Tracks: May 27 races at Irwindale kick off Memorial Day Weekend
25 May 2000
Irwindale, Calif. - - IMPORTANT FAN ADVISORY: Fans are advised to get their seats early for what promises to be the kick-off event of the whole Memorial Day Weekend. On Saturday evening, May 27 Irwindale Speedway will feature four great main events, one each for the sharp NASCAR Super Stocks and the speedy Mini-Stockars, and twin 50-lap races for the spectacularly-competitive Food 4 Less Super Late Models. Of course that's only after the trophy dashes and B-Mains have stirred things up to a fine pitch earlier in the night. Round 2 of the Miller Lite "Big 10" Challenge is also on tap, and the $5,000 first place prize for the driver accruing the most season's points in these ten special races looms large on everyone in the Super Late Model division's radar screens. Leading in season's points going in is the #89 car of Greg Voigt from Goleta whose seventh place finish last week in a banged-up race car was good enough to keep him at the head of the tough division. Young North Hills phenom Ben Walker not only won last weeks' 75-lap featured main event, but the highly-publicized "Food 4 Less Fast 4 Shoot-Out" which paid the winning driver $1000 for four laps of work earlier in the evening. The competition in the Food 4 Less Super Late Models just seems to get hotter and hotter as the season goes on. After his win Walker took Irwindale Speedway's first-ever "Polish victory lap" dedicating the gesture and his double wins to the memory of the late Adam Petty. "It's something that really touched me because we were both the same age …" Walker told the fans in his victory circle interview. Fans are further advised to get to the race track early for numerous good reasons. Among them easiest entrance and the closest-in parking place, witnessing practice and qualifying rounds, taking part in the pre-event grandstand contests (like "Know Your NASCAR" which pays off in track $50 gift certificates and other great prizes), getting the autograph of a favorite driver or two at the Alta Dena Milk Chugs Autograph Session, listening to great local live bands on the Team Simpson Stage from 4:00 to 6:30, meeting the track mascot "Lug Nut Jr.", or perusing the free car club show in the nearby Chalet Village area just west of the grandstands. Irwindale's right-on-site ticket office opens at noon on Saturday, the spectator gates swing wide at 4:00 p.m., and a most memorable start for a marvelous Memorial Day weekend begins at exactly 4:01 p.m.