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Tracks: Irwindale's first-ever NASCAR Champion to be crowned in banquet ceremony

6 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Irwindale Speedway will honor all of its six NASCAR Winston Racing Series Champions at it's first Track Champions Banquet to be held at the Glendale Red Lion Hotel on the evening of January 8, 2000.

The six honorees are: Rod Johnson, Dusty McDonald, Larry Krieger, Mike Price, Lee Ladd, and Michael Pope. They raced in the track's: Super Late Model, Late Model, Grand American Modified, Mini-Stock, and Street Stock divisions all of which were sanction by NASCAR as part of the Winston Racing Series.

Veteran driver Rod Johnson from Santa Clarita, California took the points lead early in the NASCAR Super Late Model division early and never looked back. He was never headed in his points lead all season long and capped off his seventeen (plus) years of racing with his first divisional championship. (2 fast times, 3 dash wins, 19 main event starts, 1 win, 13 top five and 17 top ten finishes). On Saturday night Johnson will receive a check for $3000 bringing his total winning for the year to $24,290 in combined awards.

Simi Valley, California's Dusty McDonald lead the Late Models early in the season and stuck to his guns through a complete car and owner change late in the year to win his Irwindale championship by a scant 2 points. ( 5 fast times, 18 main event starts, 4 event wins, 17 top five and 19 top ten finishes). McDonald's winner's check on the 8th will total $2000 bringing his season's take to $18,447 in combined awards.

Larry Krieger from Thousand Oaks, California put up an enviable record at Irwindale Speedway this year, finishing every race that he ran in the top 10. Irwindale's NASCAR Grand American Modifieds were as competitive a division as there was at Irwindale in 1999 and Larry looked good in winning it. (4 fast times, 1 dash win, 18 main event starts, 4 main event wins, 16 top five and 18 top ten finishes). At the banquet, Krieger will pocket a check for $1250 for a combined total of $7,155 in 1999 cash awards.

Mike Price, had to be relieved that there wasn't one just more race in the 1999 season, winning his division's laurels by the very slimmest of margins (2 points). This NASCAR Super Stock driver who hails from San Pedro, California drove every race the same way, for the win. (2 dash wins, 17 main event starts, 2 main event wins, 11 top five and 16 top ten finishes). Price will receive a check for $1250 on Saturday which will give him a combined total of $4,810 in money awards for his work behind the wheel this year.

Lee Ladd was not only a fan favorite, but a friend to many a competitors at Irwindale Speedway in its first year of operation. Thousand Oaks, California resident Ladd raced his NASCAR Mini-Stock Pinto hard and well and to the Championship, but he'll be much better remembered as the guy who helped many other competitors get sponsorships which helped them to "make the show". (1 dash win, 15 main event starts, 4 wins, 11 top five and 14 top ten finishes). When the evening is over Ladd will be looking at a crisp check for $750 which will bring his season's total to $3025 in combined cash awards.

One of only two drivers to compete in all eleven NASCAR Street Stock Division races at Irwindale Speedway in 1999, Mike Pope won his track Championship with consistency. By the way, this Orange, California man took the title in his very first year of racing. (2 fast times, 1 dash win, 11 main event starts, 2 wins, 11 top five and 11 top ten finishes). Adding a tidy check for $750 will bring Pope's total yearly winnings to $3,300 at the Red Lion.

The above combined cash awards are from Irwindale Speedway, NASCAR, Winston, the Winston Racing Series, STP, Edelbrock, and J&E Pistons.

In addition to the six above track champs, each of the top 15 drivers in each division will each be called up to the podium on Saturday night to receive a special trophy recognizing their participation in Irwindale Speedway's inaugural season. NASCAR Racing in the 2000 season will commence on March 25 at Irwindale with tickets for that season opener and all other events going on sale on February 15th.

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.