Short-Track Title Event to Be Held at Irwindale

A $500,000, invitation-only race to determine a national short-track stock car racing champion -- the Toyota All-Star Showdown -- will take place Nov. 6-8 at Irwindale Speedway, NASCAR officials announced Wednesday.

The top 10 drivers in the four series of NASCAR’s Elite Division (Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Northwest), along with the top 15 drivers from its two Grand National Divisions (Winston West and Busch North) will be invited to race on the half-mile banked asphalt oval.

The Saturday night championship races will be 125 laps for Grand National and 100 laps for the Elite. Winners will receive $25,000 and $10,000, respectively.

There also will be team competition for representatives of the two Grand National series and another for the four Elite series.

“It is no exaggeration that this event is the biggest thing to ever happen to our regional touring series,” said Chris Boals, NASCAR’s regional touring director. “The importance of this event cannot be overstated.”

Saturday night’s races will be televised on Speed Channel at 5 p.m. PDT.

“Crowning our 2003 NASCAR season with this truly national driver’s championship will put a very bold exclamation point on our fifth year in operation,” said Jim Williams, Irwindale Speedway president. An additional 3,000 seats will be added to the 6,500-seat facility.

The sponsorship by Toyota is the latest venture in its continuing road to the Winston Cup. Two years ago, the Japanese manufacturer became involved with NASCAR by supplying engines for the Goody’s Dash series. Next year its Toyota Tundra trucks will race in the Craftsman Truck series.