Rip Michels was strong during the victory. Photo by Anne Cypress.
NASCAR WHELEN SUPER LATE MODEL 100
In what might be his last race at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, Rip Michels led all but nine of the 66 laps to take a crash-filled race.
“The King of Irwindale” survived a harrowing final lap as Jacob Gomes was unable to fire up his spun car in turn four. With a green-white-checker finish, Gomes spun on the white flag and never was able to get his car going while Michels and David Gilliland battled for the win on the final lap.
It was a fitting way to end a wreck-fest that was shortened from the scheduled 100 laps to 66 as there were three-red flag stoppages during the one hour time frame given.
Five laps into the race a five car pile-up began the barrage of red and yellow flags when Jeff Eshelman, Dennis Furden, Ryan Philpott, Shawn Calderwood and Bear Rzesnowiecky all were involved. Rzesnowiecky was penalized for causing the incident on the backstretch.
Calderwood would be involved in the next red flag as he flipped his car end-over-end in turn one. He was taken to the infield care center and released.
After finally having some green flag laps on the 47th lap, Toyota Speedway reigning champion Nick Joanides was spun in the middle of turn two on lap 52.
“It was hard to get a rhythm all night,” said Michels. “We were able to get the win and beat Gilliland at the finish.”
As the saying goes, “cautions breed cautions” and that is exactly what happened on the re-start of lap 57 as Alex Haase missed a shift and was battling with Travis Thirkettle. Three laps later both Haase and Thirkettle gathered each other and ended their evening by tearing each other cars.
The final red-flag wreck set-up the finish between Michels and Gilliland for the win.
The race also marked the debut of the new General Motors LS3 spec-motor that saw five race cars use it. The $11,500 motor package saw its best finish was Kevin Thompson’s fifth place finish.
- Rip Michels
- David Gilliland
- Derek Thorn
- Andy Allen
- Kevin Thompson
- Jay Sauls
- Brandon Loverock
- Ryan Partridge
- Dusty Davis
- Luis Martinez Jr
TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN POLE QUALIFYING
Drive for Diversity driver Sergio Pena posted the fastest qualifying time in the Toyota All-Star Showdown race for tomorrow.
“I couldn’t ask for a better run tonight,” said Sergio Pena. “I had a great car.”
Pena posted the quickest time on his second of two laps with an 18.390 seconds.
After Pena set the bar, NASCAR Sprint series regular Joey Logano attempted to set the fastest time, only to get loose in turn three and settle for the second fastest time of the night with a 18.421.
Former track champion Greg Pursley would finish with the third fastest qualifying time.
Team Cass Racing and Auggie Vidovich qualified 11th for the Toyota All-Star Showdown. They unveiled the TCR racing, babycancer.org and midvalleysports.com #50 race car on SPEED Channel during the qualifying show.
50-LAP PRO OPEN LAST CHANCE FOR THE SHOWDOWN
Michael Self was the beneficiary of a 28th lap spin from leader Ruben Rovelo and was able to pull clear on the 37th lap re-start to win the Last Chance race.
Rovelo was the leader of the first 28 laps until he over drove into turn three and found himself against the turn four wall.
The mistake allowed Self to take the lead on the lap 37 re-start and drive away from Nick Joanides to claim the victory.
Joanides was able to finish clear of the third place finisher Candace Muzney to get a spot in the Showdown.
- Michael Self
- Nick Joanides
- Candace Muzney
- Kyle Kelley
- Troy Ermish
- Justin Philpott
More photos from tonight’s races at cypresstreephotos.printroom.com will be available tomorrow afternoon.
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