IRWINDALE, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2006) – Eddy McKean and Ryan Lawler captured NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division qualifying races Friday on opening night of the $500,000 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway, while Brian Ickler and Andrew Myers were victorious in the NASCAR Grand National Division qualifying events. The four Friday night winners will make up the front rows of Saturday night’s feature races.
McKean came from 16th to overhaul Jim Pettit II on lap 38 to win the first 50-lap AutoZone Elite Division qualifying race. McKean worked Pettit high and low for a dozen laps before moving to the lead and pulling away to win by 1.275 seconds. Rip Michels, the AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series champion and Irwindale’s all-time leading winner, advanced from the 20th and last starting position to challenge Pettit for second but fell a car length short. Southeast Series champion J.R. Norris was fourth after making an early pit stop and pole starter Josh Vadnais was fifth.
Ryan Lawler, who received his invitation to the Toyota All-Star Showdown as an alternate from the Southeast Series, dominated the second Elite Division qualifier from the outside of the front row. The young Texan led every lap and won by 0.95 seconds from Thomas Martin despite a caution period with six laps remaining. Midwest Series champion Tim Schendel raced from 19th to third, with Dusty Williams and Wilbur Bruce fourth and fifth. Lawler and teammate Norris gave the Richie Wauters Ford team two of the top eight starting positions in Saturday night’s 125-lap main event.
After an early red flag period, Ickler seized control of the first Grand National Division qualifying race and drove away to win by 2.3 seconds from Justin Lofton as AutoZone West Series drivers swept the top five places. Ickler’s teammate Peyton Sellers held of AutoZone West Series champion Eric Holmes for third, with Scott Gaylord completing the top five. Joey McCarthy’s sixth place was the best Busch East Series performance.
Myers made it a qualifying night sweep for the AutoZone West Series by leading the second Grand National Division 50-lapper from start to finish. Johnny Borneman charged from fourth to second in the closing laps, 0.108 seconds behind, and Matt Kobyluck took advantage of a late caution flag to advance from sixth to third for the best Busch East Series performance of the night. AutoZone West Series derivers Tim Woods III and Mike David rounded out the top five.
Saturday’s Toyota All-Star Showdown main event begins with the 125-lap AutoZone Elite Division race, followed by the 150-lap Grand National Division feature. The entire program will be telecast live by SPEED, starting at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time (10:00 p.m. Eastern time).
Starting Lineup
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division
Irwindale Speedway October 21, 2006
1. (19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac
2. (52)Ryan Lawler, Colleyville Texas, Ford
3. (03)Jim Pettit, II, Prunedale Calif., Ford
4. (28)Thomas Martin, Auburn Calif., Chevrolet
5. (12)Rip Michels, San Fernando Calif., Chevrolet
6. (21)Tim Schendel, Sparta Wis., Chevrolet
7. (5)J.R. Norris, Mulga Ala., Ford
8. (40)Dusty Williams, Garden City Ga., Chevrolet
9. (10)Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Minn., Chevrolet
10. (8)Wilbur Bruce, Tacoma Wash., Chevrolet
11. (20)Jay Sauls, Puyallup. Wash., Chevrolet
12. (64)Garrett Evans, East Wenatchee Wash., Chevrolet
13. (36)Dan Fredrickson, Elko Minn., Chevrolet
14. (99)Shane Mitchell, Orondo Wash., Chevrolet
15. (07)Kevin Clark, Colorado Springs Colo., Chevrolet
16. (0)Greg Voigt, Santa Barbara Calif., Chevrolet
17. (51)Scotty Backman, Parker Colo., Chevrolet
18. (22)Kevin Vernon, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet
19. (26)David Mayhew, Atascadero Calif., Chevrolet
20. (62)Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet
21. (38)Josh Hamner, Harpersville Ala., Chevrolet
22. (06)Mike Gallegos, Wheat Ridge Colo., Chevrolet
23. (71)Greg Fowler, Erie Colo., Chevrolet
24. (88)Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse Wis., Chevrolet
25. (42)Ted Mickelson, Greer S.C., Chevrolet
26. (33)Travis Bennett, Ellensburg Wash., Chevrolet
27. (9)Mark Kraus, Strattford Wis., Chevrolet
28. (17)Bruce Yackey, Greeley Colo., Chevrolet
29. (69)Brandon Riehl, Boring Ore., Chevrolet
30. (66)Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet
31. (00)Michel Foy, Grayson Ga., Chevrolet
32. (3)M K Kanke, Frazier Park Calif., Chevrolet
33. (46)Jeff Barkshire, Auburn Wash., Dodge
34. (1)Chip Brindle, Chatsworth Ga., Chevrolet
35. (37)Mike Longton, Moxee Wash., Chevrolet
36. (86)Gary Helton, Sevierville Tenn., Chevrolet
37. (72)B.J. Tidrick, Yakima Wash., Chevrolet
38. (70)Walter Sutcliffe, East Haven Conn., Chevrolet
39. (91)Joe Mattress, Zebulon N.C., Chevrolet
40. (73)Gary Lewis, Bothell Wash., Chevrolet
Starting Lineup
NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown
NASCAR Grand National Division
Irwindale Speedway October 21, 2006
1. (20)Brian Ickler, Poway Calif., Chevrolet
2. (4)Andrew Myers, Newport Beach Calif., Chevrolet
3. (66)Justin Lofton, Westmorland Calif., Chevrolet
4. (8)Johnny Borneman, Ramona Calif., Ford
5. (16)Peyton Sellers, Danville Va., Chevrolet
6. (40)Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville Conn., Chevrolet
7. (62)Eric Holmes, Escalon Calif., Chevrolet
8. (54)Tim Woods, III, Chino Hills Calif., Ford
9. (00)Scott Gaylord, Lakewood Colo., Chevrolet
10. (2)Mike David, Modesto Calif., Ford
11. (3)Joey McCarthy, Randolph N.J., Chevrolet
12. (33)Tracy Gordon, Strong Maine, Ford
13. (84)Dion Ciccarelli, Severn Md., Ford
14. (88)Austin Cameron, El Cajon Calif., Chevrolet
15. (45)Brian Hoar, Williston Vt., Dodge
16. (61)Mike Olsen, North Haverhill N.H., Chevrolet
17. (9)Mike Duncan, Bakersfield Calif., Chevrolet
18. (96)Mike Johnson, Salisbury Mass., Ford
19. (01)Charles Lewandoski, Stafford Springs Conn., Chevrolet
20. (1)Jim Inglebright, Fairfield Calif., Chevrolet
21. (75)Jack Sellers, Sacramento Calif., Pontiac
22. (22)John Freeman, Huntersville N.C., Dodge
23. (15)John Salemi, Nashua N.H., Chevrolet
24. (99)Bryon Chew, Mattituck N.Y., Chevrolet
25. (18)Eric Hardin, Anaheim Calif., Chevrolet
26. (6)Kip Stockwell, Braintree Vt., Chevrolet
27. (44)Sean Caisse, Pelham N.H., Chevrolet
28. (77)Steve Portenga, Sparks Nev., Ford
29. (12)Ruben Pardo, Mexico City Mexico, Dodge
30. (30)Jeff Anton, Russell Mass., Chevrolet