Large Entry Lists Headline SRL’s Return to Irwindale Speedway
Event: The “LiUNA – Feel the Power 100 presented Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse” will be the seventh event of the 2022 season, and it will kick off the final one-third of the season for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series on September 17th. It is the third trip to Irwindale Speedway (CA) for the Southwest Tour, Spears Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services, and Spears Modified Series. $6,500 will go to the Super Late Model winner, the Pro Late Models will race for $2,500 in the “SpearsRacing.TV 60 presented by Sigma Performance Services”, and the Modifieds will compete for $2,000-to-win in the “Factory Canopies 60 presented by General Tire”. All divisions will compete on the outer ½-mile oval.
Large Field: 28 Super Late Models are currently entered for this weekend’s event, representing seven states. California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, and Colorado are all represented. Eight former SRL winners are entered with two former champions. Jace Hansen, Blaine Rocha, Jeff Bischofberger, Linny White, Dan Holtz, and Buddy Shepherd are joined by former champions Jeremy Doss and Jacob Gomes as former series winners. 13 competitors have Late Model Track Championships. 19 Pro Late Models and 18 Modifieds are entered for this weekend’s event.
Championship Battle: Jacob Gomes and Jeremy Doss are separated by only 12 points in the battle for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series championship. Both are former champions and are vying to become only the third repeat champions in series history, behind Derek Thorn (6) and Jim Pettit II (3). Doss closed the gap on Gomes by 30 markers with his win at Stockton 99 Speedway in July. Jace Hansen, Cale Kanke, Dustin Ash, and John Moore make up the remainder of the top half-dozen. Only eight points separate third from sixth in the standings. Andy Allen, Buddy Shepherd, Zach Telford and Scott Sanchez round out the top-10.
Rookies: Four Rookie-of-the-Year competitors are entered for this weekend’s event. Zach Telford leads the rookie standings with Jake Bollman, Dylan Zampa, Jordan Riddick and Austin Herzog the top-five. Telford, Zampa, and Herzog are entered along with Sean Hingorani. 11 different rookies have scored points in 2022.
SPS for Three: Dustin Ash, Jim Wulfenstein, and Joe Farre’ will each represent Sigma Performance Services (SPS) at Irwindale. Dustin Ash and Jim Wulfenstein are both multi-time Late Model Track Champions at the Bullring at LVMS. Joe Farre’ is the owner of SPS and has 48 career starts in the series. Ash currently sits fifth in the championship standings. Wulfenstein is a veteran racer and has seven starts in the former NASCAR Southwest Tour Series with a best finish of fifth. He has 11 SRL starts. Farre’ is another veteran racer who can claim a best SRL finish of sixth, but he may be number one in the pits in popularity.
Debut: Jason Jefferson, Jonathan Mawhinney, Charle Price, and Jason Gilbert will make their first starts of the season in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series. Jefferson and Price will make their first career starts. Jefferson is a six-time Super Late Model Track Champion and will be in the Dave Reed Racing Super Late Model. Price will be substituting for Andy Allen. He is the Crew Chief for Allen and is a multi-time Super Late Model winner at Irwindale Speedway as well as the winner of four of five career ASA Truck Series starts. Gilbert is a former NASCAR State of California Champion and had a best finish of fourth in the SRL standings. Mawhinney will make his 14th series start, earning a best finish of third in 2020. He will be driving for Garcia Racing.
Pro Late Models: 19 Pro Late Models are entered for this weekend’s “SpearsRacing.TV 60 presented by Sigma Performance Services”. Seth Wise enters the event as the championship leader with a 31-point lead over Tyler Reif. Tanner Reif is third, six points behind his brother. Dylan Zampa sits 24 markers behind Tanner with Logan Zampa fifth, three points behind his brother. Several former competitors in the Super Late Model series have entered this weekend. NASCAR Truck Series driver and 2020 SRL Rookie-of-the-Year Dean Thomspon will make his first start of the season. 2017 SRL Rookie of the Year Ricky Schlick, who was a winner that season, will also make his first appearance. Corey Neveau will make his first start of the season as will Nick Joanides.
Spears Modifieds: 18 Modifieds are entered for Saturday’s action. Jaron Giannini leads the standings with 1,006 points followed by Jimmy Sloan (927), Sam Jacks (901), Travis Thirkettle (885) and Kyle Jacks (869). Round #7 will find several teams returning for the first time since early in the season. 2020 championship runner-up Eddie Secord will make his return after his Modified was destroyed in the season opener at Havasu 95 Speedway. 2021 Modified Rookie-of-the-Year Andrew Anderson, will make his first start since the All-Star Showdown, as will former two-time champion Jim Mardis. William Guevara will make his 81st straight appearance in the series. Travis Thirkettle will look to extend his winning streak to four-in-a-row and five wins overall.
Broadcast: For those unable to attend on the 17th, the race will be shown LIVE at www.SpearsRacing.TV and on a delayed basis on MAVTV.
Schedule: The “LiUNA – Feel the Power 100 presented by Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse” will pay $6,500 to the winner thanks to the Winner’s Bonus from COMP Cams and Serck Motorsport. Spectator Gates open at 4:00 pm with Qualifying beginning at 4:30 pm for the Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Super Late Models. An Autograph Session will follow at 5:45 pm. The National Anthem is scheduled for 6:45 pm with Main Events set for 7:00 pm. The evening will also feature Fireworks and a Motorhome Demolition Derby, following the Main Events.
