WWS: Irwindale Speedway May 12th preview

Irwindale Racing Season In Full Swing
Classic Nascar Food 4 Less Winston West 250 May 12

Special Mother'S Day Event Will Benefit National Breast Cancer Foundation and Cecilia Gonzales Center At White Memorial Hospital In East Los Angeles

Here come NASCAR's awesome stock cars of the Winston West! Saturday night, May 12 under some of the brightest lights in the short track racing business 85 This is the first of three great Food 4 Less 250 "West Shows" at Irwindale Speedway this season.

85 And "The West" will be at Irwindale to help celebrate Mother's Day in benefit of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from the night's event will go to the Foundation for use by the Cecilia Gonzales De La Hoya Cancer Institute at White Memorial Hospital in East Los Angeles. Mrs. Gonzales, who passed away from breast cancer, is the mother of Oscar De La Hoya, the Olympic gold medallist and popular professional boxer who endowed the center in her name.

Winston West represents the very best stock car racing in the West with seasoned teams and skilled drivers that can always be counted on to put on a show for the fans from the green flag to the last lap.

Born when NASCAR came to the West Coast and began sanctioning the Pacific Coast Late Model circuit in 1954, the Winston West Series has been known as Pacific Coast Late Model, Grand National West and Winston West Grand National. The 1998 season, which featured a tremendous outpouring of interest, was considered the beginning of a new era for the NASCAR Winston West Series.

In the 2000 season just passed, the R.J. Reynolds Company announced that it's Winston brand would increase its involvement to $350,000 for Winston's 30th year with NASCAR in sponsorship of the Series.

Winston West Series cars are virtually the same as those raced in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. They sport a 110 inch wheelbase and must weigh a minimum of 3,400 pounds. The major difference is under the hood. NWWS cars are powered by 358-cubic-inch V-8 push rod motors with a maximum compression ratio of 9.5 to 1.

Winston West races at Irwindale Speedway are the only regular season events with planned/scheduled pit stops. Irwindale's track maintenance team converts the entire infield into a NASCAR action pit area with tire-changing and fuel stops all part of the show. And that show goes on right in front of every seat in the grandstands. Every fan in the place can almost feel the heat of the red-hot brake rotors as tires are changed and fuel is dumped aboard. This is full-on NASCAR action at it's very best!

The pre-race autograph session featuring all the Winston West heroes will take place right on the race track!. This special event will give fans a chance to personally put their feet on the six degree front straight to meet and greet their favorite drivers and to wish them well before the big race.

Try that at one of the giant tracks. And, after the races the pits are open to all for victory celebrations or maybe a, "Better luck next time, pal" pat on the back. Its all good, and its all part of the wonderful world of big time pros racing at great short tracks. They love it, the fans love it! It's a wonderful time for all.

SPECIAL NOTE: KIDS 12 and UNDER FREE (W/ADULT TICKET PURCHASE) ON SATURDAY MAY 12 - WINSTON WEST FOOD 4 LESS 250

This is the kind of racing that can only be truly enjoyed close-up and in person. Fans who have only seen NASCAR pit stops on television, even with trick camera shots, haven't really experienced the real thing live. The sounds, the smells, the scene, is like nothing else in motorsports, and it's live at Irwindale Speedway three times this season with the Winston West. May 12, July 21, and the 2001 Winston West series finale November 10.

Adding to the NASCAR "Touring Pro" flavor at Irwindale are three great Featherlite Southwest Tour Food 4 Less 150-lap races. Their April 21 race produced the fastest-ever event for that group on a half-mile. Forty nine minutes and 21 seconds was all it took to run 150 blazing laps. Only five laps of caution slowed the Southwest speedsters and the race was won by less than a car length after an exhilarating 75-mile chase. Two more of these splendid non-stop NASCAR barn-burners are scheduled for Irwindale: June 9 and September 1.

Every Saturday night Irwindale Speedway features the best of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Divisions, the training grounds for future champions. For fans looking for an example they need look no farther than 2001 season Winston Cup phenom Kurt Bush who raced a Legend Car (and won regularly) at the Speedway during its 1999 inaugural season.

And, Winston Weekly racing at Irwindale Speedway features some of the most competitive racing seen anywhere. These drivers know that they are, "under the lights" and under the watchful eyes of knowledgeable fans and they truly show their best stuff every time they take to the track. The Food 4 Less Super Late Models, the Automobile Club of Southern California Late Models, the Grand American Modifieds and Super Stocks, the Modified 4's, and the King Taco Legend Cars all will be racing for Irwindale Speedway championship points.

Each visiting racing division adds its own special personality to the brilliant mix of motorsports events that adds up to the Speedway's 2001 season. The three divisions of trucks: Ultra Wheels Super Trucks, Mechanix Wear Speed Trucks, American Race Trucks. The MSRA Pro4 Modifieds and the USAC Sprints, Midgets, Silver Crown Cars, and TQ's. The Star Formula Mazdas and those splendid ASA cars. Each broadens Irwindale's status as one of the nation's top short tracks.