THIRKETTLE WINS FIRST IRWINDALE SLM MAIN OF '08
By Tim Kennedy

IRWINDALE, CA. May 31 – Travis Thirkettle returned to victory lane Saturday night on the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale banked half-mile in the AC Delco Super Late Model 50-lap feature in a five division NASCAR Whelen All-American Weekly Racing Series show. His first main event triumph of 2008 came in the eighth main event for the fastest in-house TS@I series and ended the Nick Joanides winning streak at five. Thirkettle started fourth in his National Papers-sponsored 2007 Chevy Monte Carlo. The second generation driver from Newhall took the lead on the second lap with an inside fourth turn pass of second starter Derek Becker. Thirkettle held off runner-up Joanides for the final 17 laps. A last lap determined move for the lead by Joanides fell short by a length and a half (0.163) in an exciting finish for the estimated 1,500 spectators on “Baby Boomer Night”.

Thirkettle's 50-points for winning moved him from fifth to fourth in series points, while Joanides climbed from third to second in the standings. Third finisher Scott Conaway jumped from second to the point lead and became a first-time SLM series point leader. The first five drivers in points are now separated by only 22-points. Conaway has 332, Joanides 326, former leader Dan Moore 318, Thirkettle 312 and two-time winner Charles Price 310. Thirkettle's victory was his 27th at Irwindale and broke his tie with 2004 SLM champion Greg Pursley for eighth place on the all-time feature winner list at the ten year old speedway. Thirkettle's feature victories have come in three series—Grand American Modifieds, Auto Club Late Models and in SLMs. He was the 2006 ACLM track champion and the 2007 SLM rookie of the year. He currently serves as shop foreman for Tim Huddleston's High-Point Distributing expanding eight-car team.

SLM: The announced 20-car SLM field became 19 cars when Scott Dodd did not start. Derek, the youngest of three Becker brothers from San Bernardino County in the race, led the first lap. The 20-year old Highland resident chased Thirkettle for 32 laps and was half a straightaway behind the leader and engaged in a three-way duel with Joanides and Moore. On lap 32, following a caution for debris, Moore took advantage of cooler tires to move past Joanides for third place with an inside pass. A lap later Moore took second position from Becker. On lap 34 the right side of Moore's inside-running Ford Fusion contacted the left side of Becker's Chevy near the end of the backstretch. Both cars veered right and contacted the crash-wall, with Moore's car making heavy contact and sliding to mid-turn three with engine flames showing briefly. Moore was shaken and climbed from his heavily damaged car with a reported sore back. He rode to the pits in the ambulance but declined transport to a hospital. Becker's car received right side damage and stopped next to the wall neat turn three. A 15-minute red flag ensued. Both cars were towed to the pits. Moore's car showed severe damage to the right front and side. Following the checkered flag an incident occurred. Several Irwindale Police cars, with red lights flashing, entered the pits to keep peace after a Becker-backer allegedly assaulted a Moore crewman.

Victorious Thirkettle said, “It's good to get that monkey off the back this year. You really appreciate winning. It's so tough to win and you never know when you're going to win again.” His last victory came last September in his rookie SLM campaign. During the final 17 laps Thirkettle switched from his usual high groove in all four turns. “It was so good on the bottom I didn't need to try on top,” the winner stated. His new groove choice might have helped him deprive Joanides of his sixth consecutive victory. Joanides' inside move through the third and fourth corners on the final lap found Thirkettle occupying his intended passing route as they approached two slower cars. At the checkers, seventh place Randel King, 16, got into the back of sixth place Stephen Peace, who spun across the finish line, still sixth, and stopped without any contact in mid-track.

SUPER TRUCKS: Connor Cantrell, a 17-year old Valencia High junior, led all 40-laps of the King Taco Super Truck Series main on the half-mile. It was his third victory in the fifth KTST race this season and his seventh win at Irwindale, including third-mile triumphs in the Legends series. As second fastest qualifier Cantrell started his HollywoodRentals.com/Cantrell-aire No. 9 Chevy S-10 truck from pole position. He pulled away easily to a 35-yard advantage until he eased off during the final five laps to his 20-yard winning margin (0.893). Cantrell closed to 12-points behind point leader and third finisher Pat Mintey, Jr. (222-210). Fastest qualifier Todd Cameron enjoyed his career-best finish by racing second all the way in his No. 99 Bowden Development 2008 Chevy S-10. 

