Whelen, Grand National drivers prep for Showdown

IRWINDALE, Calif. -- The only issue Thursday afternoon at Irwindale Speedway was where to put all the haulers.

Teams loaded in to the track in advance of the fifth annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. More than 50 drivers are entered in the two events -- Friday night's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model 150 and Saturday night's main event, the 250-lap Grand National Division race.

"The event has certainly grown from its original conception to where it is right now," Irwindale Speedway vice president and general manager Bob Defazio said. "I think [Jim Hunter, NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications] said it best when he called it the Daytona 500 of short-track racing. The event has gained a tremendous amount of respect, not just here localy, but nationally."

In previous years, the Grand National race was limited to the top 15 in each of the Division's series: the West Series and the Busch East Series. This year, it has been opened up to include the best short-track drivers in North America.

Busch East champion Joey Logano and West Series champion Mike David will face a host of challengers, including NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion and former open-wheel standout Andrew Rangers, and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national runner-up Woody Pitkat of Connecticut.

Busch East veteran Matt Kobyluck is back to defend his title, and 2005 Toyota Showdown winner Mike Johnson also will attempt to make the show.

Grand National race winners and champions of NASCAR's developmental series, such as Ranger, are locked into Saturday's main event. All others must qualify on time or get in via Friday's 50-lap Open qualifier.

Veteran announcers Mike Joy and Dick Berggren will be in the booth for the live broadcast on SPEED both nights.

Berggren said a simple ingredient has helped shape the Showdown: drama.

"From the very first one where Austin Cameron -- just coming back to racing from chemo, he had been suffering from cancer -- and he came from behind to win the race," Berggren said. "It was one of the most dramatic and emotional victory lanes ever. And we've had drama like that all the way through."

Friday's broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET and include qualifying for the Grand National race, the 150-lap Super Late Model race and the 50-lap Open. Saturday's broadcast of the 250-lap main event begins at 10 p.m.

Showdown participants visit U.S. Marine base

On Wednesday, long-time NASCAR partner Goodyear assisted in the coordination for a group of NASCAR drivers to make a pit stop at the legendary United States Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton, where they visited with service personnel and families.

"There are a ton of race fans at Camp Pendelton," Goodyear's Chad Fletcher said. "The racing world owes the debt of freedom to these folks, so it's nice to be part of giving something back."

The drivers toured the base and had the opportunity to make a simulated beach landing off an amphibious landing craft. The drivers signed autographs at three areas around the huge base.

Goodyear gave away 250 tickets to the weekend's racing event and made arrangements with the track to provide a special seating section for the Marines at Saturday night's race.

Camp Pendleton will provide the color guard for the pre-race activities.

Drivers participating in the appearance included 2007 West Series champion Mike David, Brian Ickler, Eric Richardson, Moses Smith, Brett Thompson, Eric Holmes, Tim Woods III, Peyton Sellers, Justin Lofton, Eric Hardin and Marc Davis.

David, Davis, Ickler and Smith along with 2007 Busch East Series champion Joey Logano had cars on display.