NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR QUALIFYING RACE RECAPS by Mike Twist

It's North by Southwest at Irwindale

ACT I, SCENE I – TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Last season, Greg Pursley competed regularly at Irwindale Speedway and did a pretty good job of it.  He won the track championship and collected enough points to also capture the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series national title.

So when he rocketed from third on the grid to the lead in the first two corners of the first lap in the first Elite Division qualifying race, people were impressed, but not surprised.

Pursley continued to lead all but one of the remaining laps.  Unfortunately for him, the one that he didn’t lead was the one the mattered the most.  Nick Lynch beat him to the finish line on the 50th lap by .003 of a second in a finish that took several minutes to sort out.

“I didn’t know who won,” said Lynch.  “I closed my eyes when I crossed the finish line so I didn’t even see it.”

Lynch led a sweep of the top three positions by Southwest Series competitors.  Pursley was second and M.K. Kanke was right in their tires tracks finishing third.  Also in the four-car breakaway pack at the finish was Southeast Series driver J.R. Norris.

SECOND RACE – SOUTHWEST RISES AGAIN

The second of the two Elite Division races was also dominated by the NASCAR Southwest Series.  The top four finishers were Rip Mihaels, Thomas Martin, Burney Lamar and Augie Vidovich.

This capped off a pretty long couple of days for the series regulars.  They raced at Phoenix International Raceway on Thursday, headed up the road and were at Irwindale as the work day began.  Losing a day of practice didn’t hurt much as proven by their dominance.

And getting here might have been half the fun.

“The biggest race this weekend wasn’t here or at Phoenix, but between the hauler drivers to see who got here first,” said Michels.  “It was one hell of a hauler race.  There were guys doing 90 or 95 miles per hour locked on

caution.  He [McCarthy] didn’t like it too much, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

CAISSE TAKES FINAL QUALIFIER OF THE NIGHT

The Busch North Series dominated the second Grand National division qualifier as well.  They were primed to sweep the top five before a late race charge by West Series driver David Gilliland to finish

The best and brightest of the Busch North guys in this race was rookie Sean Caisse, who took the lead on lap three and survived a wild late race restart to take the final checkered flag of the night.

Greg Pursley came so close to putting the #70 in victory lane.  (51 Photos)

cruise control.  They were drafting, they were hauling ass, they got here before I even got home.”

But listening to Michels, there should be another good race on Saturday when the Elite division hits the track.  He predicts that on the first lap, guys will be running three or four wide entering the corners.

“We hear every week that you can’t win the race on the first lap,” said Michels.  “Well, yes you can.  At least that’s what I’m going to try and do.”

Michaels also predicts that experience will win out over youthful enthusiasm in the main event on Saturday.

“No young gun is going to win tomorrow night,” laughed Michels.  “It’s not going to be some 20-year-old winning, it’s not going to be a 25-year-old even.”

THIRD TIME OUT AND (SOME) NORTH BOYS HAVE IT EASY

After the dust had settled for the Elite division teams, the Grand National teams took to the track.  Like the Southwest Series before them, they dominated this 50 lapper.  They also kicked up some dust of their own as well.

While battling for third with two laps to go, Dale Shaw and Mike Stefanik got together and went for a synchronized spin in turn two.  West Series driver Mike Duncan  got caught up as well.  This set up a green, white, checkered finish.

Joey McCarthy had led most of the way and at one point had a lead of more than a zip code over his competition.  The final caution didn’t help his cause though.  Mike Olsen started right outside of him and that led to a two-lap drag race to the finish.  Olsen got a leg on his competition at the line and took the victory.

“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen there,” said

Olsen.  “I had pretty much settled for second before that

The victory was not only Caisse’s first victory in one year

of Busch North racing, but also the first for car owner Barney

McRae in over a dozen seasons of competition on the tour.

“Barney’s really happy,” said Caisse.

Both driver and owner could even be happier tomorrow night around the same time.

