10/20/2006-10/21/2006 NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Wed, Oct 18, 2006
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is an invitational race for NASCAR's best
regional series racers from across the nation with nearly $500,000 in prize
money up for grabs. Drivers and their teams are invited to compete, based on the
final point standings for their series. The top 15 driver from each of the two
series of the NASCAR Grand National Division - which includes the Busch East
Series and AutoZone West Series - are invited. In addition, the top 10 drivers
from each of the four series that comprise the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
are invited, including the Midwest Series, Northwest Series, Southeast Series
and Southwest Series.
On Friday, twin 50-lap qualifying races will be held with fully inverted fields
(with series champions and points leaders starting from the rear of the field)
to determine the starting lineups for Saturday's main events.
On Saturday, two main events are held. A race-within-a-race also determines a
"team" championship. Drivers are scored as a "team" with their fellow series
drivers during the opening segments of each race. Once the "team" championship
is settled and the race is restarted after a 10-minute competition break, it is
every driver for themselves.
The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is a showcase for the best racing talent in
the nation. Many participants have "graduated" to NASCAR's three national series
including 2005 winner David Gilliland of Chino Hills , Calif. who competes
fulltime in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and Auggie Vidovich of Lakeside ,
Calif. , who competes in the NASCAR Busch Series.
Activities kick off on Thursday, October 19 at 8 p.m. in the Speedway's north
parking lot where the public is invited, free of charge, to meet many of the
driver and crew members competing in the event. Race cars will be on display and
local favorite Philip Sayce will perform a music concert. On Friday, spectator
gates open at 4 p.m. with the first qualifying race beginning at 8 p.m. On
Saturday, spectator gates open at 4 p.m. King Taco fan appreciation autograph
session will take place at 5 p.m. on the track with all of the drivers and crew
members. The first championship race is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. The event
schedule is listed below.
Tickets for all Irwindale Speedway events including the October 20-21 NASCAR
Toyota All-Star Showdown are available for purchase at the Speedway ticket
office, by calling (626) 358-1100 and online at
www.irwindalespeedway.com.
Irwindale Speedway is located on 500 Speedway Drive off of Live Oak Ave. and
I-605, between the 10 and 210 freeways in Irwindale, CA.