Irwindale, Calif. - - It’s another night where "show your card and save" is in effect at Toyota Speedway. Actually, all union members (with ID) will "save" the whole price of admission on Saturday, September 4. "We’ve got a lot of union member fans who are out here for an exciting night of NASCAR racing every race night," said track GM/VP Bob DeFazio. "On Saturday, we’ll honor all of them, and invite all union members to join us for a great night at the races on us."

And, what a great way to celebrate the beginning of the long Labor Day weekend! A 100-lap race for the touring pros of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour: the NTS 100! This event marks the seventh of 10 events that constitute the 2010 series championship and the points are plenty close. Derek Thorn has the lead with 941, with Jonathon Gomez only seven points behind at 934. Jim Pettit II comes into Irwindale well within striking distance on a track that he’s done very well on over the years third in points at 915.

Almost as tight are the next seven in the top 10: Kyle Cattanach (853), Ryan Foster (835), Jacob Gomes (803), Keith Spangler (802), Thomas Martin (800), Brennan Newberry (752), and Joe Farre (728). Tight? Right? 100 laps equals 50 miles, no pit stops, not much time for any strategy, and, as for "track position" … there’s only one that everyone in the show wants that’s first.

This is not one of those TV races where you might watch the start and the first 100 laps and come back for the last 100 an hour or so later. This is live short track, on a fast half-mile race track where three-wide is normal, 100 laps is a sprint race, and close finishes are the rule!

And, speaking of close finishes, with only two races left in their 14-race season the budget-priced spec series Langers Juice S2 stock cars have two drivers locked first place and one who’s making a heck of a late season run for the money. Dylan Lupton (Wilton, California) and Roman Lagudi (Las Vegas) are locked in first place at 542 each. Actually as those annoying announcers on TV would say: "… If this series where over today:" Lupton would get the series first place trophy by virtue of Lupton putting up more wins than Lagundi (2 and 1 respectively). But, both of their rear view mirrors are full of second-gen driver David Busby for Laguna Canyon, in third place at 490, who’s won the last two races and who seems to have found the sweet spot with his S2.

And how about the those big-hearted little Echo Equipment Legends Cars! With four races left in the 2010 season, Alta Loma’s very own Brent Sheidmantel has a 34-point lead over Chad Schug of Oak Hills (534-500). But Darren Amidon has been on a tear winning seven (and the last three) of the nine races that he’s pointed in this year, but is 60 back in third at 440. The Toyota Speedway point system (50, 48, 46, etc 1,2,3) is where his three "goose eggs" (races 1, 3, and 4) really have not helped the Santee resident. There are more Legends Cars out there than an other spec. class anywhere in the world. Try one on for yourself at the King Taco On-Track Autograph Party at 5:45PM!

OK, it’s Bandos at twenty paces! The youngest drivers at the Speedway will be running for national points on both Friday and Saturday night this weekend. The Jan’s Towing Bandoleros are the young stars of the day after tomorrow and always fun to watch. Serious competitors and even more serious parent crew chiefs … Meet them right on the racetrack at 5:45PM and then watch the go at it for the big points on the third-mile!

And then there’s the trailer race … Er … TRAILER RACE!

According to someone who was there at the time, the top tech people at the Speedway are "getting serious" about these decidedly un-serious circle track shenanigans. Too small, too light, and too easy to break away trailers are O-U-T. No one is going to get into a real Toyota Speedway trailer race with a 99-dollar Harbor Freight garden trailer … They want big old solid (makes a nice heavy thud when run into) trailer, with heavy rails and a nice camper, boat, jet ski, or enough furniture to fill three good-sized rooms aboard. We are simply not whimping out in the trailer division.

SIGN HERE: This might be a good point to put in a plug for the King Taco On-Track Autograph session where "kids" old and young can meet drivers like all of the above and more. The 5:45 event is a great way to get to meet these young and old(er) gladiators and to get a close-up look at their mounts for the night. Most of them will even let you (or your kid) scramble into the driver’s seat for a cool photo). It’s a regular part of the deal at Toyota Speedway and a big part of the night for many.

GUARANTEED: Everyone, but especially new fans and folks who just have never gotten around to visiting the Speedway, is invited to buy their Toyota Speedway NASCAR tickets with a 100% money back guarantee: "If, after the first race of the evening, any of our guests are not completely satisfied with the advertised excitement level, all they have to do is return to the ticket window for a full refund of their ticket price …"

BIO: Toyota Speedway opened its doors in 1999 to great crowds and great racing. In subsequent years the banked half-mile oval has seen hundreds of thousands of miles of close, competitive racing witnessed by well over a million fans. The heart of NASCAR Home Track racing, the Speedway presents racing events every Saturday night from March through October giving hundreds of drivers a place to prove themselves and their machines in front of cheering crowds of real race fans.

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