The Pepsi Super Late Models Return To Toyota Speedway Saturday Night

Indian Guides Night at Toyota Speedway
AKA: “Stop Nick Joanides Saturday” April 24

Irwindale, Calif. - - Honestly it’s not the official name of the evening’s racing program this Saturday night at Toyota Speedway (that’s "Indian Guides Night"), but it might as well be.  Nick Joanides, double 2009 champion (Super Late and Late Model divisions) seems to be on his way to some sort of total domination of the Speedway’s top division early-on in the season, and this Saturday he’s got twin chances to win in the track’s premier Pepsi Super Late Models since there are two complete point-paying races for the big boomers.  

The Woodland Hills driver has gone two for two in the first races of the season and built up a heavy early season lead of 22 points over co-second-placer Randall King of Fontana and Justin Johnson of Las Vegas.  The fear of Joanides (even this early in the season) stems from the fact that last year he won 13 of the 21 SLM races, was second 5 times and his worst finish all year was a fifth place!

Ryan Reed from Bakersfield, Jimmy Parker (Las Vegas too!), and Mira Loman Scott Dodd round out the six drivers who come into Irwindale this Saturday in the top five places in the Pepsi-backed class.  For the record, their points tallies are 82, 76, and 74.  Competitive?  No lie!

Of course, Saturday night will be a fun one for hundreds of youngsters and their families as Toyota Speedway celebrates its annual Indian Guides Night.  “We’ve had the Indian Guides here at the Speedway every year since 2002; these youngsters and their folks are always welcome here,”  said track GM Bob De Fazio.  “These nights are just our way of saying THANK YOU to all the good folks and great kids who are part of this highly-respected adventure.”  

PHOTO OP: (As of this writing, nearly 400 folks have signed-on to help get the proceedings kicked off during Saturday night’s on track opening ceremonies with the flag salute and pledge.)

Multi-time Toyota Speedway champion Tim Huddleston from Agoura Hills, himself an Indian Guides leader (and the guy who originally brought the Guides to the Speedway), will be driving his #50 YMCA-sponsored machine in the race.  “This is always a special night for our family (both sons have been active in the association) and then there’s the fact that this is twin race night,”  Huddleston told us.  “If you’re at all serious about running for the points championship, this is a must do well night at the Speedway.  There’s a full 100 points up for grabs, and no one can afford NOT to be going for it in both shows!”  In fact, most of the track wags would call this one a more a “must NOT do poorly night”  bad finishes, or worse still, twin DNFs could be a season-slayer even this early in the racing year.

Also on the “NASCARD” for Saturday night are the new Langer’s Juice S2 spec racer division and the always-entertaining Justice Brothers Mini Stocks.  

There’s a very close contest (2 points!) for first place in the S2’s after the first pair of races between second-generation drivers Travis Thirkettle (Fillmore) and Rod Johnson Jr. (Canyon Country) 96 points versus 94.  

Not to sound repetitious … But, the Mini’s have the same points gap (2) after their first two races.  Riverside’s Jacob Rogers and Sunland’s Darryl Scoggins are doorhandle-to-doorhandle at 96 to 94 too!  The difference is that the Mini-Stocks run the tighter inside third-mile that’s far flatter than the big, banked half-mile and that facts favors handling over horsepower.

In the South West Tour Truck Series Jeff Williams from Newbury Park also brings a perfect two for two win record into the Speedway.  However his 100 points are only six ahead of the log jam in second that stars Hemet’s Michael Zimmerman and Arcadia’s Neil Conrad who finished third and second and second and third in the first two goarounds in Irwindale and who both have a tidy 94 points each.

The Drivetech Racing Series is dedicated to the driver being the difference, using equally-prepared Late Models, each car equipped with the powerful and predictable Chevrolet ZZ-4 crate motor, 10 inch racing slicks, and quick change rear-ends.  The drivers in this division “arrive-and-drive”, each car is identical and all they have to bring to the track is their driving uniform, their helmet, and the desire to drive a stock car faster than the other guy.

And just for the fun of it the Speedway will stage one of their  “YOU’VE GOT TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT” events.  This one will pit about eight or 10 machines pulling trailers (what?) and all racing against each other on the tight third-mile oval (and, just for stuff and giggles, the officials pick the direction the race will run just before the race starts).  The stage direction for this event is simple:  “action ensues”.   

Trailer Racing is best described as speed meets slamdancing.  

QUESTION:  What other high-quality consumer outdoor entertainment product has carried the same price for the past 12 years?   

HERE’S ONE: Since opening night 1999 Toyota Speedway at Irwindale has had the same affordable regular adult admission price, only $15.00.  

Oh yeah … children (bring ALL the kids, we love ‘em!) under 12 are always free, seniors pay only 12 bucks, and students under 18 are in for ½ price ($7.50). 

Toyota Speedway is located in Irwindale right on the 605 Freeway at the 210, just a few miles North of the 10, with acres of close-in parking, and 6,500 great seats, a super sound system, and a pre-race on-track autograph party every week at 5:45.   It’s a terrific way for racing fans to enjoy exciting NASCAR entertainment almost every Saturday night from late March through mid-October.  Gates open at 4PM and racing starts at 7PM.

Tickets Saturday night and the entire 2010 NASCAR Home Track season at Toyota Speedway are NOW available on-line 24/7 at: www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com. Or call: 626-358-1100

BACKGROUNDER: The YMCA Adventure Guide Program is an evolution of the original YMCA parent-child program called Indian Guides. The father and son Y-Indian Guide program was developed in 1926 to support the father’s vital family role as teacher, counselor, and friend to his son. Harold S. Keltner, a YMCA director in St. Louis, initiated this program around a blazing campfire while he was on a hunting trip in Canada with his friend, Joe Friday, an Ojibwa Indian. Friday told him, “The Indian father raises his son. He teaches his son to hunt, track, and fish, walk softly and silently in the forest, know the meaning and purpose of life and all he must know, while the white man allows the mother to raise his son.” These words struck a chord for Keltner, and he arranged for Joe Friday to work with him at the St. Louis YMCA.

After World War II, the rise in YMCAs that served the whole family, the need for supporting young girls in their personal growth, and the demonstrated success of the father–son program nurtured the development of other parent–child programs. A mother–daughter program, called Y-Indian Maidens, was established in South Bend, Indiana, in 1951. Three years later, father–daughter groups, called Y-Indian Princesses, emerged in the Fresno YMCA of California. In 1980, the national YMCA recognized the Y-Indian Braves Program for mothers and sons, thus completing the four programs and combinations that made up the Y-Indian Guide Programs.

For 75 years, the program was the cornerstone for family programs in YMCAs across the country. But it is a different world today than it was in 1926. Native Americans and other citizens expressed concern over program participants’ adopting the Indian culture and teaching children about Native American life in ways they deemed inaccurate or stereotypical. The YMCA’s commitment to being a caring, honest, respectful, and responsible organization; changing demographics resulting in diverse communities and diverse family structures; and an evolving cultural sensitivity and better understanding of Native American history all prompted YMCAs across the country to re-evaluate their parent–child programs.

One of the strengths of YMCAs both locally and nationally is that they have adapted and responded to societal changes in order to remain relevant and useful to their communities. From late 2000 to mid 2003 YMCA staff and volunteers from across the country met on several occasions to craft a parent-child program that had a broader appeal. In the summer and fall of 2003, YMCA Adventure Guides was launched in YMCA communities everywhere.  (information courtesy YMCA)