Thompson Holds Off Knill

Pole-sitter Kevin Thompson became Irwindale Speedway’s first two-time winner in the super late model division in 2006 with a wire-to-wire victory Saturday night.

Thompson, the winner of the March 25 season opener, finished 0.679 of a second ahead of Van Knill in the 50-lap race on the half-mile track.

“This is unbelievable,” Thompson said. “We struggled in two races, had some problems in the front end, [but] we figured that out.”

Thompson finished fourth April 8 and eighth April 15. Knill, who won the April 15 race, passed Dan Moore, who spun on the 29th lap, to move into second, but was unable to take the lead.

“I used my tires a lot trying to get around Dan Moore for the two spot,” said Knill, who broke a tie with Chris Johnson for the lead in the season-long standings.

Moore finished third.

Thompson, a Bakersfield resident, received $1,250 for the victory.