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TQ: Irwindale 'accordion' night

Irwindale, Calif. - - Bring an accordion, get in FREE. That's right, anyone bringing an accordion to play at Saturday night's races at Irwindale Speedway will get into the races for free. "This is just our way of having some fun and promoting ...

Irwindale, Calif. - - Bring an accordion, get in FREE. That's right, anyone bringing an accordion to play at Saturday night's races at Irwindale Speedway will get into the races for free. "This is just our way of having some fun and promoting a little bit of musical diversity at the Speedway," said track VP Pat Patterson. "Our announcer, Bruce Flanders, came up with the concept, we're curious as to how the promotion will play out." The idea will be to invite all the accordion-slingers who show up at Irwindale Speedway for the freebie to play a few numbers for the crowd as part of the pre-race show. "We really don't know how many folks will take us up on this one, its not quite like 'Back to School Night' where you know there's a lot of school-age kids out there, We're going to play this one 'by ear'," Patterson said.

"Playing" on the track on Saturday night are the always exciting United States Auto Club TQ Midgets. These super-feisty open wheel critters are guaranteed to put on an action-packed show on the tight confines of Irwindale's inner third-mile track. Only banked at 4 degrees (as opposed to up to 12 degrees for the half-mile), the third always brings out the best in handling and is very rewarding to superior driving tactics.

Irwindale's own NASCAR Super Stocks will not be running for season points on Saturday night, but there will be another incentive in the air and on the line when they take the green flag … MONEY. A big, fat five thousand dollar purse has been put up with an equally portly $1000.00 of those big bucks going to the night's main event winner. At fifty laps it works out to 100 bucks a lap up for grabs for the fighting Supers. Should be a good one with all the S/S series regulars only worried about putting rectangular greenies in the bank instead of piling up those pesky yearly points.

Trucks are always popular at Irwindale and the American Race Trucks will make the second of a rare back-to-back set of appearances on September 23. More and more competitors are expected at each "ART" event at Irwindale culminating with the two-day American Race Truck Finals that will be staged here at the 'Dale on November 3 and 4.

Two words: "FIGURE … EIGHT". Enough said. These wild hare racers will be back on a tightened-up fast and furious Figure 8 course at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday next. Don't dare fail to see all the bobbing, weaving, narrow misses, spills, chills, thrills, and fire drills … And that's only the pace laps!

Four divisions of exciting racing action, an early (4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and late (they'll play from after the races until midnight) live band, free car club show, NASCAR fan participation Trivia Game and on-track contests, even a chance to win the track's Advantage Ford Mustang GT Convertible Pace Car! There's always lots to do and see early at Irwindale (and parking is a whole lot easier). The gates open at 4 p.m. and the first race goes off at 7 p.m.

Fans should be reminded that the Pits are open to all right after the last race of the evening. It's a great chance to meet the drivers, get an autograph or two, take a photo of your kid sitting in the seat of a real race car, and generally re-live all the night's action with the drivers and their pit crews.

For advance tickets call (626) 358-1100, go to www.tickets.com, or visit the on-site ticket booth located right at the track.

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