Michels started seventh in his Ladco Chevy Monte Carlo, led the final 38 laps and won by 0.407 seconds. It was his 25th Irwindale main event victory, including 18 triumphs in the GAM division. Michels is now tied for most feature victories in track history with Todd Burns, who won his 25 mains in the Late Model division. Michels ranks second in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series regional points. He said he must win the three remaining races to collect the lucrative first place check in the regional point series. Michels beat 15 other drivers in the shortest field for the track's premier division since May 10, 1999 (16 cars).
Recent crashes, blown engines and depleted racing budgets for some teams have sidelined several front runners in recent weeks. Recent SLM point leader Tony Green was in the pits without a car this week. He said his Monte Carlo wasn't ready to race yet following his crash on August 17. However, Green said his car will return at the September 7 race.
Bakersfield's Kevin Vernon, in a Monte Carlo new to his team, started on the outside of row one and led the 16-car SLM main for the initial four circuits. Second year SLM driver Nick DeFazio came from fifth grid position to lead laps five-36 before Michels and then Vernon dropped him to third place on lap 37. They finished in that order. Vernon, a many-time champion at Mesa Marin Raceway, said his second place finish is his career best at Irwindale. He lost an earlier Irwindale main event victory via post-race technical inspection infraction.
DeFazio, who earlier won his initial SLM High Banks Racing Collectibles trophy dash, enjoyed his career best finish on Irwindale's half-mile. He drove a Taurus sponsored by the Southern California Pipe Trades Union. DeFazio, son of Irwindale's vice president /COO, had a main event second place on the third-mile in a Legend car in 2000.
Fastest qualifier Tony Bruncati spun a nine on the inversion wheel after time trials. He started the feature ninth, got bumped in heavy opening lap traffic and spun to the grass in turn four. He resumed but was about 80% of a lap behind the leader. Bruncati's Sunrise Ford Taurus was the fastest car on the track lap after lap. He ran consistent laps at 18.6 seconds, compared to 19.0-second laps by the leaders. With all-green laps from the opening lap, it took Bruncati 25 laps to catch the last place car in the rapid field. He worked his way to 12th position by lap 50, with all 16 cars still on the lead lap.
The first caution flag came on lap 51 when fifth-place Craig Raudman, a Southwest Series winner, hit the second turn wall and stopped on the backstretch. Bruncati jumped to eighth position on the next green flag lap. The yellow flag flew again on lap 57. Rookie Brett Landes, an AMA Grand National motorcycle dirt track racer, had his best run to date and was in seventh position on lap 64 when he parked in the infield with a mechanical problem. Brandon Loverock was in second place when he slowed with a problem on lap 64 and parked on lap 67.
David Brandon, returned to racing after a lengthy absence because of a broken femur in a leg (aquired in a "street" motorcycling accident, not on the racetrack -Ed.), lost his left rear wheel literally in turn four and spun out in a shower of sparks. Bruncati moved his Ford into fourth place during the final 14 laps and earned the hard charger award. |
