Nick Joanides and Garcia Racing Team Up for “Wild West Shootout”

Bakersfield, CA – Three-time Irwindale Speedway (CA) Late Model track champion Nick Joanides will make his first Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series start since 2020, when he heads to Kern County Raceway Park (CA) for the $10,000-to-win JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107” on June 17th. Joanides will be in the Garcia Racing #25 for which Brandon Farrington finished fourth at Tucson Speedway (AZ) in April. A win in the Heat Race could net Joanides a total of $11,000 thanks to the Heat Race Winner’s Bonus of $1,000 and Dick Shepherd with H&S Body Works and Towing.

It has been several years since Joanides has been behind the wheel of a Super Late Model, with his Irwindale and ARCA Pro Series West schedule, but he is looking forward to the challenge and experience, in his favorite type of racecar.

“I am looking forward to it! The “Tour” cars have always been my favorite cars to drive”, Joanides stated. They are light weight, great handling cars, with full slick tires, and a lot of horsepower.”

Joanides has 57 career wins at Irwindale Speedway, putting him third on the all-time ½-mile wins list. He trails only Trevor Huddleston and Rip Michaels. His three championships include two in the Super Late Models and one in the Late Models. He was the championship runner-up on two occasions, just missing an add to his total. Joanides grabbed a win in the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services last September, in a thrilling finish. His Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series record shows seven starts with a best finish of seventh, at Irwindale.

His NASCAR touring series stats include 59 career starts in the NASCAR Southwest Tour with a best finish of third at the now defunct Mesa Marin Raceway (CA). That finish was during his 2001 season, when he finished fourth in the championship behind Craig Raudman, Augie Vidovich, and Darrell LaMoure. He ran full-time in the NASCAR Midwest Tour Series in 2005, finishing ninth in the standings, with a series best fourth at Kentucky Speedway (KY). His “West” Series numbers include 22 starts with a best finish of fourth at All American Speedway in 2018.

He will now team up with veteran series car owner Mike Garcia and Garcia Racing. The team has fielded cars for SRL ROTY Zach Telford, Christian McGhee, Dylan Cappello, Brandon Farrington, Eric Humpries, Jonathan Mawhinney, Rod Johnson Jr., and Wes Miller. Joanides is happy to join that group and hopes they can unload from the trailer in good shape, with no testing.

“It’s always hard to do a one-off race with no testing, but the Garcia’s have good equipment, and they’re great guys to work with. So, hopefully we can hit on the setup right off the trailer and have a great run”, Joanides said.”

Joanides is thankful for the opportunity and those who worked to make it happen, as he conveyed.

“I have to thank Loyd McGhee and J&M Racing for making it happen, as well as our partners coming on board for this race. Those include Jan Qualkenbush and Jan’s Towing, Commercial Concrete Constructors, and Wallace Signs.”

The “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107” for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will take place on June 17th and will be a single day event for the Super Late Models, Spears Modified Series, and the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services. The Super Late Models will race for $10,000, with $800 to start and $1,200 for those on the Spears Frequent Flyer Program. The starting lineup will be set through a Heat race, which will pay $1,000 to the winner, thanks to H&S Body Works. The Heat lineup will be based off practice times for the series, with a redraw or invert at the front of the field. The Liuna “Feel the Power” Fireworks Spectacular will also be a part of the evening.

Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, 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”.