Michels Optimistic Entering NASCAR Toyota

All-Star Showdown Super Late Model 100

Popular Champ Looks Forward to Irwindale Event

NASCAR PR Report

A popular three-time champion Super Late Model driver at a marquee American short track is optimistic entering a national showcase event at his home track.

      

Rip Michels, 43, is an ironworker from Mission Hills, Calif. He will vie for a breakthrough victory in the 100-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model feature at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) on Friday, January 29.

      

That race, along with the following day’s 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model and the headline NASCAR Camping World Series Toyota All-Star Showdown will be telecast live on SPEED. SIRIUS NASCAR Radio will also air live from the track both days.

      

“We’re focused on our Super Late Model effort,” said Michels, the division’s champion at the Irwindale track in 2002, 2003 and 2007. “We didn’t decide to do it until a few weeks ago. Some friends and sponsors got together and encouraged us, and I couldn’t be happier. The race being live on SPEED was a big factor.

      

“Our sponsor Jimmy Webster of iDevAffiliate.com became a friend and crew member,” Michels said. “We want to get some TV exposure for him.”

      

IDevAffiliate, based in Valencia, Calif., makes affiliate tracking software used by websites

      

Michels’ history in the Showdown’s Super Late Model feature is one of frustration after contending for wins.

      

“We led the race with 10 laps to go in 2004 and finished second. We led it with 20 laps to go in 2007 and finished second. We’ve come close, finishing second to Greg Pursley and Eric Holmes, and I think we’ll be a contender again.

      

“We’ve got a good shot at it,” Michels said. “It’s kind of a wild-card race with the introduction of the (optional) Spec motor. We’ll know what we have by lap 50.”

      

Michels began his racing career by following his father’s tracks onto the old Saugus (Calif.) Speedway, which discontinued racing operations in 1995. Michels started out in Street Stocks at the flat .333-mile paved oval in 1988 and methodically worked his way through the Pro Stock and Modified divisions there. When the track closed he moved on to the former Mesa Marin Speedway, a .500-mile high-banked paved oval. He won his first career track championship there in the Modified division in 1997.

      

When the state-of-the-art Toyota Speedway at Irwindale opened in 1999, Michels shifted his racing focus to the new track. He placed second in the Modified division point race in the track’s inaugural season and won the division’s championship in 2000. He advanced to the track’s Super Late Model division in 2000, and reeled off back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, the latter also capturing a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series regional championship.

      

Michels joined the former NASCAR Southwest Tour for Late Models in 2004 and won the championship in 2006. He returned to Super Late Model racing at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in 2007 and won his third track championship. Since then Michels has divided his time by racing intermittently at Irwindale and regional series competition.

      

He finished second in points to Nick Joanides in 2009, collecting three wins.

      

Crewing Michels’ iDevAffiliate.com Ford Fusion are crew chief/engine specialist Roger Theobald, the driver’s wife and car owner Laurie Michels, manager/spotter Michael Medlin, shop foreman Chip Brown, tire specialist Chris Lazalde, fuel Rick Smith, mechanics Jesse Cardinals, Jimmy Babcock and mechanic/sponsor Jimmy Webster of iDevAffiliate.com.      Associate sponsors include Works of Art Johnson, Hot Rod Hobby, Victory Circle, Total Power Batteries, Circle Racing Wheels, Ringers Gloves, Schroeder Torsion Bars, B.C. Sports Images, Ron’s Rear End, Orme Brothers, Aurora Rod Ends, Freight Train Peters Racing Engines, and Naake Suspension.    

      

Michels has always been an owner/driver/builder – a complete package – which, backed by his team, heightens his enjoyment of racing.

      

“I still love building cars, welding on them and building shocks – I really enjoy that part,” Michels said.

The Jan. 29-30 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will be highlighted by the 225-lap NASCAR Camping World Series all-star race. The 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown schedule also includes 100-lap Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model Friday and 75-lap Late Model races Saturday. Advance sale tickets are available at www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com.