Press Release by Jim Pluhar
Santa Maria, CA 9-24-09

Super Late Model Stocks, East vs. West Super Streets, MMI Factory Stocks, and Toste Grading & Paving Mini Stocks are all wrapping up their 2009 championships at Santa Maria Speedway during Saturday night's event presented by Honcho Racing Engines.

Mike Kirby, of Torrance, beat out San Luis Obispo's Steve Drake for the West Coast Shootout Late Model crown last Saturday night at Bakersfield. This weekend he goes after Drake for the local Super Late Model title. Ten points separate the top-two drivers while third place Rob Sanders, of Bakersfield, is a distant 59 points and out of title contention. Nick Bartels (-64), of El Segundo, and Bill Bartels (-98), of Marina Del Rey, fill out the top-five.

Dale Sylvester's poor finish in last weekend's Factory Stock main event shrunk his lead over Michael Frazier, of Santa Maria, to 16 points. The Arroyo Grande driver now needs a top-nine finish in tonight's feature event, or tenth place with a heat race win to guarantee the title. Mike Leland, of Atascadero, is still in the running, trailing by 24. Brandon Brickey, Sr. (-67), of Lompoc, and Glen Sparks (-77), of Santa Maria, are fourth and fifth.

Tom Grzincic, of San Luis Obispo, has already secured the Mini Stock crown with a season that saw the San Luis Obispo driver score 10 firsts, 2 seconds and 1 third in 13 races. Nipomo drivers are running second through fourth, with Jeremy Heroux already taking the runner-up spot with the season's second best record. Heroux has 1 win, 4 seconds, 4 thirds, a fourth and a fifth. In the fight for third, Kurt Larsen leads Dustin Ensign by 25 and Arroyo Grande's Robby Cervantes by 48.

Tim Randolph, of Santa Maria, and Lonnie Welch, of Bakersfield, are still the top guns in the East vs. West championship chase.

Gates for Saturday night's event will open at 4:00 p.m. with qualifying at 5:00 p.m. and racing at 6:00 p.m. Tickets will cost: $16.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors & military and their spouses, $5.00 for kids 6 to 12, with youngsters five and under free. Parking and camping is always free. The Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange on Hutton Road.