LEGENDS: Three main events used the third-mile. In a stunning upset, 14-year old Eric Gunderson, from La Jolla (San Diego County) started second as the fastest qualifier in a 20-car field. He trailed second fastest qualifier/pole starter Tom Landreth for the first 16 laps of a 30-lap race. Landreth, the five-time Legends track champion, 38-main event winner and current point leader by 58 points entering the race, held a 15-yard lead by lap 10. He appeared en-route to his third consecutive feature victory this season in event six of the 15-race season. Then Gunderson reeled in Landreth and passed him cleanly on the inside entering the first turn on lap 17. The youngster, driving in only his sixth Legends race, quickly opened a ten yard lead over the veteran. A lap 22 caution for the spinning 11th place car put Landreth back on the rookie's back bumper. Gunderson again opened a steady lead following another caution flag for a solo car spin on lap 25. After Gunderson and Landreth received the white flag and started the final lap, Jordan Hyland spun and backed into the fourth turn wall for the third caution flag. With green, white and then checkered flags, an extras lap made it 31 laps officially. The teen held off Landreth by two lengths (0.201). Gunderson praised the assistance of John London, crew chief for Landreth's two-car family team. Landreth credited yet another teenage challenger for being unflappable with only five legends races under his belt. He became the fourth 14-year old main event winner in track history, including Ryan Reed earlier this season and Cantrell several seasons ago.

MINI STOCKS: Tyler Rogers, a 21-year old second generation driver from Riverside, won his third consecutive Justice Brothers Mini Stock 35-lap main with his father and brother Jacob, 18, in the field. He started fifth and became the third leader on lap 15 by passing the lap 2-14 leader Daryl Scoggins. Both drivers drove 1970s Ford Pintos. Scoggins trailed by 35-yards (2.162 seconds) and barely held off a closing challenge by Jacob Rogers by 0.219. The winner had a problem earlier this year and collected only 18 points. He took over the series point lead by two digits (184-182) over former leader Rich Garver, the fastest qualifier and sixth starter in a Toyota Celica. He hooked bumpers with Steve Rogers on lap two and came back from last in a 16-car field to place fifth. Pole-man Rod Schmitt led the first lap and settled for fourth in his Ford Pinto. The 15-minute race had two minor cautions. Winner Rogers thanked fans and his father for all his work on the family Pintos. “He's the technical guy,” he told the crowd.

BANDOLEROS: Quickest qualifier Aaron Anderson, 12, started last in a 20-lap D & D Construction Bandolero race for the Briggs & Stratton powered small cars. He won his fourth main of the year officially in a five-car field, the smallest Bandolero field in track history. Anderson received no points in race three of five this year because his winning car was disqualified for using an unapproved part. Instead of having a perfect 250 points, he now has 200 and ranks fourth, with nine-year old point leader Lexi Moore at 220 points. Andrew Porter, 14, passed his race leading sister Aubree, 13, on the second lap and led to lap 13 when Anderson made his winning pass on the inside at turn four. He won by ten yards over Andrew, Lexi and Aubree. Ricky Schlick was fifth and all drivers completed 20 laps in the all-green light 6:24.147-timed race. 

DASH: The first race of the evening at 7:00 was a six-lap trophy dash for the six fastest SLM qualifiers with a complete inversion by speed. Sixth fastest Conaway, 44, led all the way for his first-ever victory at the track where he began racing part-time in 2001 and full time since 2005. He won by 0.277. His spotter, en-route to his spotting perch atop the race control roof, did not see Conaway's first victory. The spotter was among a group of people stuck in one of two track elevators for almost 30-minutes. He was in radio contact with his driver, but could not advise him or watch him earn his initial trophy. Hard charger award winners were Kory Russell (minis), Dennis Arena (trucks), Matt Hart (legends) and Jeff Eshleman (SLM).

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