DUNCAN FAMILIAR WITH IRWINDALE'S VARIOUS NUANCES.Byline: Keith Keith may refer to: People with the given name Keith:
IRWINDALE - When NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Winston Winston is a name deriving from Old English wynnstān, meaning "pleasant stone". Places Winston is the name of several places in England:
A civic capitalist, Mike Duncan is active in numerous professional and nonprofit organizations. takes to the half-mile oval at Irwindale Speedway Irwindale Speedway is a motorsports facility located in Irwindale, California. It features banked, paved 1/2 and 1/3 mile oval tracks. It is mainly used for USAC sprint car and regional NASCAR races. for this weekend's NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown The Toyota All-Star Showdown is a nonpoints, all-star race that brings together the top drivers in NASCAR's lower-level series. It was inaugurated in 2003, and all three events so far have been held at Irwindale Speedway in suburban Los Angeles. , he will have a definite home-field advantage. ``We know what to expect,'' said Duncan Duncan, city (1990 pop. 21,732), seat of Stephens co., SW Okla., in an oil, farm, and cattle area; inc. 1892. There is an oil industry, and electronics, concrete, and apparel are manufactured. During the late 19th cent. , 41. Duncan made six trips to Irwindale from his Bakersfield-area home this year: five for a Super Late Model race and one for a Winston West event. His original plan was to receive television exposure and beat Irwindale's best drivers this season, which he did only once, in the season-ending 200-lapper three weeks ago. It was not necessarily to get ready for the three-day, invitation-only event. ``You know every bump in the track,'' said his crew chief, Winston West legend Bill Sedgewick. ``It is a definite advantage.'' Duncan finished second in the Winston West points race by taking the final race at Mesa Marin. Dave Gilliland has been more successful at Irwindale than Duncan. He won both Featherlite Southwest Series races on the half-mile oval this year en route to sixth place in the points standings, has won nine races at Irwindale and is one of only five drivers to have won at the track in all five years. ``Without a doubt, it's an advantage,'' the Chino Chino (chē`nō), city (1990 pop. 59,682), San Bernardino co., S Calif.; founded 1887, inc. 1910. It is the business and processing center of a diversified farming (notably dairying) area. Hills resident said. ``The guys from the East Coast will not know the track. We know what the tires will do, what the chassis Pronounced "chah-see," it is a physical structure that holds everything or that everything is attached to. A computer's cabinet is often called the chassis. will do. I like to think this is a big advantage.'' The Showdown matches the top 15 drivers from each of NASCAR's Grand National divisions, Winston West and the Busch North in a 125-lap race. Also competing in a 100-lap event will be the top 10 drivers from the four Elite divisions - Southwest, Kodak Southeast, Raybestos Northwest and International Truck and Engine Midwest. Practice is Thursday, with four qualifying races Friday night. ``We've been on this track for four years,'' Gilliland said. ``I think that's quite a bit of an advantage.'' Sure, there's three hours of practice time Thursday, but Gilliland has spent countless hours in the pits, plus testing Friday nights and racing Saturdays. ``The best drivers will have plenty of time to figure the track out,'' NASCAR's Chris Boals said. ``The difference can be in the set-ups,'' Duncan said. ``That could be in our advantage.'' Keith Lair, (626) 962-8811 keith.lair(at)sgvn.com NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN Where: Irwindale Speedway Tickets: $5 Thursday, $15 Friday, $35 Saturday TV: Speed Channel (8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday) Thursday's schedule: Noon: Gates open, Grand National Division practice; 1 p.m.: Elite Division practice; 2 p.m.: Grand National Division practice; 3 p.m.: Elite Division practice; 4 p.m.: Grand National Division practice; 5 p.m.: Elite Division practice. Friday's schedule: Noon: Gates open; 2 p.m.: Elite Division practice; 3:05 p.m.: Grand National Division practice; 7 p.m.: Opening ceremonies; 8 p.m.: 1st 50-lap Elite Division qualifying race; 8:50 p.m.: 2nd 50-lap Elite Division qualifying race; 9:35 p.m.: 1st 50-lap Grand National Division qualifying race; 10:05 p.m.: 2nd 50-lap Grand National Division qualifying race. Saturday's schedule: 1 p.m.: Gates open; 3 p.m.: Autograph autograph Any manuscript handwritten by its author; in common usage, a handwritten signature. Aside from its value as a collector's item, an early or corrected draft of a work may show its stages of composition or “correct” final version. session all cars on front stretch; 4:15 p.m.: Opening ceremonies; 5:05 p.m.: Elite Division 100 laps; 7:30 p.m.: Grand National Division 125 laps. CAPTION(S): box Box: NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN (see text) |
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