Shav Glick Night March11 at Irwindale Speedway

Irwindale, Calif. -  -  In honor of his 50-plus years at the Los Angeles Times and in appreciation for everything that he's done to further the sport of motoracing, Shav Glick, one of the most respected names in newspaper journalism, will be honored at Irwindale Speedway when long time track sponsor Advantage Ford presents Opening Night Eight.  “Shav Glick Night” is set for Saturday, March 11, 2006.  

After half a century of expert observation and even better exposition, Glick departed the newspaper on January 16, 2006 putting another paragraph in his personal curriculum vitae as a sport journalist that goes back some 70 years to when he was a teenager in Pasadena.

“He's been here with us at Irwindale since before day one, following and writing about our planning, our building, and, for the past eight years, the racing that goes on at this track.   At times we almost took this wonderfully modest man for granted,”  said track GM Bob DeFazio.  

“While Shav's work is considered the gold standard in his chosen field, we have always simply considered him a good friend.  He was regular at events even when he wasn't on assignment and often stopped by the operations offices during the week, not to get a story, but just to say hello to some his many friends working here.  We fully expect that he'll continue that tradition.  Don't let on, but we're working on setting up a permanent 'Gold Press Hardcard' for him.”  

A member of a couple of sports Halls of Fame, who even has motorsports award named for him*, Glick's lifelong contribution to the sport has already been honored at a number of private and professionals-only events.  “But our opening night is all of the Saturday night racers and the public's only real open opportunity to salute this man who's LA Times column was required reading every Friday for every true motorsports fan.

Bob DeFazio and track President Jim Williams have put out an open invitation to everyone in motorsports who Shav has ever written about to join them in honoring him on March 11 at Irwindale.  “We know that could be a lot of people, but we really want all of our Irwindale drivers and crew people there from all of our seven previous seasons along with other racers from all the various disciplines,” said Williams.
 
“Shav's work has meant so much to the careers of so many of the top runners, like John Force, Jeremy McGrath, and Irwindale partner Danny Sullivan just to name three, that we think the night will be made special for his fans with the array of local, national, and international talent that turns out to honor the man,” De Fazio added.

Fans are urged to secure their tickets early for this very special opening night on Saturday, March 11 by calling the Irwindale Speedway box office Monday through Friday during regular business hours at (626) 358-1100 or by logging on to the track's website at: www.irwindalespeedway.com.  

On tap that night will be a full card of NASCAR racing action including the Lucas Oil Super Stocks, Auto Club Late Models, Vista Paint Super Stocks, King Taco Super Trucks, and the Mini-Stocks. More detailed information on the season and the competition is available at the track's informative website (above).

FOR MORE INFO. CONTACT:  Bob DeFazio (626) 358-1100

PLEASE NOTE: Any prominent motorsports subjects of Shav's columns, close friends, or fellow journalists who would like to attend as the track's guests that evening should call ahead to the Speedway office and let staff know that they plan on attending prior to Friday February 24, so they can be properly accommodated and recognized at the special event. 

*The prestigious Eagle One-Shav Glick Award is presented annually to the Californian (Shav is a native) who has contributed greatly to the sport of motoracing.  Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby are the co-winners of this year's seventh annual award which is presented by car-care products company Eagle One in honor of the veteran motorsports writer.  Previous winners are: Dan Gurney, Wally Parks, Parnelli Jones, Rick Mears, Les Richter and J.C. Agajanian.