Irwindale May 8th preview

Super Saturday Night At Irwindale -- May 8 -- Will Feature Five Racing Divisions

Irwindale, Calif. - - What do Greg Pursley, Tim Huddleston, Mark Holeman, Brian Harrell, and Kevin Bernhardt have in common? Right! They all race at in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series event at Irwindale Speedway on selected Saturday nights. This Saturday night to be precise! They are also all leading their respective series' points battles -- Pursley in the Lucas Oil Super Late Models. Huddleston in the Automobile Club of Southern California Late Models. Holeman in the NAPA Auto Parts Super Trucks. Brian Harrell in the Vista Paint Super Stocks. And -- Kevin Bernhardt in the Mini Stocks. Now, here's the best part, these five drivers are leading their by a grand total of only 33 points! Two by as few as 2 points with the longest lead a scant 15 points. Which is to say that the points chases are all tight and the racing in this 5-alarm show is sure to be INTENSE.

Irwindale's ticket office opens at noon on Saturday, and the track gates open at 4PM. Irwindale's signature "King Taco On-Track Autograph Session" takes place at 6PM. Fans, friends, crews, drivers -- everyone who loves racing -- all on the front straightaway for what always ends up as much more than a simple signature session. New friends are made, and young fans find new heroes of the half-mile. (Complete points charts are on the Irwindale website at: www.irwindalespeedway.com.

And, speaking of heroes -- May has now officially been named National Military Appreciation Month. As part of Irwindale's acknowledgement of the observance, young Shauna Fleming of Orange, California will be on hand at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday night to carry on her work of collecting and distributing one million (and more!) letters of thanks to "--our military men and women, past and present, during National Military Appreciation Month". Irwindale fans in attendance on Saturday night will be able to add their names to the letters of support and admiration.

Accompanying Shauna will be a pair of young soldiers just back from service in Iraq. Her school's (Lutheran High School in Orange) 50-piece band also will be at Irwindale on Saturday night render the national anthem at 7PM prior to the first race. "And, I think that we'll keep Shauna up in the starter's stand to have her flag off the first race of the night!" said track GM, Bob DeFazio. "This is a 15 year old youngster, showing us the way to pay tribute to our military men and women. She surely deserves our cheers and respect!" For more information on this great project: www.amillionthanks.org <http://www.amillionthanks.org>.

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