IRWINDALE 2023 CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS DINNER
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Irwindale, CA., Jan. 28 – Irwindale Speedway and Irwindale Dragstrip competitors were honored at the annual championship awards dinner hosted again this year by track management. Promoter Tim Huddleston served as master of ceremonies and track announcer Tommy Mason manned the microphone for the Sunday, January 28 5:00 to 7:30 pm dinner and awards. The event, attended by more than 230 persons, was held under the IS main grandstand again this year as it has been each year since the COVID-19 pandemic years. Meals were dispensed to individuals from the main concession stand. This year the menu consisted of salad and rolls, meatballs and pasta, and various deserts, plus soft drinks. Beer was available for purchase.
IRWINDALE DRAGSTRIP
Awards again started with the eighth mile drag strip champions, who received jackets in addition to their usual championship hardware. They were:
Junior Drags:
Group 1 (age 6-9): McKenzie Nelson – three wins, 351 points;
Group 2 (age 10-12): Dylan Nelson – four wins, 404 points;
Group 3 – (age 13-14): Christian La Pierre – two wins, 330 points;
Group 4 – (age 15-17): Gavin Pine – two wins, 341 points;
Junior Comp: Kashen Frye – three wins, 383 points.
Summit Series:
Pro Bike: Deavon Morris – three wins, 462 points;
Sportsman: Hubert Pierce – 445 points;
Pro: Robert Ratcliffe – two wins, 485 points;
Super Pro: John Dewald – one win, 431 points.
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series:
The top three in points were honored and called to the stage for group photos in the following series order: Each champion received a jacket and usual hardware for winning his 2023 championship.
Pro Trucks: Champion Jesus Quintero – three wins, eight top 5s and 382 points; it is his second IS championship and second in a row in pro trucks. P. 2 – Clayton Byers – one win in eight starts and 374 points; P. 3 – George Perrit – four starts and 166 points.
INEX Legend Cars: Champion Logan Chambers – one win, six top 5s and 362 points; it is his first IS championship. P. 2 – Chad Schug – six top 5s and 334 points; P. 3 – Nathan Quella – two wins, five top 5s and 296 points.
Street Stocks: Champion Zack Green – two wins, eight top 5s and 382 points; it is it is his second IS title (he also won the 2014 super stock championship. P. 2 – Jim Vermillion – three wins, seven top 5s and 376 points; P. 3 – Robby Harryman – five top 5s and 334 points.
Tucker Tire Enduro Stock Division – Champion Robert Rice – seven wins, 15 top 5s and 724 points; it is his fifth title in a row in this division. P. 2 – Rider Gardner – three wins, 15 top 5s and 712 points; P. 2 – Mikey Killen – four wins, 11 top 5s and 676 points.
Tucker Tire Enduro Sport Division (with overhead cam) – Champion – Bobby Ozman – eight wins, 15 top 5s and 736 points; it is third title in this division (he also won in 2019-20). P. 2 – Rodney Argo – six wins, 15 top 5s and 712 points; P. 3 – Jason Woolcott – one win, 14 top 5s and 684 points.
YouRaceLA Spec Late Models – Champion Andrew Porter – four wins, nine top 5s and 430 points; it is his third IS championship (he also was the 2020-21 IRT champion). P. 2 – Tanner Huddleston – one win, eight top 5s and 414 points; P. 3 – Jacob McNeil – five top 5s and 378 points.
YouRaceLA Spec Trucks – Champion Jacob McNeil – seven wins in nine races and 446 points; it is his first IS championship. P. 2 – Niko Mongenel – two wins and 242 points; P. 3 – Lucas McNeil – two top 5s and 96 points.
Pick Your Part Pro Late Models – Repeat series Champion Linny White – 11 wins, 15 top 5s and 728 points in winning his third Irwindale track championship; he also was the 2014 NASCAR super late model IS champion. P. 2 – Trevor Huddleston – four wins, 15 top 5s and 714 points; P. 3 – Nick Joanides – ten top 5s in 15 starts and 618 points.
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Track co-promoter/emcee Tim Huddleston announced special awards and presented plaques to worthy recipients throughout the award ceremony as follows:
Sportsmanship Award – Mike Gonzaga for assisting drag strip competitors. Enduro owner/driver Mike McIntyre won the oval track sportsmanship award for always assisting other competitors.
Michael Atkinson Humble Hero Award – Angela Holden for working at the pit window every year since the track opened in 1999.
Ambassador Award – Ernie “the attorney” Aligori for loyally serving each year as the track attorney.
Sponsor of the Year – Tucker Tire of Covina for serving again in 2023 as the series sponsor for both enduro divisions. The firm uses the motto “When you're Tuckered you're tired.”
Following the meal from 5:00 to 6:00, emcee Huddleston singled out Manny Gonzalez for his work in keeping track facilities humming and trouble-free. He also praised Jan Qualkenbush, owner of Jan's Towing, for annually providing numerous tow trucks and pit staff to clear accidents. Huddleston also praised Sarah Atkinson-Hancock for her excellent performance as IS race director. He thanked his sister Tammy for her work at the track novelty booth. He thanked Howard Palmer and reporter/track historian Tim Kennedy for their presence in the press box at each event. Past IS multi-series champion and YouRaceLA versatile employee Ryan Partridge was singled out for praise as the track Mr. Everything.
Huddleston also thanked his wife Lisa for all her hard work at the track. He then thanked IS co-announcers Tommy Mason and Jeffrey Best for their long and faithful service on the pit and booth microphones at IS. He said they will also serve in the same capacity at the Kern County half-mile that Huddleston will promote starting in 2024. Kern dates will be the first and third Saturdays and Irwindale will continue to use the second and fourth Saturdays for race dates. He concluded by thanking all the attendees for making 2023 another entertaining and successful year.