NASCAR

Irwindale Speedway fireworks this Saturday

Irwindale, Calif. - - Giving racing fans AND fireworks fans an early jump-start on what, for many, could be the beginning if a great four day weekend ... Irwindale Speedway will feature a full evening of on-track and in-sky pyrotechnics on ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Irwindale, Calif. - - Giving racing fans AND fireworks fans an early jump-start on what, for many, could be the beginning if a great four day weekend ... Irwindale Speedway will feature a full evening of on-track and in-sky pyrotechnics on Saturday night, July 1. Presented by Ultra Wheels, the event promises to be one of the best values in local family-style motorsports viewing.

On the card for the night's trackside action are the NASCAR Late Models, Grand American Modifieds, Super Stocks, Legend Cars, and Figure 8's.

Goleta's James Weston leads the NASCAR Late Models into battle with a thirty point lead (430 - 400) over Todd Burns of Riverside. Tony Green from Oak Hills is third in points at 380. Green had a hard ride into the turn 1 crash wall last race when a hub failed on him in the second lap of the main event ... His crew has been hard at work and promises to have Tony's car ready for the 1st. In fourth with 364 points is Dave Hessing from Canyon Country, and Steve Nickolai of Simi Valley and Deryk "The X-Man" Ward from Palm Springs are tied for 5th at 348 points each.

All the hard work that Long Beach's Jeff Green has put in chasing North Hills' T.K. Karvasek has finally paid off with Green finally on the top in the NASCAR Super Stock points list. Green's got 384, T.K. 356, and last years' divisional champion Mike Price is closing up the gap at 290. These colorful characters (and about 20+ more) will all be "having a go" at each other on Saturday night.

If one goes by the win column it should be Mission Hills' Rip Michels by a country mile in the NASCAR Grand American Modifieds ... He's won four out of five events this year. And yet, Dean Kuhn from Oceanside is solidly in second place only a scant 12 points behind. And the one race that Rip didn't win? Yup, Dean got that one. The races that Rip won, yeah good old Dean-o was there picking up the points with good high finishes (including a second place) every time. John Watkinson is right up there too with 200 hard-earned points marked up to the Canyon Country resident's credit. These skinny-tired, 500-horsepower (+) bombs will really be flying on Saturday night ... Better get your flight reservations now!

And adding to all the fun, the colorful and rollicking Legends Cars will be back on the 1/3-Mile with their own brand of fast AND furious racing antics.

Remember, that wacky Figure 8 gang will be back at Irwindale and raring to race in front of the always-appreciative Irwindale crowds on July 1st after more than a month off. These are the one-and-only, original "X-Games" guys and gals who drive with "take no prisoners" aplomb and a tight tunnel vision focus on the finish line. Skill, daring, and a bit of a sense of humor, and an in control imagination are the prerequisites for the prize ... Heart-stopping (hopefully) near misses are the road to glory here.

After the races, fans will be invited to stay comfortably seated in the grandstands and enjoy a spectacular fireworks show before making their way to the pit area for autographs and photos with their favorite drivers.

July 1st will be a fine night for a family outing to Irwindale Speedway, with plenty of time left in the looooong weekend for all the other traditional (beach, backyard B-B-Qs, mountains, pool, park, etc.) 4th of July pursuits.

PLEASE NOTE: This event will kick off Irwindale Speedway's participation in the 8th annual "Spark of Love" Toy Drive sponsored by the Southern California Firefighters and ABC7. The object is to collect holiday toys for some of the less fortunate children throughout the area. Called "Christmas in July", fans donating a new, unwrapped toy or sporting goods item will receive either a child's ticket to that night's event or a $5.00 gift certificate good at the track's souvenir stands. In addition, they'll receive a copy of that night's program book (a $4.00 value). Collection of toys and sporting good will continue throughout the month of July (all five racing events) at Irwindale Speedway.

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 weekend begins at exactly 4:01 p.m. GUARANTEED!

Website: www.irwindalespeedway.com Tickets on the web: www.tickets.com

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article WWS: Irwindale Speedway 2000-06-24

Next article La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway results 2000-06-24

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal

IndyCar

Indy IndyCar 3 h

Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal

Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

5 h

Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix

Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello

IMSA

IMSA IMSA 5 h

Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello

Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

5 h

Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts