Johnson Has Grand Race

Mike Johnson won the Grand National division of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday night, and Eric Holmes took the checkered flag in the AutoZone Elite division.

David Gilliland of Riverside jumped into the lead from the pole at the start of the 150-lap Grand National race and led all but three laps of the 100-lap first segment. While pit crews were busy making adjustments for the final 50-lap segment, a card was selected randomly, as per the race format, determining that the first eight finishers from the opening segment would be inverted for the restart.

This put Johnson and Matt Kobyluck, who started 24th and 26th respectively, on the front row. Defending race winner Austin Cameron jumped into the second position shortly after the restart. The complexion of the race changed dramatically on Lap 103 after Kobyluck and Cameron tangled in Turn 2. Cameron was sent spinning and was hit by several cars, most notably Gilliland and sixth-place Kelly Moore.

Taking full advantage of the hard luck of others, Johnson kept his Johnson Lumber Ford out front for the remainder of the race and went on to earn a $31,000 payday. Kobyluck finished second.

The 125-lap Elite Division final was also divided into two segments. Burney Lamar and Eric Holmes shared the front row for the start. Lamar led throughout the first segment, despite heavy pressure from Holmes’ Taco Bell/Chevrolet for most of the 75 laps.

During the stoppage, it was determined that the first six positions would be inverted for the 50-lap shootout. This put Rip Michels of San Fernando and Jason Jefferson on the front row.

Michels took the lead when the track went green, but Holmes was the man on the move even though he lost his power steering during the first segment.

Having been relegated to the bottom for most of the race, Holmes seemed more comfortable than Lamar running the low line and had a much easier time working his way back to the front. Michels fought hard to maintain the lead but relinquished the top spot seven laps from the finish.

-- Robert Mayson