“We are showing up to Irwindale with one goal”
Elk Grove, CA driver Dylan Lupton has entered the “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 200 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame” at Irwindale Speedway on February 1st. The season opener, for the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series presented by Lucas Oil, will pay $25,000-to-win, with a feature payout of over $75,000. The current SRL Track Record holder at the facility, has found the fast way around the ½-mile facility in qualifying, earning the Performance Friction Brakes “Zero Drag Fast Time Award” in both events in 2019. But Lupton will be looking to finish off his efforts with a win, after fifth and 12th-place finishes in those events. It was a pattern for the 2014 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West Championship Runner-up. A pattern he plans to change in 2020.
“Everyone realized our speed last year, but multiple mechanical failures at Irwindale, Kern County Raceway, and LVMS Bullring and Dirt Tracktook us out of contention to win races”, Lupton told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “Honestly, it’s unacceptable, and we have taken measures over the off season to ensure that we will be fighting for wins, at every race we show up to.”
Lupton knows about tough competition, as he competed in six NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series events in 2019, for DGR-Crosley Racing. He finished in the top-10 in half of those events, with a best finish of fifth at Kentucky Speedway. He also participated in five SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series events, scoring two top-10’s, with a season best of fifth, at the aforementioned Irwindale Speedway. Lupton expects to see another strong field when he heads to Irwindale looking for that $25,000 payday.
Lupton replied, “The competition is stiff in the SRL series, and the field will be even more stacked for the Showdown.”
For the 35-time NASCAR Xfinity Series starter, he will be returning to a track he is very familiar with. Lupton is a former track champion at the facility and counted four victories in his Late Model in 2011, finishing third in the standings. He also has a fifth-place finish in his only NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West start at Irwindale.
“Irwindale is my home track away from home”, Lupton stated. I grew up cutting my teeth on the track in the Late Model series. I’m excited to go back there next month.”
Lupton will be bringing his “A-game” to the All-Star Showdown. His SRL average qualifying effort of 3.8 was very impressive in 2019, but his average finish of 11.2 was disappointing. The team has stepped up their game over the off-season, with several upgrades to both the car and the crew. As a result, Lupton will be looking for one thing on February 1st, a victory in the “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 200 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame”.
“We are showing up to Irwindale with one goal, to win”, Lupton exclaimed! “Anything less than that will be a bit disappointing. We have built a new VanDoorn Chassis and have added a few veteran crew members to our team, to help strengthen us for the 2020 season.”
Lupton’s current 2020 plans include spending a lot more time behind the wheel of his new Super Late Model. That could include three trips to his satellite home track in Irwindale. With a plethora of large paying events in the SRL in 2020, his plans include an increased presence there, as well as hitting some big Super late Model events throughout the Nation.
“As of right now, we plan on running a majority of the SRL Series races, and competing in a handful of big Super Late Model races across the country.”
To accomplish such an ambitious schedule, it takes a solid base of financial support. Lupton is appreciative of that support and will be gunning for some big 2020 victories as a result.
“I’d like to thank Lupton Excavation and ShreddyClothing for their continued support in 2020.”
The resumption of the All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway will take place on February 1st. It will pay $25,000 to the winner of the 200-lap Feature Event, thanks to Sunrise Ford’s, Bob Bruncati and Ken Clapp from the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. Over $75,000 will be paid out to the 36 starters, plus additional cash bonuses for the drivers eligible for the Spears Manufacturing Frequent Flyer Program. If needed, the Last Chance Qualifying race will pay $1,000 to those on the SPEARS Frequent Flyer Program, who do not make the Feature Event.
The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series will be joined by the Spears Modified Series, as well as the Pro Late Models for a huge weekend at the speedway. The Pro Late Models will race for a $10,000 payday.
Celebrating its twentieth season in 2020, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.
