The top races in Southern California in 2009

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Southern California is home to several disciplines of racing, and I saw a ton of them. Late-model stock cars at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, as well as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Indy cars at Long Beach and off-road trucks in Lake Elsinore -- I covered a variety of racing.

What was the best race of 2009? Maybe it was the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale. Maybe the Grand Prix of Long Beach’s Indy car race. Maybe the National Hot Rod Assn. Auto Club Finals in Pomona.

Joey Logano fell short of winning the Showdown at Irwindale. Helio Castroneves made his return to Indy car racing at Long Beach and overshadowed Dario Franchitti’s win. Tony Schumacher won his sixth NHRA top fuel championship in a row at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. All exciting races, but which one was the top race?

Go to Haddock in the Paddock to see the top Southern California races of 2009.

-- Tim Haddock