AUSTIN REED ENTERS SHOWDOWN
Austin Reed, the 2019 winner of the PASS National Championship Super Late Model “Commonwealth Classic 75”, from Richmond Raceway, is heading to Irwindale Speedway on February 1st. Reed has submitted his entry for the Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 200 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.” Austin will be in the Dave Reed RacingRacing], Approved Memory #14 Super Late Model, as a potential team car to the well-known #2 car, which is available for rent.
Austin will be making career Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series start number eight, and his third at Irwindale Speedway. He has a ninth and 11th place results at the facility, in 2015 and 2016. His best SRL series finish was a fourth, at the LVMS Bullring and Dirt Track in 2014. Reed is coming off the biggest Super Late Model win of his career in 2019, when he came home triumphant at the 3/4 -mile Richmond Raceway in the PASS National Championship Series. He finished in front of Jared Irvin, Matt Craig, Ben Rowe and Augie Grill to take home the $7,000 paycheck.
Looking ahead to the All-Star Showdown, there will be $25,000 on the line for the winner. Reed feels both events would be significant victories in his career, and is happy to have a chance to win at Irwindale, in an event that has considerable history.
“Both of these races are huge and prestigious”, Reed told the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series. “The All -Star Race has some serious history, from years past. It is great to have it back in action. To win at Irwindale with the caliber of drivers would be incredible.”
Looking back to the 2019 race, it had significance to Reed, not only for the prestige of winning, but for his first experience with the car builder and Crew Chief.
“The race at Richmond was my first race with a Bond Suss built car, with Bond calling the shots”, Reed explained. “Not to mention, it was my first race in a Super Late Model, in a couple years. To win at Richmond was insane. The car we are racing at the All-Star Race is the sister car to the Richmond car, along with Brad Peters power under the hood.”
For this event, Austin will have support from Approved Memory, Ringers Gloves, Peters Racing Engines, FLUIDYNE High Performance, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Eibach, JDA BRE, Coleman Powersportsand Bubba’s Rear Ends.
The resumption of the All-Star Showdown, after a nine-year hiatus, 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 $78,000 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 Super Late Models 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, while the Modifieds will be going after a $5,000 winner’s share, thanks to series sponsor Fluidyne High Performance and Irwindale Speedway.
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”.
Photos courtesy of Dave Reed. SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series Photo from Sal Sigala Jr..
