Gilliland Avoids Trouble to Win the Main Event

Second-generation driver David Gilliland of Chino took the lead during a four-lap caution period and pulled away from the rest of the field in winning the main-event, 75-lap Food 4 Less Super Late Model race in front of 5,678 at Irwindale Speedway Saturday night.

The early race leader, Mike Walker of Pasadena, brought out the first caution on lap 37. Walker was trying to lap Jess Flores coming out of the second turn but instead tapped Flores and spun him. Walker, in trying to avoidFlores, then hit the wall--knocking him out of the race two laps into the caution period.

Gilliland was never threatened for the lead but the race was extended one extra lap because of a crash on the final lap.

John Bojorquez began to lose oil as he entered the third turn, causing Richard Hooper to go into a spin and get hit by Kenny Sapper. Gilliland made it through but Ben Walker of North Hills, in second, spun onto the grass.

Mike Walker had passed Ben Walker on lap 21 for the only other lead change of the race.