The prestigious NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown will see the familiar Southern California NASCAR Cup driver and fan favorite David Gilliland once again teamed with Speed Wong Racing.

David Gilliland took the familiar dream path to the Cup level only a few years ago. Cutting his teeth locally before advancing to the Big Show, the second generation racer made it clear that he was a talented and driven competitor racing on the West Coast.

Last season David raced well at the Cup and Nationwide levels further bolstering his Cup credentials. At Phoenix and Infineon, David raced well for Speed Wong Racing and is continuing the friendship by racing in the prestigious Toyota All-Star Showdown. The race attracts high level drivers from all over the country, at what is known as the Daytona of Short Tracks.

As in last year, David is entering a Super Late and the NASCAR West car, trying to win the unheard of Double in winning races both classes, at the Showdown.

The #89 car will be fielded by Junior Joiner as crew chief and the regular cast of Speed Wong characters. The Team is anxious to race off the rust in order to be prepared for the upcoming 2010 season. Tim Crawford leads his team of Jeff Hensley, Bob May, Kevin Myrick, Jerel Reeves, Chris Janosko and Paul Dorrity to the Showdown.

Speed Wong Racing regular driver Brian Wong is not racing in the Showdown, as he has commitments in the sports car field that weekend, while still being a third year student at Northeastern University in Boston. The 2010 Speed Wong Racing NASCAR schedule has not been finalized as of this date. The 2010 Speed Wong Racing sports car series is partially committed with the signing of Brian Wong by Intersport Racing for the American Le Mans Series prototype program.

Speed Wong Racing is proud to continue fielding cars in the Showdown and with its affiliation with David Gilliland.

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Although Speed Wong Racing’s NASCAR Camping World Series 2009 season has come to an end, the Camping World Series crew along with the Whelen All American Series team came together to run three cars out at Speed Wong Racing’s home track, Irwindale Speedway. Crewmember Derek Thorn ran the #20 Super Late Model along with Brian’s spotter, first time Legend driver and former Late Model driver, Chris Janosko, running the #99 Legend car. Driving the #21 Super Late Model was former Speed Wong Racing driver Chris Johnson and current competitor against Speed Wong in the NASCAR West series. Both Super Late Models were fast in practice and qualified in the top ten, while Chris Janosko in the Legend car had trouble getting accustomed to the power band of racing a Legend. Chris qualified for the race in the back of the pack.

The Super Late Models ran two, forty lap races. In the first race, both Derek and Chris Johnson continued to gain positions towards the front. With less than five laps remaining in the first race, Derek in the #20 got pushed from behind and hit the wall, causing him to finish in the 18th position. Chris Johnson in the #21 went on to have a solid finish of 8th place, placing him again in the top ten for the next forty-lap race. The damage to Derek’s #20 Super Late was substantial, but the Speed Wong Racing crew worked hard to fix the #20 and get it back out on the track for the next race. While the Speed Wong Racing guys were hard at work on the #20 Super Late, Chris Janosko in the #99 Legend was out on the track ready for the thirty-five-lap race. The green flag dropped and the #99 Legend steadily continued around the 1/3-mile track, steering clear of the crashing ahead. Chris kept the loose #99 out of trouble and finished just one lap down in the 24th position. He had fun and enjoyed being back behind the wheel of a racecar after many years of “retirement”.

The start of the second forty-lap Super Late Model race began with both Speed Wong Racing cars on the track and charging to the front. Both managed to race clean and gained positions, with the #21 finishing in the 5th position and the wrecked #20 coming from the back to finishing an astounding 7th position. The Speed Wong Racing drivers and crew members all worked hard on the three cars and had a great finishes; an overall great night back at the home track of Speed Wong Racing. It was good to have fun back at our Home Track.

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Speed Wong Racing made its debut at its home track, local Saturday night racing, for 2009.

It was a time to dust off our equipment, the cobwebs on the SuperLate cars and to see old friends.  This season begins our 5th full season at Irwindale.  Quite a bit of changes through the years, from Brian at age 13 and his know nothing father attempting to race a Legend, through today, a full race team, shop in several series in the NASCAR West, East and Porsche series, and more top drivers than we have cars.

Another debut for Speed Wong Racing, introducing a new driver to NASCAR.  Well known, successful sports car driver, Patrick Long- the only American Porsche Factory driver, wondered what it was like to drive a full bodied stock car.  Patrick got his answer at the end of the 2008 season, by racing a Late Model at a northern California track.  Speed Wong Racing was proud to introduce Patrick to stock cars at that race and to inaugurate him into racing at America’s best short track this weekend.

This race also marked the first time Brian Wong was in a car after breaking his leg, ribs and being roughed up in January’s Toyota Showdown race.  Brian upset his family by leaving his brother Kevin’s college graduation early, to fly back for this race.  Brian flew into Boston the night before, and literally after Kevin received his diploma, and Brian got up to catch a cab to the airport.  Less than 24 hours in Boston left Brian a little jet lagged.  Brian hopes to follow in Kevin’s footsteps, and proudly congratulates Kevin on his graduation from Northeastern University in Boston. 

Irwindale held twin 50 lap races for the SuperLate field.  Brian was shaking down a brand new car, the latest #89 SuperLate.  Patrick drove the SWR #21, itself a winner of several SuperLate races the past couple of years.

Race #1 of the evening found Brian and Patrick getting their bearings straight and learning their new rides.  Thankfully no major problems, no accidents and no big news.  Patrick finished 11th and Brian finished 13th.  Changes were diagnosed and set ups changed for race #2.

Race #2.  This race was the race that Patrick and Brian wanted to race hard in. The cars were practiced in Race 1, decisions made and set up changes made. Both cars were much faster, getting closer to being dialed in.  Brian was in 5th place, Patrick in 6th with 1 lap to go.  A spin by another car caused both SWR cars to swerve to avoid the accident, Patrick senaking in for 4th and Brian crossing the line at 6th.

Overall, it was a nice return to Irwindale.  Patrick got needed seat time in a stock car to further his exploration of NASCAR.  Brian got to shake down a new Jeff Schrader Race Car Factory car.  Both are looking forward to a return to local Saturday night racing at Irwindale.

Patrick and Brian thank their team, led by Tim Crawford managing the happy racers. 

Thanks to,

• Jerel Reeves
• Kevin Myrick
• Dan Nagy
• Fred Hernandez
• Billy Thomas
• Bill Thomas
• James Carpenter
• Bob May
• Stephen Appell
• Chris Janosko

Be safe, healthy. 

The Saturday night of September 6th, saw the ‘old’ Speed Wong Racing team revisit in force, Irwindale Speedway.  Just like the old day, SWR fielded the largest team at Irwindale for the weekly Whelen NASCAR Series.

It was another night of fun, 30 teammates strong, many more friends, as SWR fielded 3 Legends cars, and 3 Super Late Models..

Drivers: Brian Wong               Jason Bowles           Jason Fensler          Billy Thomas            Andrew Anderson   Matt Hart

SLM #89 SLM #20 SLM #21 LEG #99 LEG #89 LEG #92

Crew Members:
Tim Crawford
Jeff Hensley
James Carpenter
Kevin Myrick
Bob May
Fred Hernandez
Bob Bennett
Tim Evans
Karen Lewis
Bob Lewis
Bill Thomas
Devin Hugie
Stephen Appell
Dan Nagy
Steve Fensler
Barbara Fensler
Jac Fensler
Thomas Fensler
Mark Linn
Paul Dorrity
Roger Bracken
Brian Schaeffer
Jose Gutierrez
Gerald Reeves
Daryl Collins

A suite full of friends and fans came to see the Team field its long standing reputation for quality cars, the best drivers, and more cars than any team on the West Coast. 

The night also bid farewell to Team driver, Brian Wong, as he begins his second year away from racing, attending college at Northeastern University (Boston, MA).  Brian’s hope is that the Team Owner will let him fly out to a few races during his school year.  Brian recently met with his new sponsor Northeastern University and the University President to discuss cutting class!

The NASCAR West Series competitor, and in 2nd place through the season, Jason Bowles in owner Bob Bruncati’s Sunrise Ford #22, graciously agreed to drive the SWR SLM #20.  Jason showed his skills as he piloted the car to 4th  and 5th finishes in the twin SLM races. West team manager, Jason Fensler drove the SLM #21 to 11th  and 22nd Brian Wong drove the #89 to 22nd and 14th finishes.

Speed Wong Racing has developed a fondness to drivers named Jason- Fensler, Patison and now Bowles. 

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The premier series at Irwindale Speedway is the Super Late Division.  The motors have the most horsepower of any track’s regular series’ cars. Speed Wong Racing has been very successful since our entry into this division.  The team has grown to regularly entering all 3 of its Super Late race cars whenever the busy race schedules for our other series permits. 

The Saturday of August 9th saw a double header race, with two separate races, for the Super Lates.  The first race Speed Wong Racing won with driver/friend, Auggie Vidovich walking in cold and winning over series leader, our regular teammate friend, and driver from last year, Nick Joanides. 

SLM RACE 1: Twenty-five of 27 drivers took the green flag in the race.  Immediately a multi-car crash on lap 2 exiting turn four sidelined three cars.  Drivers Dustin Ash, from Las Vegas in the Speed Wong No. 21, car # 83 and car # 66 were eliminated.  It was the only yellow flag of the 18-minute race.  Vidovich raced to the front on lap 3 from turn four to the starting line.  Joanides, chased his former 2007 SLM ride.  He was 15-yards behind Vidovich at lap 20 and 20-yards (0.760) in back of Vidovich at the conclusion. Speed Wong Racing West driver Jason Patison ran in a tight, four-car pack for the final 30 laps and finished 8th.  Brian Wong (Speed Wong Racing # 89) completed the top ten.
SLM RACE 2: Only 22 cars appeared for the second SLM 40 and the starting order was the finishing order of the first 40.  Pole starter Vidovich led the opening lap on the inside over outside running Joanides, who took the lead on lap 2.  Joanides then received contact from the #22 car and spun 360 degrees to the inside of the track at the end of the backstretch.  He continued non-stop as the yellow flag flew because the # 22 car glanced off the mid-backstretch wall and slowed.  The RF fender of Vidovich’s Speed Wong Racing # 20 received damage as well, but he continued.  Vidovich’s shattered RF fender shed debris at turn three and officials called for a yellow flag on lap 21 to remove the metal piece at the outside wall.  Auggie brought the damaged #20 to finished 4th and Brian finished 8th.
The #89 of Brian Wong was notable in that he deviated from the winning chassis set-ups of the #20 of Auggie and the top running #21 of Dustin.  Brian wanted to try a new chassis set-up using ‘bump stops’, a component that NASCAR Cup teams use in their cars.  Brian got the idea from our Cup friends and he and Race Car Factory owner Jeff Schrader spent the race day just experimenting.  Obviously they didn’t hit on the right set-up, but when they do, look for Brian to be back on top.

The Speed Wong Racing, LLC Weekly Series team braved the cold weather, threatening rain storms on a holiday weekend, to race the #89, #90 Late Models on Saturday night.

It was a rare Saturday night with no Porsche Series or NASCAR West racing on June 28th. So the Speed Wong Racing guys went local. It was back to our roots, racing the weekly Saturday night series at Irwindale Speedway.

Some of the West team from our Northern California shop came down. Crew Chief Robert Strmiska, his brother Ross, Josh Tolbert, Paul Dorrity, Rodney Funston, with new #89 car chief Mike Roos traveled down to have some fun. The Southern California shop guys, Bryce Coleman, Jeff Hensley, Bob Bennett and team manager Tim Crawford welcomed them and all had a fun time.

Ross Strmiska, an accomplished driver in Northern California, was given a chance to race the Super Late #21 with brother Robert crew chiefing. Brian Wong accompanied Ross in the SLM #89., sponsored by Northeastern University. Big bad Jim Brown became the inaugural driver in the Speed Wong Racing/ Steve Roger’s Pinto Palace, #3½ black Pinto! Last year, Steve Rogers generously donated hours of time preparing a Pinto for the Mini Stock series for Speed Wong Racing. Having big Jim Brown in it was the anticipated highlight of Saturday. Yes, the number is 3½ , a light hearted poke at Steve’s famous #3 Pinto.

For the first time in recent memory, the guys all had a pressure free day, joking, working hard and having fun racing. The #21 car had its moments, as Ross was learning the track, the first time he’s raced at Irwindale. Robert was anxious to provide Ross the best set up, but it took days to do, and he only had hours. Brian hasn’t raced the #89 for a month and was just out of the West car, which was a completely different race car. Jim’s motor was dying, a victim of old age and hauling Jim’s ample body weight around the 1/3 mile.

Jim mercifully brought the #3½ to the checkered flag with a respectable lucky 13th. Ross was still getting better and learning when he finished 12th. Brian finished 4th. For the less than ideal results, everyone had a deceivingly fun time.

SWR congratulations to Jacob Rogers with his first ever win in the Mini Stock class. Jacob is the 3rd Rogers to win, joining brother Tyler and dad, Steve. Jacob has really matured and come into his own this past year, thanks to racing. Great job, congratulations.

West Team Manager, Jason Fensler, was invited to race in Wisconsin in the Five Star Body race which featured over 40 entrants. Jason flew there this past weekend, qualified the Five Star late model in 5th position. The crowded field led to several crashes, one of which claimed Jason’s car.

Its back to work for the entire team, the July 4th NASCAR West race is coming to Irwindale. SWR is fielding the Lucas Oil #17 with Jason Patison. Hoping Jason improves upon his inaugural performance of last season, when he finished 5th. Brian Wong enters his first West race on an oval in the Lucas Oil/ Northeastern University #89.

The Speed Wong Racing, LLC Weekly Series team braved the cold weather, threatening rain storms on a holiday weekend, to race the #89, #90 Late Models on Saturday night.

One of Speed Wong Racing’s teams races regularly on Saturday nights at Irwindale Speedway. This past Saturday saw team drivers Brian Wong and Ryan Partridge race the #89, #90 respectively to 4th and 6th place finishes.

Although the Team hasn’t raced as often as the prior seasons weekly appearance, the Team showed no signs of rust in qualifying well and racing strong in the main event for the race track. Ryan Partridge and Brian Wong were on the pole and outside pole for the Late Model Dash, with Ryan winning the short 6 lap warm up.

The main event started with Ryan in 6th and Brian in 5th. After a first lap hard crash by 3 cars, when the race resumed, there were no caution flags and the 40 lap main event saw all the cars racing hard. Brian just missed the 3rd position after battling for the final 10 laps of the race. Ryan followed comfortably in 6th place.

Both drivers thank their crew for their hard work and a successful evening.

• Tim Crawford (team manager)
• Paul Timpano (spotter #89)
• James Carpenter (spotter #90)
• Bill Thomas (motor specialist)
• Jeff Hensley (car chief)
• Andy Partridge
• Bryce Coleman (car chief)
• Billy Thomas (tire specialist)