicate this win to all the people here tonight from the Dream Center. I hope it helps you out, at least for awhile.” Johnson was to start fourth but he moved up to second on a pace lap when Jim McGill pitted to correct a problem. 
SLM rookie Andrew Phipps, the third fastest qualifier, started first and finished second in the Bruncati Sunrise Ford Taurus. The GAM 2003-04 track champion now leads the standings by 38 points with only one race and 50-points maximum remaining. The 28-year old second-generation driver, who has five SLM victories this year and is in line to win three championships in a row, has a 2005-ride only with the Bruncati team. He is seeking a 2006 ride, hopefully in NASCAR's Elite Division Southwest Series. Third place in SLM ceremonies was seventh starter Brian Barron, who raced the backup Russell White Chevy. Barron drove his own No. 96 SLM successfully during Irwindale's inaugural season, his last as an active racer. He has been working for the California Speedway, Fontana driving school as a driving instructor. Barron proved he still could compete for a track championship as he did seven years ago. 
The SLM 34-minute race had three caution flags, including one for IS title-hopeful Todd Southwell, the fastest qualifier. He started third and was running third on lap 11 when his car started smoking with a tire problem. Smoke subsided to lap 30 when a front tire lost pressure and went flat, but Southwell rode around on the rim for several laps hoping for a caution before he was black flagged. He parked in the infield but was too close to the half-mile, causing a yellow flag. Southwell drove to the pits where his crew put on a new tire and he rejoined the race, losing one lap under the yellow. Southwell restarted on the inside line next to leader Johnson and ran with the leaders to the end. However, he could not regain his lost lap, despite two subsequent cautions for minor spinouts, and finished 16th. Southwell led track points most of the season but two recent engine problems resulted in DNFs. His latest misfortune dropped him from second to fourth in driver rankings, 58-points behind leader Phipps. 
GAM fastest qualifier Tucker, a mini stock veteran and GAM rookie, took command of the 35-lap GAM event on lap 20 via an outside pass of point leader Joe Ruggles, the leader of the first 19 laps. It was Tucker's second GAM victory. John Watkinson took second on lap 21 and trailed Tucker by half a straight.  Ruggles settled for third, a straight-away in back of Watkinson. They were the only drivers on the lead lap as all nine starters finished the nine-minute race. 
Harrell started second in his Camaro and led all 40 laps of the S/S main for his first triumph this year. Quickest qualifier/third starter Lee Ladd took second on lap five and trailed by 1.374 seconds at the conclusion. Third finisher Jimmy Sloan, who started eighth, finished four seconds back. The second year S/S driver became the new point leader by six points (544-538) over former point leader Robin Bourgeois, who started sixth and finished eighth.  Eighteen of 20 starters finished. Two point races remain. Hard charger award recipients were Larry Cerquettini (S/S) and Stephen Peach (SLM). 
For complete results go to www.irwindalespeedway.com. <http://www.irwindalespeedway.com.>
 TK

Fans are also reminded that if they make a cash donation to the American Red Cross for the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief efforts they'll receive two free tickets for an upcoming race at the Speedway. 

Donations can be made at the track's administration offices during regular business hours and/or at the one of track's souvenir stands during racing events. This offer will stay in effect through the end of the 2005 season. 



THANKS!
-STOKES