Auggie Vidovich, of Lakeside, Calif. captured the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division feature while Mike Olsen, of North Haverhill, N.H. was the NASCAR Grand National Division winner in Saturday night’s third annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. Vidovich, who started eighth, dominated the final 50-lap segment of the 125-lap AutoZone Elite Division main event after taking advantage of the double file restart at lap 76 to pass Rip Michels for the lead.
The victory by former Busch North Series champion Olsen in the 150-lap Grand National Division race came after a race of dramatic changes of fortune that produced 14 lead changes among five drivers. David Gilliland of the West Series was second, .828 seconds behind, followed by Busch North drivers Matt Kobyluck, Ryan Moore and Sean Caisse.(more at NASCAR.com, Racingwest.com or irwindalespeedway.com)(11-13-2005)
REVISED: NASCAR announced that the unofficial results of Saturday’s Toyota All-Star Showdown Grand National Division race at Irwindale Speedway have been revised, resulting in original runner-up David Gilliland being declared the winner. The car driven by Mike Olsen, originally listed as the winner in the unofficial results, failed post-race inspection. Olsen’s crew chief, Harry Norcross, was determined to be in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components, and/or equipment that do not conform to NASCAR rules) of the NASCAR rule book. Olsen’s car had unapproved right-side wheels which exceeded the maximum width of 9 ½ inches and were less than the 27-pound minimum weight. The violations dropped Olsen to 31st in the official race finish. Gilliland and all others in the event moved up one position as a result.(NASCAR)(11-15-2005)
