Nick Joanides Online

IRWINDALE - It's the toughest division at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. So how does Nick Joanides do it?

The Woodland Hills resident is racing in the track's Super Late Model and Late Model series this season. But he's had much more success in the tougher of the two divisions, the ACDelco Super Late Model series. Saturday night, he won for the seventh time in 11 races, and the second consecutive time, by taking the 50-lap main event in front of approximately 4,200.

"I'm not that surprised we're running well," Joanides said. "I don't think I expected to win seven out of the last nine races. You have to have some good fortune to do that, like tonight. I was surprised that all those holes opened up and I was able to come from eighth to third so quickly. I can't believe we came through that quickly."

Except for the first two races, when he faltered badly, Joanides has been on the podium every race. Meanwhile, in the Late Model series, he has only one victory, but six podium finishes in eight events. He leads the Super Late Model series points race by 16 points and is in second in the Late Models, trailing by 14 points.

"It's pretty tough to pass in Late Models," Joanides said. "They don't have enough horsepower, so it's all about momentum. There's only been one pass for the lead all year and that's when we won. Every other winner has come from the inverted front row"

Joanides got the lead Saturday on the seventh lap and had little trouble with his competitors. Travis Thirkettle of Newhall finished second and Jason Patison of Corona was third. The trio also was atop the podium two weeks ago.

IRWINDALE, California - Fastest qualifier Nick Joanides increased his NASCAR AC Delco Super Late Model point lead from 12 to 16 points Saturday. He started eighth, charged into the lead on the seventh lap and won the 50-lap feature in a 21-car field on the banked, half-mile Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. The former NASCAR Elite Division and Grand National touring series veteran captured his seventh SLM main event in 11 races this season in front of more than 4,000 spectators. The Woodland Hills resident also has second and third place SLM finishes this year and a victory in the Auto Club Late Model Series as well. Joanides drove Loyd McGhee's J & M Construction/Mr. Crane 2008 Chevy Monte Carlo.

Two-time SLM winner Travis Thirkettle started fifth and reached second on lap 10. He could not catch Joanides, despite the only caution flag on lap 20 for a two-car collision in turn one that involved rookie Dennis Furden and Toni McCray. Both cars were towed to the pits. Thirkettle's National Papers 2007 Chevy Monte Carlo trailed by a steady 15-yards during the final 20 laps and finished 0.718 in back of Joanides. Grand National West driver Jason Patison, the 27-year old second fastest qualifier, started seventh in his second SLM race of the year in the ex-Keith Spangler Ford Fusion. He reached the third position on lap 18 in his E-3 Spark Plugs/Dixie Chopper Lawnmowers No. 17. Patison trailed Thirkettle by five yards for the final 30 laps and settled for third place, 0.974 behind the winner. It was the second consecutive race all three drivers finished on the SLM podium.

Afterwards, Joanides told the press, "I was concerned because I had to start eighth. I was surprised that all those holes opened up and I was able to come from eighth to third so quickly (by lap 4). I can't believe we came through so quickly. The tires are good for only about the first ten laps. I love racing these (SLM) cars. They have more horsepower than the late models." Thirkettle, who got blocked by traffic during the early laps, agreed with Joanides' assessment. Both drivers have raced in the top two Whelen All-American Weekly Racing Series at Irwindale. They agreed that it is tougher to pass cars in the late models because they don't have enough horsepower. Thirkettle added, "You definitely win these races in the early laps, whoever said you don't win these races in the first lap is full of *&#%." Patison, with a fourth, second and third in his three SLM races during June, said he is looking forward to more SLM racing and to the Camping World Grand National West 200-lap race on Friday, July 4.

Pole starter Brian Wong, son of the Speed Wong Racing team owner, started from the pole as eighth fastest qualifier. He led the first six laps and finished a SLM career-best fourth, 2.440-seconds behind Joanides. He created some excitement on lap 10 when he got into the back of Joanides, turning him sideways off of turn two. SLM rookie/ASA Speed Truck veteran Randel King celebrated his 17th birthday Saturday with his career-best SLM performance also. The high school ;honor student from Riverside started second as seventh quickest qualifier and finished fifth after battling veteran SLM drivers all the way. His best SLM result had been a pair of seventh place finishes. King solidified his eighth place ranking in SLM points (302) after 11 races. Fellow teenager Luis Martinez, Jr. is the second highest rookie in points (240) and ranks tenth currently.

Rounding out the top ten were Scott Conaway, who passed Dan Moore on lap 49, and Burbank resident Moore. Teenager Bear Rzesnowiecky, an ASA Speed Truck veteran from Las Vegas, made his SLM debut at Irwindale. He came from tenth on the grid to finish an impressive eighth, 9.451-seconds behind the winner, Veterans David Beat and Charles Price, driving the No. 98 usually driven by Rickey McCray, followed. Seventeen of 21 cars finished and 15 drivers completed all 50 laps in a 24:46.789-timed race with one caution flag.

Joanides' latest victory is a breeze