Tracks: Irwindale Speedway to host 'Fan Appreciation Night' November 20
14 November 1999
Irwindale, Calif. - - On "Fan Appreciation" Saturday night, November 20th, all fans and their families will be able to fulfill what, for many, has been a season-long fantasy and finally take a couple of "victory laps" around the banks of Irwindale Speedway in their own car. For a $10 donation to charity (The Ronald McDonald House), fans will be invited to take what will be some of the "last public laps of the century" up on the 12-degree high banks of one of America's great ½-mile paved ovals where drivers like Ron Hornaday, Rod Johnson, Mike Wallace, Wally Pankratz, Jason Leffler, Clint Mears, Dennis Arena, Larry Krieger, Mike Price, Jack Hewitt, Lee Ladd, Michael Pope, Bud Kaeding, Jimmy Sills, Sean Woodside and a thousand other driving stars have raced this season. "… Of course they won't be going at racing speeds on these laps," said Speedway VP, Robert A. (Bob) DeFazio. "Bruce Flanders, one of our "voices" at Irwindale, has volunteered to pace the fan parade in our Advantage Ford Mustang pace car. Bruce was in the meeting when we discussed this event, and he was very enthusiastic about it." The drive-around event will take place after the final race of the evening with participating vehicles being asked to stage at the South track gate behind turn 3. From there they will be sent onto the track through the "cold" staging entrance. After their two victory lap fans will exit via the race track exit in turn 1 and return to Speedway Drive via "Billboard Row" along the southernmost perimeter of the Speedway. Only standard-size cars, pickups, and vans can be accommodated in this event. In addition to the ability to take a lap on the race track for charity, all fans purchasing a ticket on Saturday night will receive a die-cast Irwindale Speedway collectors-edition model car (choice of a Sprint Car or Stock Car … while supplies last). The track's souvenir stands will feature deep discounts on all merchandise, and there are a number of special giveaways scheduled throughout the evening's event. On the racing card for Fan Appreciation Night is a full slate of racing action that leads off with the Ultra Wheels Spec Trucks, follows up with the MSRA Pro-4 Modifieds' season-ender, continues with a special exhibition race for the new West Coast ARCA Trucks, and has those wild Figure 8 Racers batting clean-up. Fans 12 and under will be admitted free (with adult admissions) and everyone in attendance will have their choice of a FREE Irwindale Speedway collectable die-cast model Sprint Car or Stock Car as they enter the grandstand gates. Many other surprises are planned for fans on that night, but if we told you about them they wouldn't be surprises, would they? The track's on-site ticket office opens at noon, Grandstands open at 2:00 p.m. Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. and Racing at 7:00 p.m.