Toyota All-Star Showdown
The Toyota All-Star Showdown is an All-Star race in the NASCAR series for successful drivers of the lower NASCAR racing classes, as well as the Canadian NASCAR Championship and the Mexican NASCAR championship. The Toyota All-Star Showdown was first held in 2003 at the Irwindale Speedway in a suburb of Los Angeles. All previous races were held there.
Format of the event until 2006
The driver's field consisted of riders from the AutoZone Elite Divisions ( Northwest Division, Southeast Division, Southwest Division and Midwest Division ) and Grand National divisions ( NASCAR Camping World East Series, NASCAR Camping World West Series).
The top 15 drivers in the points stands the Grand National divisions formed the starting field for the Grand National All-Star race. The top 10 in the scores, the AutoZone Elite Divisions formed the starting field for the Elite All- Star race.
Friday before the main event the drivers fields of both divisions were divided. The halved drivers fields then took part in the qualifying race, to be compared with the Gatorade Duel of the Sprint Cup. The starting order of the main race was determined by this race. Drivers who participated in the first qualifying race, started the main race on the inner line. Drivers who participated in the second qualifying race, started the main race on the outer line.
Format of the event since 2007
The first race of the weekend is a 150 laps long " Super Late Model " race. All drivers of the NASCAR Whelen All- American Series are eligible for it.
The race of the Grand National divisions will be fundamentally changed:
- The race goes over 250 rounds and consists of 40 participants
- The top 15 riders two Grand National divisions may participate
- In addition, may still participate drivers that meet one of the following conditions: Race winner in the Grand National Divisions
- Champions of the following regional NASCAR series: NASCAR Camping World East Series
- NASCAR Camping World West Series
- Whelen Modified Tour
- Whelen Southern Modified Tour
- NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
- NASCAR Corona Series
- Whelen All- American Series
The format change was necessary because the elite divisions were disbanded in 2006.
Toyota All-Star Showdown 2007
The Toyota All-Star Showdown in 2007 was held to 20 October 2007 of 19. Venue was again the Irwindale Speedway in a suburb of Los Angeles.
On October 19, the Super Late Model race and the qualifying divisions took place for the race of the Grand National. Greg Pursley won Late Model race before Rip Michels Super. In qualifying for the race the Grand National divisions Sean Caisse was the fastest gun in front of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver Joey Logano -. The two have fought before in the NASCAR Busch East Series throughout the year for the title.
On 20 October, was the most important race of the NASCAR regional divisions, the race of the Grand National divisions at the Toyota All-Star Showdown, instead. Darrell Waltrip was the Grand Marshall of the race. In the initial phase Sean Caisse dominated, however, he was not even pushed to the middle of the race by a careless Moses Smith, who had a lap down in the wall. Brian Ickler and Joey Logano seemed then the top favorites for the victory to be, but Ickler destroyed by his driving his tires so that Joey Logano was able to ride almost without great competition to win. He had in the last laps of the race the pressure of Peyton Sellers only withstand what he had achieved without major problems. For Joey Logano, who is considered one of the most promising young talents in American motorsports, it was the first victory at the Toyota All-Star Showdown.
Winner of Events
Grand National Division
- 2003: Austin Cameron
- 2004: Mike Johnson
- 2005: David Gilliland
- 2006: Matt Kobyluck
- 2007: Joey Logano
- 2009: Matt Kobyluck
- 2010: Joey Logano
Late Models
- 2003: Ron Breese Jr.
- 2004: Eric Holmes
- 2005: Auggie Vidovich
- 2006: Tim Schendel
- 2007: Greg Pursley
- 2009: Travis Thirkettle
- 2010: Rip Michaels