A Hat Trick for Walker

Ben Walker won his third consecutive NASCAR Super Late Model race Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway.

Walker, of North Hills, had to start in the middle of the pack despite having the fastest lap of 18.087 seconds. It was his third consecutive pole but because of the field inversion, he had to start from the 10th position.

Walker drove his Ford past Jerry Cain of Canyon Country, who had been leading most of the race, on the high side on the lap 92 restart and pulled away for the victory in the Villa Roma 100.

“I was praying for another caution because I knew I could get him on the restart,” Walker said. “I knew I had enough to keep him back there.”

Walker, 18, next year will compete on the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series.

Larry Krieger of Thousand Oaks took the lead from pole-sitter Rod Johnson early in the race and went on to win the the 40-lap NASCAR Grand American Modifieds race.

Steve Smith of Escondido won the 50-lap Ultra Wheels spec truck race and clinched the Southern California Series championship.

Troy Decuir of Moreno Valley led all 25 laps and won the Tri-State Mini Stockcars race.