Starting Lineups

NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown

NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division

Irwindale Speedway    November 12, 2005

  1. (2)Nick Lynch, Burley Idaho, Chevrolet

  2. (12)Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet

  3. (70)Greg Pursley, Canyon Country Calif., Chevrolet

  4. (28)Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet

  5. (33)M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet

  6. (1)Burney Lamar, Kernersville N.C., Chevrolet

  7. (5)J.R. Norris, Mulga Ala., Ford

  8. (11)Auggie Vidovich, Lakeside Calif., Chevrolet

  9. (45)Nick Joanides, Woodland Hills Calif., Chevrolet

10. (0)Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill., Chevrolet

11. (18)John Bender, Snohomish Wash., Chevrolet

12. (41)Chris Davidson, Pearland Tex., Chevrolet

13. (87)Kevin Prince, Wilmington N.C., Chevrolet

14. (42)Jeff Jefferson, Yakima Wash., Chevrolet

15. (8)Wilbur Bruce, Tacoma Wash., Chevrolet

16. (29)Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet

17. (66)Steve Carlson, West Salem Wisc., Chevrolet

18. (88)Brent Kirchner, LA Crosse Wisc., Chevrolet

19. (19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac

20. (39)Pete Harding, Surrey B.C., Chevrolet

21. (15)John Dillon, Boise Idaho, Chevrolet

22. (9)Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet

23. (69)Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet

24. (40)Dusty Williams, Garden City GA., Chevrolet

25. (25)Dexter Bean, Westby Wisc., Chevrolet

26. (21)Tim Schendel, Sparta Wisc., Chevrolet

27. (54)Jeff Fultz, Cincinnati Ohio, Chevrolet

28. (64)Garrett Evans, East Wenatchee Wash., Chevrolet

29. (20)Andrew Morrissey, Deforest Wisc., Chevrolet

30. (63)Greg Pope, Monroe N.C., Chevrolet

31. (01)Josh Bauer, Random Lake Wisc., Chevrolet

32. (71)Greg Fowler, Erie Colo., Chevrolet

33. (23)Terry McMahan, Asheville N.C., Chevrolet

34. (73)Gary Lewis, Bothell Wash., Chevrolet

35. (3)Robert Richardson, II, Chevrolet

36. (27)Jeff Bailey, Kennewick Wash., Chevrolet

37. (03)Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford

38. (98)Justin Wakefield, Woodstock GA., Ford

39. (46)Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge

40. (06)Eddie Stivers, III, Chevrolet

NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown

NASCAR Grand National Division

Irwindale Speedway    November 12, 2005

  1. (61)Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet

  2. (5)Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet

  3. (8)Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet

  4. (96)Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford

  5. (16)Steve Portenga, Sparks Nev., Chevrolet

  6. (74)Ryan Moore, Scarborough Maine, Chevrolet

  7. (17)Dale Shaw, Center Conway N.H., Chevrolet

  8. (88)David Gilliland, Chino Hills Calif., Chevrolet

  9. (9)Mike Duncan, Lamont Calif., Chevrolet

10. (40)Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet

11. (2)Mike David, Modesto Calif., Ford

12. (44)Andy Santerre, Cherryfield Maine, Chevrolet

13. (77)Eddie MacDonald, Rowley Mass., Chevrolet

14. (54)Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills Calif., Ford

15. (71)Daryl Harr, St. Albert Alberta, Chevrolet

16. (81)Brett Thompson, Jerome Idaho, Chevrolet

17. (99)Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet

18. (63)John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Pontiac

19. (7)Tim Smith, Roseville Calif., Ford

20. (23)Andrew Lewis, Corona Calif., Chevrolet

21. (55)Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet

22. (0)Joe Masessa, Franklin Lakes N.J., Chevrolet

23. (18)Johnny Borneman, Ramona Calif., Ford

24. (09)Takuma Koga, Nagoya Japan, Chevrolet

25. (30)Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Chevrolet

26. (51)Rich Ruzbarsky, Tracy Calif., Chevrolet

27. (15)Jack Sellers, Sacramento Calif., Pontiac

28. (20)Sarah Fisher, Indianapolis Ind., Ford

29. (14)Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Chevrolet

30. (6)Kip Stockwell, Braintree Vt., Chevrolet

31. (00)Scott Gaylord, Lakewood Colo., Chevrolet

Sean Caisse's #5

With 13 laps to go, Mike Johnson and Matt Kobyluck kept Caisse honest and ran three-wide for the lead for one lap.  But it didn’t take long for Caisse to motor ahead of the duo and go to the front again.

Strangely enough, Caisse was longing for another late race caution, one that never came.

“I was actually hoping for a restart so that I could size myself up for tomorrow,” said Caisse.  “That was a lot like the 50-lap dash at the end of [tonight’s] race.”

The #12 team of Rip Michels unloads their car after racing to Irwindale.

Mike Olsen (L) talks with his fellow New Englander, Matt Kobyluck (R).