Ladd Wins Inaugural Race on Irwindale Short Track

Stock car racing came to Irwindale Speedway Friday night, and with it came the inauguration of the new facility’s third-mile oval, set inside the track’s half-mile track.

Lee Ladd, a mini stock driver from Thousand Oaks, had the honor of winning the first main event on the short track. He was followed in a parade-like 15 laps by Terry Limberopoulos of Bellflower and Rick LeMaster of Rialto, with the trio nearly a full lap ahead of the other four competitors.

Afternoon rains kept the car count and the crowd small, but those on hand were rewarded with close racing in the super stock and late model main events.

Tom Wilson of San Fernando led all the way to win the 25-lap super stock feature, but not without close competition from T.K. Karvasek of North Hills and Mike Price of San Pedro. After Karvasek spun into the infield and Price got caught in traffic, Yagel Berkovitz of Burbank got up for second.

On the half-mile, Garrit Cromsigt of Pine Mountain Club, Calif., took the lead on Lap 7 from Dusty McDonald of Simi Valley and won easily in the 40-lap main event. Cromsigt drove a Chevrolet. Trophy-dash winners were Richard Yanker Jr. of Fontana in mini stock, Richard Hopper of Palmdale in late model and Karvasek in super stock.

Super late models, Grand American modifieds and MSRA Pro-r modifieds are on the schedule tonight.