NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown News and Notes
All of the Details On This Weekend's Big Event at Irwindale
NASCAR PR Report
It’s become the pinnacle of short-track racing in America, and this year’s NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown looks to build on that reputation with an entry list that represents eight NASCAR Developmental Series championships and includes two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars.
The all-star event, termed the “Daytona 500 of short-track racing,” is slated for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30, at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Calif.
The entry list for the weekend’s main attraction, Saturday night’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series race, features a couple of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who are coming home, so to speak.
Joey Logano, who won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in NASCAR’s premier series last season, will be driving an entry for car owner Mike Olsen. Logano, of Middletown, Conn., won the K&N Pro Series East championship in 2007.
David Gilliland, who won the pole for the Daytona 500 in 2007, will be behind the wheel of an entry for Jennifer Wong. Gilliland, of Riverside, Calif., is a second-generation competitor who won the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2004.
The entry list also features several recently crowned 2009 champions - Ryan Truex, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East; Jason Bowles, NASCAR K&N Pro Series West; Andrew Ranger, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, and George Brunnhoelzl III, NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
In addition to Logano, other former champions on the entry list include two-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion Eric Holmes (2006 and 2008) and the 2008 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, Matt Kobyluck.
Also among this year’s entries are Steve Park, who has victories in all three national series in NASCAR, and Auggie Vidovich, who raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2006.
Former NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown winners include Kobyluck, who won the prestigious event last year and in 2006, Logano, who won in 2007, and Gilliland, who won in 2005.
Holmes and Vidovich each had Showdown victories in the former NASCAR Elite Division race in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Another NASCAR K&N Pro Series competitor, Greg Pursley, earned a Showdown trophy by capturing the Super Late Model race in 2007.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature races are equally stacked with headliners, led by track champion Nick Joanides. Joanides, who finished third in the nation, became the first driver in track history to claim the AC Delco Super Late Model and the Auto Club Late Model championships in the same season.
Four-time track champion Rip Michels leads the Super Late Model challengers, and he will be joined by defending race winner Travis Thirkettle, 2009 national rookie of the year Jacob Gomes and Gilliland.
Former NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion and Toyota Speedway track champion Sean Woodside is scheduled for double duty.
In the Late Model race, Joanides will be joined by Woodside, Holmes, defending race champion Mike Johnson, three-time track Late Model champ Tim Huddleston and Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway champ Justin Philpott.
Showdown Notes
The event … This marks the seventh running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. It will be highlighted by the 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series all-star race. The schedule also includes a 100-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model race and a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race.
The procedure … The NASCAR K&N Pro Series competition is open to any driver approved to drive on half-mile or longer tracks in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Each race winner during the 2009 NASCAR K&N Pro Series season is eligible for a protected starting spot. In addition, 2009 series champions of NASCAR's regional touring series and the 2009 national champion for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series are also eligible for protected starting spots. In addition to eligible 2009 race winners and series champions, the starting lineup is determined through time trials, limited provisionals for NASCAR K&N Pro Series regulars, and the last-chance "Open" race that provides drivers one final chance to make the grid.
Qualifying … Sean Caisse holds the qualifying record for the event with a lap of 18.271 seconds/98.517 mph in 2007. Note: Qualifying has only been held in the past two events.
Multiple wins … Matt Kobyluck is the only driver to reach Victory Lane more than once in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. He won last year’s event and also in 2006.
More on Kobyluck … Kobyluck is the only driver to compete in all six previous all-star events. His average finish in those six races is 3.66. He has registered five top-five finishes, more than any driver. With five top-10 finishes, he also leads that category.
Prior winners … In addition to Kobyluck, other prior winners of the all-star event on the entry list include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars Joey Logano (2007) and David Gilliland (2005).
Leading The Way … Logano has led the most laps of competition in the K&N Pro Series race. He led 87 laps in 2007 and 83 laps last year, for a total of 170.
The Race: NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
The Place: Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.)
The Date: Friday, Jan. 29 & Saturday, Jan. 30
The Event: 100-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model race (Friday); 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model race and 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series races (Saturday)
The Time: 7 p.m. PT (both days)
TV Schedule: Live on SPEED
Beginning at 7 p.m. PT both days
Radio Schedule: Live on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio
Beginning at 7 p.m. PT both days
Track Layout: .5-mile oval
2009 Winners:
Matt Kobyluck (K&N Pro Series)
Travis Thirkettle (Super Late Model)
Mike Johnson (Late Model)
2009 Poles:
Chris Johnson (K&N Pro Series)
Qualifying cancelled (Super Late Model)
Qualifying cancelled (Late Model)
Matt Kobyluck won last year's All-Star Showdown.
