|
10/2/2010 |
|
2011 NASCAR TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN ANNOUNCED
Short-track
showcase returns to Toyota Speedway in January |
|
NASCAR
announced today that the 2011 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, the sport’s
premier short-track racing showcase will return to the Toyota Speedway at
Irwindale (Calif.) on Jan. 28-29.
The eighth running of the event, which brings together the top racers from
across North America and has grown into the ”Daytona 500 of short-track
racing,” will be highlighted by the 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series all-star
race.
“The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is the premier event of our short-track
calendar,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR managing director of racing
operations. “From Austin Cameron’s emotional win in the very first event to
last year’s dramatic debut of Sergio Pena, each successive race has
continued to build the prestige of the Showdown. This all-star weekend
shines the spotlight on our champions and the sport’s rising stars.”
The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown main event is broken up into three
sections – two 100-lap segments preceding a 25-lap dash to the finish. Last
year, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Joey Logano became just the second driver to
win two Showdowns when he held off a furious challenge over the closing laps
from the 17-year-old Pena, who was making his series debut for Revolution
Racing/Drive for Diversity.
The race features secured starting spots for the 2010 champions of NASCAR’s
developmental series and race winners of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series from the
2010 season. Eighteen-year-old Ryan Truex leads the field of drivers who
have already earned spots, having recently wrapped up his second straight
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship.
Other drivers who have secured starting spots include NASCAR K&N Pro Series
race winners Ty Dillon, Max Gresham, Paulie Harraka, Erik Holmes, Patrick
Long, David Mayhew, Brett Moffitt, Andrew Ranger, Greg Pursley, Auggie
Vidovich, and Darrell Wallace Jr., in addition to NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series national champion Keith Rocco and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
presented by Mobil 1 champion DJ Kennington.
The schedule also includes a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super
Late Model race and a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model
race. The top five NASCACR state champions in attendance will have secured
starting spots in the Late Model race. New to this year, the 25-car fields
for each of those races will be set by a pair of heat races – 25 laps for
the the Super Late Models and 20 laps for the Late Models.
Both nights of racing will air live on SPEED as part of full weekend of
racing on SPEED that includes the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series’ Rolex 24
at Daytona.
“Year in and year out, the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown has provided some
of the best racing action of the season,” said Bob DeFazio, Toyota Speedway
at Irwindale track operator. “Last year’s sell-out crowd at the Toyota
Speedway at Irwindale witnessed a race they will be talking about for years,
and we are honored to once again host the pinnacle of short-track racing in
NASCAR. Toyota Speedway’s graduated banking and multiple racing grooves are
a perfect place to showcase this tremendous pool of talent in NASCAR. This
event is a perfect way to give race fans a final send-off to the 2010 racing
season and whet their appetite for more exciting racing in 2011.”
The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown main event – contested in NASCAR K&N Pro
Series cars – is open to any driver approved to drive on a half-mile or
longer tracks in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.
Current national series drivers such as Logano, Ricky Carmichael, Brian
Ickler, Trevor Bayne, Matt Crafton, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Justin Lofton have
competed in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. In addition, NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series drivers Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. have launched their
careers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. The series is the top developmental
step for drivers looking to make the jump to one of NASCAR's national
series. |
Source: Jason Christley
/ NASCAR
Posted: October
2, 2010 |
|
|