10/20/2006-10/21/2006 NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN

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.