Spangler is quickly approaching 100 career starts…
Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series veteran Keith Spangler is quickly approaching 100 career starts in the series. The long-time racer, from Porter Ranch, CA, is only seen infrequently at the extended distance events. But Spangler will make series start No. 97 at the “Sunrise FordAll-Star Showdown 200 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame” on February 1st, at Irwindale Speedway. It will be Spangler’s 30th Southwest Tour Series start at the facility, where he holds a career best second place finish. That particular finish being in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Series.
With that much experience at Irwindale, Spangler is a big fan of the track, at which he has five top-five, and 18 top-10 finishes. His last start ended in an 11th place run, after being caught in the wrong line during a late race restart. The series veteran just missed out on his 56th career top-10 in the SRL. Despite that, Spangler is ready to take on 35 other drivers in the All-Star Showdown’s return.
“I really like racing at Irwindale”, Spangler told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “It is a track where you have three or four grooves and you can race side by side. You really shouldn’t be running into each other out there, because there is plenty of room to race. You can use the whole racetrack, you just need to be aware of where everyone is out there. The fans should see a good race.”
Spangler and Car owner David Nava Mulcahy (Homie) debuted a new chassis in 2019, utilizing a majority of their existing equipment to complete the car. For the 2020 season, Homie has made additional investments and improvements to their Super Late Model. The long-time friend and car owner is looking forward to getting back to Irwindale, after missing last season’s debut in the renovated car.
“I’m looking forward to heading back to California and Irwindale Speedway”, Homie stated. “It is a track that Keith has had some pretty good runs at. I just wasn’t able to make it out for last year’s race, to see the new #37 car run there, due to Retro Custom Metals projects.”
With their increased speed in 2019 and more to come in 2020, will Spangler get overall Southwest Tour Series top-10 number 108? The veteran driver should be a strong contender to do so.
Spangler is supported by long-time friend David Mulcahy, Retro Custom Metals, DM Motorsports, Spangler Racing and Homie’s new adventure “Salted Metals”. It is an architectural metals design and consulting company, started by “Homie” and his wife. “It is all about the design and education of exterior and interior architectural metals on your home or business”, Mulcahy explained.
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 $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 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 paycheck, 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”.
