WWS: Irwindale Speedway 2000-06-24

Veteran driver Bobby Dotter of Mooresville, North Carolina made it look (almost) easy taking both the pole and the win in the Home Depot 250 NASCAR Winston West race at Irwindale Speedway. The 6,490 fans who were on hand in the near-capacity stadium were treated to a 125-mile race filled with action on every lap. Dotter, who was in contention for the whole race, waited behind early leaders Ramona rookie John Borneman II and Sparks, Nevada's Steve Portenga until lap 200 when he made a move that made the show a "three-wide" race for a breathless lap and a half.

In an Irwindale Speedway version of a "long lead" the 39 year-old Dotter put something like six or seventh car lengths on the field on his way to his second victory (the first two in a row in a number of years) on the 2000 Winston West trail. Behind him the racing was fierce for every place, every point. Fans who flocked to Irwindale to see Winston-style racing witnessed 250 laps of all-out competition that had all in the grandstands on their feet numerous times throughout the event.

In a stirring first-ever Winston West start, Irwindale's own Super Late Model points leader Greg Voigt, from Goleta, finished a fighting fifth place after working his way steadily and skillfully through the field from his 18-fastest starting position.

1999 Winston West champion, Sean Woodside, starting from back, sliced and diced his way up through the field, sticking his nose first into the top ten, and then, on lap 242 into the top five. On 244, by his own after-race admission, "…trying to be a hero." he slammed out of turn two faster than the laws of physics allow and found himself smiting the inner track wall and bending something vital that couldn't be repaired right on the spot at the track. Woodside, oddly enough, ended up in tenth place on the night, the same spot that he had finished in at the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour race at Sears Point Raceway earlier in the day.

<pre> 1.) Bobby Dotter, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Charlotte, NC 2.) Brendan Gaughn, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, NV 3.) Mike Duncan, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Lamont 4.) Kevin Richards, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Spokane, WA 5.) Greg Voigt, Chevy Monte Carlo, Goleta

</pre> Food 4 Less Super Late Models

Ben Walker won the time-shortened 50 lap (of 75 scheduled) Food 4 Less Super Late Model race with Canyon Country's Tommy Fry right behind. AJ DiMarzo of Saugus was third, with Chino's Tim Woods III fourth, and Eric Ferguson of El Cajon fifth. Greg Voigt had an early-race mishap that sent him spinning into the infield, luckily his reactions were fast enough to bring the car back around and salvage a 14-place finish which was enough to retain his lead in the division's points chase.