TRACKS: Supercharged Saturday Night Racing Program Will Be Hot at Irwindale
22 July 1999
Irwindale, Calif. - - (July 22, 1999) Irwindale Speedway today announced a revised schedule for the second half of its inaugural season which will concentrate on presenting super-spectacular Saturday night races for the rest of the year. "We're combining the best of our Friday and Saturday night shows into one night of great racing action," said facility VP/COO Ray Wilkings. Saturday, August 7, effectively the mid-point of the 1999 season, will be the first of the new Saturday stand-alone events. "Saturday nights are the best night for racing for everyone concerned: fans, racers, and sponsors. With our revised schedule we expect to see substantially stronger car counts in all our racing divisions and that will make it great for all our fans," Wilkings explained. "This is going to make every Saturday night at Irwindale into a top-drawer event Everyone associated with the operation of the track is very energized about the way the new schedule has worked out." Adding to the excitement of the just-released schedule will be special events like NASCAR Super Late Model "100" on October 9, Late Model "Twin 25's" on August 14 and a "75" on October 23, and Super Stock "Twin 25's" on September 4 and a "50" on October 23. The track's second NASCAR Winston West Series event is scheduled for August 21 and the final (of three at Irwindale this year) NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series Tour event is on tap for October 2. "We're pulling out all the stops for our fans on Saturdays," said Wilkings. "You're going to see some great crowd draws, like "Trucker's Night" coming up on August 14th, and other fun features such as our weekly car club "Parking Lot Shows" and live bands on Irwindale's "Backstage Bandstand" in the manufacturer's display area before every race." Two of three exceptions to the new Saturdays only schedule will be the evenings of Friday, October 15 and November 12. October 15 is the first of two ESPN-televised nights of USAC open wheel racing with TQ Midget and Sprint Car races, along with Coors Silver Bullet Series qualifying. On the 16, the Silver Crown Cars will race along with USAC Midgets, and Formula Russell Cars. The other Friday event will take place on November 12, when the American Race trucks National Finals begins a two-day run at Irwindale which will draw top drivers from around the country along with a Speed Truck and a Pro-4 Modified event on Saturday. The last exception will come on Thanksgiving evening, November 25. That's the night when racing tradition truly is king. On that Thursday evening Irwindale Speedway will proudly host one of the longest-running and most prestigious races in all of motorsports; the annual Turkey Night Grand Prix for United States Auto Club Midget Cars. Drivers, crews and fans from across the United States will converge on the Speedway for what will be the 59th running of the classic event. Irwindale Speedway event information as well as information regarding unique corporate nights "At the Races" as well as special group sales arrangements may be obtained by calling the track offices during regular business hours at (626) 358-1100. General information may also be accessed by calling (toll-free) 888-954-2500 or by clicking www.irwindalespeedway on the world wide web. NEW "SUPER SATURDAYS" SCHEDULE: July 23 (Friday) NASCAR Late Model "Twin 30's", Mini-Stocks, Grand American Modifieds "Twin 25's" July 24 NASCAR Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, Legends Cars July 30 (Friday) NASCAR Late Models "Twin 30's", Street Stocks, Mini-Stocks, American Race Trucks July 31 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks, MSRA Pro-4 Modifieds August 7 USAC TQ Midgets, Sprint Cars, NASCAR Late Models "Twin 30's", CAM 360 Super Modifieds August 14 NASCAR Super Late Models, Grand Am Modifieds, Super Stocks "Twin 25's", Legends Cars August 21 NASCAR Winston West 250, American Cities Racing League, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks August 28 NASCAR Super Late Models, Street Stocks, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Allison Legacy Cars September 4 NASCAR Late Model "Twin 30's",Super Stocks "Twin 25's", American Race Trucks, Legends Cars September 11 NASCAR Super Late Model (double points), Street Stocks, Mini-StocKars, Grand Am Modifieds, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks September 18 NASCAR Late Models, Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks, MSRA Pro-4 Modifieds, Mini-Stocks, Allison Legacy Cars September 25 USAC TQ Midgets, Sprint Cars, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, Legends Cars October 2 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series, Grand American Modifieds, American Cities Racing League October 9 NASCAR Super Late Model "100", MSRA Pro-4 Modifieds, American Race Trucks, Legends Cars October 15 (Friday) USAC TQ Midgets, Sprint Cars, Coors Silver Bullet (Silver Crown) Series - Practice & Qualifying October 16 USAC Coors Silver Bullet (Silver Crown) Series, Midgets, Formula Russell Cars October 23 NASCAR Late Model "75", Super Stocks "50", Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, Mini-Stocks October 30 NASCAR Super Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks, Mini StocKars November 6 USAC Midgets, Sprint Cars, WSMRA Super Modifieds November 12 (Friday) American Race Trucks National Finals, Legends Cars November 13 American Race Trucks National Finals, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, MSRA Pro-4 Modifieds November 20 Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks, MSRA Pro-4 Modifieds, ARCA Trucks Exhibition Event November 25 (Thursday) The 59TH Running of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" for USAC Midget Race Cars This schedule replaces all others 07.20.99
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.