Cars, Trucks Set for Day of Qualifying, Practice

Several hundred race cars and trucks will spend most of today practicing and qualifying in Exposition Park for Sunday’s fourth Ford L.A. Street Race.

A one-mile circuit starts in the south parking lot of the Sports Arena, runs north on Figueroa Avenue, circles around the Sports Arena and returns to the parking lot for three horseshoe switchbacks.

NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series cars will practice at 1 p.m. Earlier, Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks, North-South Road Course Spec Trucks, vintage Cobras and PRO Racing cars will be on the course.

Sean Woodside, last year’s NASCAR Winston West champion, is among the Southwest Series entries, along with Greg Pursley, Jim Inglebright and series leader Matt Crafton. Woodside won at Mesa Marin, Pursley at Irwindale, Inglebright at Sears Point and Crafton in the second Mesa Marin race.

Parnelli Jones, 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, will be in an Ultra Spec truck, competing against regulars such as Irwindale winner Vince Little of Clovis and series leader Mike David of Modesto. Last year’s series champion, Steve Smith of Escondido, has moved up to the Southwest Series.

Ticket holders for the Metallica concert at the Coliseum tonight will receive free admission to today’s street race activities.