Screen Shot 2022 09 15 At 10.22.24 Am
The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will return to Irwindale Speedway on Sept. 17. (SRL photo)

SRL Returns To Irwindale Speedway

IRWINDALE, Calif. — The LiUNA – Feel the Power 100 presented Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse will be the seventh event of the season for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series on Sept. 17. 

It is the third trip to Irwindale Speedway for the Southwest Tour, Spears Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services and Spears Modified Series. A winner’s check of $6,500 will go to the super late model winner, the pro late models will race for $2,500 and the modifieds will compete for $2,000-to-win.

All divisions will compete on the outer half-mile oval.

Large Field For Super Late Models

There are 28 super late models currently entered for this weekend’s event, representing seven states — California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho and Colorado. Eight former SRL winners are entered with two former champions.

Jace Hansen, Blaine Rocha, Jeff Bischofberger, Linny White, Dan Holtz and Buddy Shepherd are joined by former champions Jeremy Doss and Jacob Gomes. Thirteen competitors have Late Model Track Championships.

There are 19 pro late models and 18 modifieds entered for this weekend’s event.

Championship Battle Is Heating Up

Jacob Gomes and Jeremy Doss are separated by only 12 points in the battle for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series championship. Both are former champions and are vying to become only the third repeat champions in series history, behind Derek Thorn (6) and Jim Pettit II (3).

Doss closed the gap on Gomes by 30 markers with his win at Stockton 99 Speedway in July. Jace Hansen, Cale Kanke, Dustin Ash and John Moore make up the remainder of the top six. Only eight points separate third from sixth in the standings.

Andy Allen, Buddy Shepherd, Zach Telford and Scott Sanchez round out the top-10.

Rookies Have Arrived

Four Rookie-of-the-Year competitors are entered for this weekend’s event. Zach Telford leads the rookie standings with Jake Bollman, Dylan Zampa, Jordan Riddick and Austin Herzog the top five. Telford, Zampa and Herzog are entered along with Sean Hingorani.

There are 11 different rookies who have scored points this year.

Jason Jefferson, Jonathan Mawhinney, Charle Price and Jason Gilbert will make their first starts of the season in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series, with Jefferson and Price making their first career starts.

Jefferson is a six-time Super Late Model Track Champion and will be in the Dave Reed Racing super late model. Price will be substituting for Andy Allen. He is the crew chief for Allen and is a multi-time super late model winner at Irwindale Speedway.

Gilbert is a former NASCAR State of California Champion and had a best finish of fourth in the SRL standings. Mawhinney will make his 14th series start, earning a best finish of third in 2020. He will be driving for Garcia Racing.

Pro Late Models Are Ready To Go

Nineteen Pro Late Models are entered for this weekend’s SpearsRacing.TV 60 presented by Sigma Performance Services. Seth Wise enters the event as the championship leader with a 31-point lead over Tyler Reif.

Tanner Reif is third, six points behind his brother. Dylan Zampa sits 24 markers behind Tanner with Logan Zampa fifth, three points behind his brother. Several former competitors in the super late model series have entered this weekend. NASCAR Truck Series driver and 2020 SRL Rookie-of-the-Year Dean Thomspon will make his first start of the season.

The 2017 SRL Rookie-of-the-Year Ricky Schlick, who was a winner that season, will also make his first appearance. 

18 Spears Modifieds Entered For Saturday

Jaron Giannini leads the standings with 1,006 points followed by Jimmy Sloan (927), Sam Jacks (901), Travis Thirkettle (885) and Kyle Jacks (869). Round No. 7 will find several teams returning for the first time since early in the season.

One of them brings 2020 championship runner-up Eddie Secord who will make his return after his modified was destroyed in the season opener at Havasu 95 Speedway. The 2021 Modified Rookie-of-the-Year Andrew Anderson will make his first start since the All-Star Showdown, as will former two-time champion Jim Mardis.

William Guevara will make his 81st straight appearance in the series.

Travis Thirkettle will look to extend his winning streak to four in a row and five wins overall.

For those unable to attend, the race will be shown live at SpearsRacing.TV and on a delayed basis on MAVTV.