Thursday, April 28, 2016

The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Returns to Irwindale Speedway



From SRL Media

This Saturday night, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will make its first of two appearances at Irwindale Speedway in 2016. The Saturday’s “Spears Manufacturing 100 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse” is the second race of the 2016 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series championship season. Spectator Gates open at 4pm, Autograph Session at 5:45pm, Racing at 7pm.

NEWS and NOTES

CHAMPIONSHIP – After the rain shortened opening round of the 2016 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, race winner Derek Thorn is the current championship point leader, followed by NTS Motorsports teammates, Parker Stephens and Rookie-of-the-Year contender, Christian McGhee, defending series champion, Jacob Gomes is fourth in the standings, with Blaine Rocha rounding out the top five.

LUCAS OIL MODIFIEDS – What many call the best combo show in short track racing, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will be paired up with the Lucas Oil Modifieds this weekend at Irwindale Speedway.

WINNER’S BONUS – With a bonus of $2,000 added to the winner’s share of the prize money for each 2016 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, the winner of Saturday’s 100 lapper will be awarded $5,000.

FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM - The “SPEARS Frequent Flyer Program” is in full swing once again for 2016. For the sixth consecutive year, the “SPEARS Frequent Flyer Program” awards teams $1,000 just for starting a SPEARS Southwest Tour Series main event after they have competed in three consecutive series races.

TRACK RECORD – Derek Thorn set the one-lap SPEARS Southwest Tour Series track record at Irwindale on June 6, 2015 at 17.544 (102.59 avg. mph).

MAVTV – MAVTV Motorsports Network will provide tape delayed national television coverage of the Irwindale Speedway event.

SPEED51 TRACKSIDE NOW - Bob Gardner will host Speed51.com’s Trackside Now from Irwindale Speedway.

MORE COVERAGE - LucasOilRacing.TV, the first streaming TV network dedicated solely to the world of motorsports, will stream the race live.

SPEARS HOME RACE – Series title sponsor Spears Manufacturing is based in Sylmar, California, making Irwindale Speedway the closest event to their headquarters. Spears, a world leader in plastic piping products will host over 300 guests this weekend at the race.

NEW DRIVERS – John Nesmith, Dennis Furden, and Ricky Schlick will make their SPEARS Southwest Tour Series driving debuts this weekend.

2016 DEBUTS – Returning SPEARS Southwest Tour Series drivers who will be making their first start of the 2016 season, include; Mike Mendenhall, Rip Michels, Toni McCray, Scott Sanchez, Bob Lyon, and Donnie St. Ours.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS – On Saturday, June 18th the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will return to Irwindale Speedway for a one of a kind event. Details to be announced later next week.

For more information go to www.SRLSouthwestTour.com or to www.IrwindaleSpeedway.com

About the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series:
Celebrating its sixteenth season in 2016, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. http://www.srlsouthwesttour.com. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.

About SPEARS MANUFACTURING: Spears Manufacturing is a world leader in plastic pipe fittings and valves. SPEARS’ maintains over one million square feet of manufacturing facilities in four states and nine distribution centers across the USA for worldwide distribution. For more information go to http://www.spearsmfg.com. 



Follow the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series on Facebook (Spears Srl Southwest Tour) and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SRLSWTourSeries .

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Dave Grayson's Hot Racing Tickets For April 30th

By Dave Grayson

We have four paved oval events on our targeted list for your consideration. All four of these events will be presented this Saturday, April 30th. Having said that, we need to point out that there's one event that is so red hot you may need asbestos gloves to hold your ticket in your hands. With that thought in mind, let's begin with'

THE IRWINDALE EVENT CENTER, (IEC). 1/2 & 1/3 MILE OVALS. IRWINDALE, CA. www.irwindalespeedway.com Saturday, April 30th.

The IEC is that aforementioned hot ticket.That's because they will be presenting the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series along with the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series. These are two of the most potent, and respected, regional touring series currently racing in the western states. The SRL will be treating the fans to a 100 lap main event Saturday night while the Lucas Oil Modifieds will be running a 75 lap feature. Also on the schedule are the very popular Legend Cars who will be running a 35 lap feature on the IEC's 1/3 mile oval.

For many years now the SRL is famous for extremely exciting feature races that makes the fans jump to their feet and completely ignore the perfectly good seats they paid to sit in. The Spears Manufacturing 100, presented by Pinnacle Peak Steak House, will be providing some championship points implications. There is only a ten point separation between series hot shoes Derek Thorn and Parker Stephens going into Saturday night's race.

Making this race even more interesting is the fact that "The Ripper" is among the entries. That, of course, would be Rip Michaels the 2006 NASCAR national champion as well as a driver who very well knows how to get the job done at Irwindale. Michaels will be driving the red #4 fielded by Bakersfield based driver-team owner Brian Richardson, a driver who had a very good season last year at the Kern County Raceway Park which is his home track. The return of the "Ripper" is expected to be most interesting this Saturday night.

The Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by 1 800 Loan Mart, will be treating their loyal fan base to the Super Clean Spring Shootout, presented by Bilstein Shocks. This will be a 75 lap feature race around the IEC's half mile oval. In an non stop effort to treat their fans to their best effort, this event is 75 green flag laps. The series doesn't count yellow caution laps.

Matt Hicks currently sits on top of the series' points standings but only commands an eight point advantage over series' veteran Larry Gerchman and a nine point lead over veteran driver Linny White. When it comes to the Lucas Oil Modifieds, never overlook the presence of two time champ Austin Barnes who, on a semi good night, is capable of being formidable on the race track. Another interesting aspect to this race will be the presence of Travis Thirkettle who has every intent of winning Saturday night's feature on his home track.

The IEC track action begins on Friday night with an open test and tune session for all divisions from 4 to 845 pm. On Saturday race day the front gates will open at 4pm followed qualifying at 415pm and the IEC's traditional on track autograph session at 545 pm. The opening ceremonies will commence at 645 pm leading up to the main events. Advance pre sale tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or by visiting the speedway. Race day general admission tickets at the ticket gate will be $15 for adults and $5 for children.

LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY BULLRING. 3/8 MILE. LAS VEGAS, NV. www.lvms.com/bullring Saturday, April 30th.

This Saturday is College Night at the Las Vegas Bullring. Area college students, faculty and staff, with valid ID, will be admitted free along with an adult guest and up to two kids. A promotion like this should come as no surprise to anyone who has spent a Saturday night at the Bullring. This track has a long history of coming up with very creative promotions.

They also have a way of coming up with very creative, and fully loaded, racing shows as well and their race schedule for this Saturday night proves that point. Highlighting the on track action will be a visit from North American Big Rig Racing. Yes, you're absolutely right. They are talking about 3,000 horsepower semi trucks running a 40 lap main event around the bullring's high banked oval. This group has been in existence since 1989 and race their trucks at tracks located in Canada as well as Washington and Idaho.

Also on the race schedule are the Southwest Tour Trucks running a 30 lap main, NASCAR Super Stocks, running twin 25 lap mains, twin mains from the NASCAR Bombers, twin races from the USLCI Legends along with main events from the Bandolero, Thunder Car and Skid Plate divisions.

The spectator gates will open at 5pm followed by qualifying at 515pm, the on track autograph session at 6pm and racing at 7pm. Fans can save by purchasing advance tickets online or by calling the ticket office at 702 644 4444. General admission tickets are already priced at a low $8. Don't forget that the Bullring's concession stands sells $2 hot dogs and Coca Cola products along with $3 Budweiser products. Racing fans would be hard pressed to find another track where you could purchase a grandstand ticket along with a hot dog and a coke and only spend $12 while enjoying a very full evening of very good racing. That's why this race track is regarded as being extremely fan friendly.

LOAN MART MADERA SPEEDWAY. 1/3 MILE. MADERA, CA. www.racemadera.com Saturday, April 30th.

Anytime this organization unlocks their spectator gates it automatically becomes a hot ticket. That's because the shows at Loan Mart Madera are that good. They're going to prove that point again this Saturday night with a fully loaded show led by race 2 of the MAV TV televised $1,000 to win Loan Mart Open Late Model Series who will treat their fans to twin 50 lap main events. Also providing on track action will be race 2 of the Junior Late Model Series racing twin 25 lap mains. Also on the race card will be race 2 of the Super Hobby Stock Open Series, the Legends of the Pacific, the MST, the Toyota Sedans, the 4 Bangers and the Mini Cup Cars.

The very busy Saturday begins with a practice session at 12pm, qualifying at 230pm, heat races at 5pm, the Mini Cup 20 lap main at 545pm which will lead to opening ceremonies and the main events at 6pm. The speedway is pleased to announce that thanks to the big support from sponsors Lucas Oil, MAV TV, Twisted Tea and 51 Fifty Energy Drink, they are able to cut ticket prices for this great show, Adult tickets, age 13 plus, are $15 with tickets for seniors and military personnel priced at $13. Youth tickets,age 6 to 12, are $7 with kids five and under admitted free.

LAKEPORT SPEEDWAY. 1/4 MILE. LAKEPORT, CA. www.lakeportspeedway.com Saturday, April 30th.

The home for all things motorsports related in Lake and Mendocino Counties will present racing action this Saturday night from their Taco Bell Bomber, Boat, Jalopy and Jammer divisions. Making the evening even more fun will be the Pro Drifters with their sideways, tire burning, exhibition event. The spectator gates will open at 330pm followed by qualifying at 5pm and then it's on to the heat races and main events.

General admission tickets, age 12 plus, are $12. Tickets for seniors, age 60 plus, and students with valid school ID are $9. To express appreciation to area first responders, the speedway will offer them $6 discounted tickets. Children's tickets, age 5 to 11, are also $6 with kids under 5 admitted free. The speedway also has a budget friendly family package, for $30, that admits two adults and three kids.