Irwindale Isn't Short on Thrills

By SHAV GLICK

March 19, 2004 12 AM PT

Darrell Waltrip, whose stock car racing credentials include three Winston Cup championships, 84 wins and nearly $20 million in winnings, says that Irwindale Speedway has “the best short-track racing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Racing fans will get a chance to see it for themselves Saturday night when the 2004 season opens with a full schedule of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing on Irwindale’s two tracks -- the half-mile banked oval and the third-mile infield oval.

Showcased will be Irwindale’s two NASCAR champions, Todd Burns of Riverside and Rip Michels of Mission Hills. Burns won the national championship against all regional winners on a points system, and Michels won the Sunbelt region crown. Both drive Chevrolet Monte Carlos.

Super late models are the top of the line for weekly racing series competition. They have full tube chassis, fiberglass bodies that replicate 1990-2002 sedan bodies, and are powered by 360 cubic-inch V-8s that generate more than 450 horsepower.

The first two races of an 18-race series will be run Saturday night. Because the twin 50s will pay double points, Brandon Loverock of Norwalk has decided it is so important to race his No. 99 car that he will be on the starting line after getting married at 10 a.m. Saturday. Loverock was fifth in points last year, 218 behind Michels.

“We expect a full field for the opener, with all nine of the points leaders last year coming back,” said track manager Bob DeFazio. “Rip won nine races last year, but he may leave for the next level and the other guys are anxious to pick up points early.”

Michels will be easy to spot, with a new green No. 12 Monte Carlo. His chief challengers figure to be Tony Bruncati of Glendora, Greg Pursley of Lakeview Terrace, Dan Moore of Burbank, Russell White of Corona and Loverock.

Eight of the top 10 late-model drivers are expected back, headed by Burns, Scott Youngren of Fallbrook, Mike Price of San Pedro, Tim Huddelson of Agoura Hills, Dave Hessing of Canyon Country and Doug McComb of Thousand Oaks.

Besides the super late-model and late-model divisions, there will be main events for super stocks, mini stocks and Ultra Wheel super trucks.

Champions returning include 64-year-old Lee Ladd of Westlake Village in super stock, Fred Adams of Fontana in mini stocks and Dave Blankenship of Stevenson Ranch in super trucks.

Track officials are predicting a sellout crowd of about 6,000. Gates open at 4 p.m. with an on-track autograph session at 6 and the first race at 7.

The Ventura Racing Assn. sprint car series will go into its third week Saturday night -- but not at Ventura Raceway.

Instead, the VRA sprinters will be at Perris Auto Speedway, where Chris Tramel will try to extend his winning streak to three in the Lake Chevrolet Challenge Cup. Tramel, 21, was VRA rookie of the year in 2002 and drives in so many classes, he is known as “Ready to Run.”

While the VRA sprinters are away, Ventura’s seaside track will feature a full program of senior sprints, pony stocks, dwarf cars and IMCA modifieds.

The senior sprint circuit, for drivers 45 and older, opened last week with Richard McCormick’s winning over defending series champion Ron Bach.

The U.S. Auto Club Southwest sprint car series will open Saturday night at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds in El Centro.

Mopar Twin 25s

Steve Lewis’ midget racing doubleheader March 27 at Irwindale Speedway is already taking its place among USAC’s major events, but the Laguna Beach promoter isn’t satisfied. He has added an exhibition of the Japanese sport of drifting, a Ford Focus midget race featuring Champ Car drivers Michel Jourdain Jr. and Patrick Carpentier against the USAC regulars, and a new day-long event called the Eibach Springs Festival of Speed.

Lewis’ Premier Racing Entertainment group has raided West Coast car collections and museums to gather famous racing cars for display in the Irwindale parking lot from noon to 4 p.m.

J.J. Yeley, who won all three USAC major championships last year before accepting a NASCAR ride with car owner Joe Gibbs, and Mopar factory driver Tracy Hines, winner of one of the twin 25s last year, are both expected to enter. If the winner of the first 25-mile race can win the second one -- starting from the rear -- he will receive a $50,000 bonus.

Pro Celebrity Race

Former Indy car driver Max Papis and offshore racing champion Mike Follmer are among the field of 17 who will compete in the 28th Toyota Pro-Celebrity race April 17 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Driving with Papis and Follmer in the pro category will be actor Peter Reckell, last year’s winner, and Olympic swim medalist Dara Torres, the 2002 winner.

Celebrity drivers include Sean Astin, Lil’ Kim, Frankie Muniz, Andrew Firestone, Laila Ali, Carlos Bernard, Andrea Parker, Chris McDonald, Melissa Joan Hart, Liza Snyder and Tony Potts. Others are Cliff Cummings, a Toyota dealer, and Jill Pasant, who made the high bid of $60,000 at last year’s charity ball auction for a seat in the race.

Darlington Stripe

For years, one of the most recognizable emblems in NASCAR was the “Darlington stripe,” that distinguishing mark on the right side of a stock car left by brushing the wall on the notoriously narrow egg-shaped 1.3-mile South Carolina track.

During the off-season, officials installed SAFER barriers to the wall, making the track even narrower for Sunday’s Nextel Cup race.

Commented veteran driver Mark Martin: “I think a lot of us will be getting the ‘New SAFER barrier Darlington stripe’ even sooner than we did before.”

Last Laps

The 52nd Twelve Hours of Sebring, one of America’s most prestigious road races, will be run Saturday in Sebring, Fla., and will be the opening event of the American Le Mans series. Two-time winner Andy Wallace will be the favorite in a Lola-MG prototype for Dyson Racing.

A memorial service for former Indianapolis 500 crew chief and engine builder Louie Unser of Anaheim will be held Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Joe’s Garage, 36 Auto Center Drive in Tustin. Unser, eldest of the racing brothers, died March 2 in Bullhead City, Ariz.

This Week

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP

Carolina Dodge Dealers 400

* When: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, noon); Sunday, race (Channel 11, 10 a.m.)

* Where: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (egg-shaped oval, 1.366 miles, 25 degrees banking in turns 1-2, 23 degrees in turns 3-4)

* Race distance: 400 miles, 293 laps

NASCAR BUSCH SERIES

Diamond Hill Plywood Co. 200

* When: Today, qualifying (Speed Channel, 10:30 a.m.); Saturday, race (FX, 10 a.m.)

* Where: Darlington Raceway.

* Race distance: 200 miles, 147 laps.

FORMULA ONE