Posted by Russ on October 5, 2009, 10:00 pm
Board Administrator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649 or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net
Gilliland’s homecoming weekend will include his first race at Orange Show Speedway
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 5) – David Gilliland will fill a hole in his resume Saturday night when he races in the ASA Late Model Twin 50s at Orange Show Speedway.
Gilliland, a Southern California native who’s now competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, has had great success on both pavement and dirt at other tracks in the area, but has never raced on the speedway’s quarter-mile oval.
“I went there as a kid and watched my dad once and went there and tested once just to shake a car down, but that was it,” said Gilliland, a former Riverside resident who served as the crew chief for his father, Butch, when the elder Gilliland won the NASCAR Winston West title.
In fact, Gilliland said, it’s been four or five years since he last raced on a quarter-mile oval, so his main objective will be to enjoy himself while those who have been racing in the class all year settle the issue of the track championship in the two 50-lap main events.
Ryan Daniel, 31, of Mentone, will go into the evening with an 18-point lead over Kevin James, 45, of Yucaipa, and Daniel said last month that his only concern was finishing just ahead or just behind his rival. Third-place John Mattie, of Highland, is 40 points behind Daniel and 22 behind James and would need misfortune to befall both men to have a chance of claiming the title.
The San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stocks also will decide their championship, with Johnny Russo needing to finish 10th or better to thwart any challenges by Kyle Meyer and Cliff Conklin and collect his sixth class title. Meyer and Conklin are tied for second, 20 points behind.
Also on the schedule are the Vintage Midgets and Sprint cars of the Western Racing Association, Train races and Drifting.
Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.
Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.
Gilliland, 33, is going to have a busy weekend between his appearance at Orange Show Speedway and his duties at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, where he’s scheduled to compete in both the Copart 300 Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon and the Pepsi 500 on Sunday.
The Pepsi 500 will be the 26th race Gilliland has driven this season for TRG Motorsports, the team he joined after finding out shortly before the Daytona 500 that Yates Racing was disbanding his team for financial reasons. He’s also scheduled to drive three races for the Joe Gibbs’ team as he attempts to finalize his plans for 2010.
“It’s been interesting,” Gilliland said of this season. “It’s been a little different, but I definitely can’t complain because I’m doing what a lot of people would give anything to be doing. Sometimes it’s not exactly the way I want to be doing it, but I’m here and I’m working hard to stay here.”
Gilliland will have a lot of familiar figures supporting him at Orange Show Speedway. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo he’ll be driving is being prepared by Luke Dodd, of Luke’s Transmissions, and Linny White, who owns the car, and long-time car owner Jerry Dodd will be on hand for advice and moral support.
“I’m excited about coming back to California,” said Gilliland, who’s living in Mooresville, N.C. “Hopefully I can get out there and have some fun.”
For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at http://www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.
For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.
168
Responses: