-- Rip Michels, the 2006 NASCAR Elite Division
Southwest Series champion, is looking for new racing challenges to conquer. He won his
fourth consecutive NASCAR AC Delco Super Late Model feature this season in a
75-lap race Saturday at Irwindale Speedway. The fastest qualifier in a 23-car
field started second after he spun a two for the inversion. As expected he led
all the way on the progressively banked half-mile. It was his fourth
consecutive fast time in the series as well. Michels' track record 48th feature
triumph in three series (29 in SLM) came in front of more than 4,000 spectators on
King Taco Family Night. Three Whelen All-American Racing series and a
demolition derby, plus $1.00 hot dogs all night, helped lure patrons to the eight-year
old speedway in eastern Los Angeles County.
The SLM race, the second 75-lap event for the series in seven events this
year, was taped by a television production company for telecast later on the
Lucas Oil Motor-sports Hour weekly show on the Versus Channel (formerly The
Outdoor Life Network). The May 26 SLM race is scheduled to air Saturday, June 23
from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m (PDT). It will be the second tape delayed telecast of the
SLM series at IS to air on the show. Andrew Phipps' victory in the 75-lap race
on April 7 was the first race from IS shown on the program on May 5.
Michels, from San Fernando, drove the No. 12 Sunrise Ford, Turbo Torq 2007
Ford Fusion owned by Bob Bruncati, a Ford dealer in Fontana. He jumped from
fourth to third in current points and is only 20 points from the point lead. When
asked about seeking a ride for the NASCAR Grand National West series, Michels
said, "Sure, bring them on, I'll drive even a back-up car for some team." With
a GN West 200-lap race scheduled at Irwindale on Wednesday, July 4, a wise
GNW car owner would get an affirmative answer from IS track master Michels to an
offer to drive a GNW car at his favorite track. It offers him a new challenge
and a chance to demonstrate his prowess behind the wheel. A ride in the GNW
No. 09 just opened so the owner may reach fan-favorite Michels through the IS
office.
SUPER STOCKS: Bryan Harrell, shop foreman at Racecar Factory in Irwindale a
mile and a half from the track, won the Vista Paint Super Stock 35-lap main
event on the half-mile. He drove his Pick Your Part-sponsored orange 1977 Chevy
Camaro. It was the fourth straight feature victory in the series for the point
leader in five races this year. As second quickest qualifier, Harrell started
fifth and became the third race leader on the seventh circuit with his
exciting three-wide pass entering the third turn. Harrell shot to the inside and
passed Greg Crutcher who had just passed Eric Sunness, the lap 3-6 leader, on the
inside at the backstretch. Second starter Dan Fitzgerald paced the first two
laps. Crutcher finished second, 1.305 seconds behind Harrell. Darren Cheek, the
fastest qualifier/sixth starter, finished third. Sunness and Fitzpatrick
finished fourth and fifth in a 20-car field. The top five all drove Camaros. The
15-minute event had one caution flag.
MINI STOCKS: Fastest qualifier Brian Johnson, a football coach at South Hills
High in West Covina, won his second Justice Brothers Mini Stock Series main
of the five-race season. He started third in his Speedway Transmission-backed
1975 Ford Pinto and led all 35-laps on the third-mile. He edged 2006 series
champion Tyler Rogers, who started eighth and pressured and even bumped Johnson
during the final two laps. Rogers, in one of three Rogers family-owned 1970
Pintos, took second on lap 29. He trailed by five yards when the lap 34 caution
put Rogers on Johnson's back bumper and made the outcome in doubt. The duo won
every series main this season. Rogers settled for second, 0.120 of a second
back at the end. Pole-man Rich Garver drove his 1980 Toyota Celica to third
spot, with Kevin Bernhardt's Pinto and Tom Dye's Celica next across the finish
line. Twenty-one of 25 starters finished and 15 drivers ran all 35 laps in a
28-minute race slowed by seven yellow flags, an unusually high number of cautions
for the series.
DEMOLITION DERBY: A six-car demolition derby followed action on the two oval
tracks and concluded action at 9:45 p.m. Bret Blawa, from Upland, won his
first demo derby and $1,000 for his effort. He drove and backed his way to victory
and initial IS success in an American-made station wagon. Chico Powell and
Mike Atkinson finished second and third and collected $500 and $350
respectively. The last demo derby at IS on April 28 had nine cars and four of them
weredisqualified during a technical inspection following the event for having illegal
modifications. The top three finishers were DQ'd and did not return Saturday.
SLM MAYHEM: The SLM main event appeared to be an unintentional demolition
derby. The 43-minute featured race of the night had six caution flags, usually
for multi-car crashes. Logan Henson, a Super Truck Series 2007 winner, made his
debut in the SLM class. He leased an older No. 15 Monte Carlo from 1999 IS
champion Rod Johnson. On lap 14 Henson hit the second turn wall at the right
front end and stalled on turn three of the third-mile track for the first
caution. He was unhurt. A two-car tangle on lap 25 involved Scott Conaway and Ron
Esau. Derek Fisher spun to the infield on lap 36 after contact with Gary Jenkins.
Following a lap 42 yellow to pick up debris at turn three, another caution
followed when Jenkins spun to the infield after a car did not accelerate
promptly at the green flag. The multi-car melee that followed qualified as "the
short-track big one" and resulted in several torn-up race-cars. Fifth place Andrew
Phipps had a torn up front end. Sixth place Dan Moore's hood was bent upwards
and Mike Price had bent metalwork. The car of Stephen Peace had right front
damage and the hood was bent upwards. Newcomer Rob Kiemele spun to the fourth
turn infield grass on lap 53 for the final yellow flag.
TOP THREE COMMENTS: Winner Michels beat Nick Joanides by ten yards for the
third one-two finish for the pair. He won by 0.558 and on his cool down lap
radioed to his crew, "Excellent job. That's the way to do it." Later, Michels told
the media, "I spent three years on the tour (Southwest Series) and I'm glad
to be home racing with all my friends. Nick ran me hard and made me work. The
young guys ran hard too." Pole starter Travis Thirkettle ran second to Michels
until lap 55 when Joanides passed him on the inside at turn four. Thirkettle,
the 2006 Late Model champion and a 2007 SLM rookie, told spectators, "It was a
long 75-laps. I'm worn out. I had no power steering." He trailed Michels by
3.593 seconds and took over the point lead by 12 points (302-290) over former
leader Phipps, who slipped to second. Joanides said, "This is the third time
I've run second to the 12 car and I'm getting sick of it." SLM rookie Scott Dodd
and Dan Moore finished fourth and fifth with 18 of the 23 starters still
racing at the end and 14 drivers on the lead lap.
Hard charger awards for gaining the most positions from start to finish and
$100 awards went to Steve Rogers in mini stocks and rookie Derek Becker in SLM.
Rogers, the tenth fastest qualifier, missed the mandatory drivers' meeting
and had to start the main last (25th). He raced forward to sixth place by the
finish with 21 cars still racing. Becker, despite his lap 36 spin, raced from
19th to seventh position. Fastest qualifiers set two new track records during
afternoon time trials. In Super Stocks, Cheek set his fourth quick time in five
events. His 21.031 (85.588 mph) beat his own mark of 21.052 set on 3/31.07.
Brian Johnson's 16.927 (70.822 mph) was a mini stock NTR. It bettered his 16.955
record from 4/22/06. It was his third fast time in five races this season.
Michels' fourth consecutive fast time of 18.150 fell short of the 17.712 record
set two years ago by Phipps. Ron Esau led all six laps of the SLM trophy dash
for the ninth through 14th fastest qualifiers.
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