Irwindale, CA., June 30 - San Fernando’s Rip Michels assumed the lead after race leader Scott Dodd was penalized for a bumping incident and went on to win the ACDelco Super Late Model division 50-lap feature race Saturday night (June 30) at Irwindale Speedway. Michels scored his 7th consecutive victory and 51st career win at Irwindale Speedway. Nineteen year old Derek Becker of Highland finished second, 0.495 of a second behind Michels and Stephen Peace of Phoenix, Ariz. finished third. Division points leader Travis Thirkettle finished seventh.

Race Date: June 30, 2007

Rip Michels and his Sunrise Ford/Turbo Torq/Victory Circle Ford Fusion racing team headed to Irwindale Speedway this past Saturday night looking to capture their 50th career win at the famed half-mile Speedway.

The team headed to the speedway with heavy hearts as one of their long time crewmembers, Boyd “Chip” Brown Jr., was laid up in a hospital bed due to a motorcycle accident. The team was motivated to get him that trophy, plus give the team that 50th career win.

The team set the fastest lap in practice, and then backed that up by setting fast time in qualifying, his seventh fast time in nine races including six in a row. Owner Bob Bruncati spun a five for the inversion, which would place Rip in the third row inside for the race. At the drop of the green flag, Rip did his patent low groove move, and by turn two was in a three wide battle for the lead. By lap two, Rip had placed his Sunrise Ford Fusion in the lead, and never looked back.

The win not only gave Rip his 50th career win in 109 starts at Irwindale Speedway, it also gave him the most consecutive wins record in the Super Late Model division with his 6th straight victory, beating the old record of five straight. Rip now has 65 lifetime career wins in 246 starts, with 148 top fives.

“I felt a lot of pressure this weekend,” said Rip Michels. “Not because we were trying to win our 50th, but I did not want to disappoint Chip. He was calling us from his hospital bed, getting updates, and making sure we were doing our jobs. I was glad to get this win for him, as he is a huge part of our team, and our family.”

Rip was asked how it felt to have 50 wins in 109 starts. “All I can say is that I have been very blessed to be surrounded by such great people. From car owners like Lee Ladd, and Bob Bruncati, to great sponsors like Sunrise Ford and all the other people who have helped me here at the “Dale”(Irwindale). From chassis builders, to engine builders, to the great people like Ron and Wendy from Ron’s Rear Ends. To team members who were dedicated as much as I was to winning races, and a loving wife who has put up with it all. So, blessed is the best way to describe how I feel, not bad for a 42 year old man.”

Rip and the team will be back at the “Dale” on June 30, 2007 where Rip will try to match his career win streak record of seven wins in a row. Rip sits in second in the points 16 points out of first. For more information on Rip Michels and his sponsors, please visit www.ripmichels.com.

Source By: LRM Sports Marketing, Inc.

Irwindale, CA., June 16 - Rip Michels of Mission Hills took the lead from Derek Becker of Highland on the second lap and cruised to his sixth consecutive victory in the ACDelco Super Late Model division’s feature race at Irwindale Speedway Saturday night (June 16). Michels, Irwindale Speedway’s all-time winningest driver, clinched his 50th career victory on the half-mile oval. Division leader Travis Thirkettle of Newhall, finished second 0.853 of a second behind Michels. David Beat of Blossom Valley finished third in the 67-lap race which featured 20 cars.

Rip Michels added two more track records to his personal accomplishments column Saturday at Irwindale Speedway in a scheduled 75-lap feature during NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. The NASCAR Elite Division 2006 Southwest Series champion did it on a warm night in front of about 5,000 spectators on a Father’s Day special promotion for dads accompanied by a child 12 or under. Michels recorded his sixth consecutive SLM victory to break his series tie with 2004 SLM champion Greg Pursley. It also was his 50th main event victory at IS in three series. Second ranked winner Todd Burns has 36 victories.

Fastest qualifier Michels started his Bob Bruncati Sunrise Ford/Turbo Torq 2007 Ford Fusion fifth in the 20-car field. He shot past third starter and lap one leader Derek Becker on the second lap with an inside move through the third and fourth turns. He ran away and easily maintained his lead over the second place driver--Becker to lap 39 and Travis Thirkettle to the checkered flag. The race was taped for later airing on The Lucas Oil Motor-sports Hour on the Versus Channel on Sunday, July 15 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The 47-minute race had five caution flags for spins. On a lap 66 restart near the starting line fourth place Andrew Phipps ran into the back of third place Mike Price, who spun towards the first turn attenuator . He avoided it and continued. Phipps drove to the pits with front-end damage. He returned minus his right front fender to the back of the field. With the 10 p.m hour fast approaching and a Figure 8 race yet to be run, track officials shortened the race to 67 laps. A green, white checkered flag finish followed. Michels won by 15-yards (0.853) over Thirkettle. David Beat was ten yards in back of point leader Thirkettle. It was the second consecutive one-two finish for Michels and Thirkettle, who earlier won the six-lap trophy dash for the six-fastest qualifiers.

After nine races, Thirkettle (the 2005 Auto Club Late Model champion and 2007 SLM rookie) lost only two points from his lead over Michels, who now trails Thirkettle by 16 points-398 to 382. Thirkettle said he wants to win a race and doesn’t want to win the championship over multi-winner Michels unless he wins a feature himself. Becker, 19, was in third place on lap 66 when he dropped out. He ran the fastest lap of the race at 18.509 compared to the next fastest 18.526 for Michels. Thirkettle ran a best lap of 18.674. Kevin Thompson was sixth on the final lap when he blew his engine in the final turn and coasted across the finish line, losing five positions. Twelve drivers finished on the lead lap.

Race Date: June 16, 2007

Irwindale, CA., June 2 - Rip Michels of Mission Hills and Travis Thirkettle of Newhall made contact while battling for the lead on the 14th lap with Michels hanging on to win the 50-lap ACDelco Super Late Model feature race Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway. Thirkettle, the division points leader finished in second, 0.474 seconds behind Michels who cliched his fifth consecutive win of the season and 49th career victory at Irwindale Speedway. Nick Joanides of Woodland Hills finished third.

Race Date: June 2, 2007

Irwindale, CA., May 26 - Rip Michels, the 2006 NASCAR Elite Division Southwest Series champion, is looking for new racing challenges to conquer. He won his fourth consecutive NASCAR AC Delco Super Late Model feature this season in a 75-lap race Saturday at Irwindale Speedway. The fastest qualifier in a 23-car field started second after he spun a two for the inversion. As expected he led all the way on the progressively banked half-mile. It was his fourth consecutive fast time in the series as well. Michels’ track record 48th feature triumph in three series (29 in SLM) came in front of more than 4,000 spectators on King Taco Family Night. Three Whelen All-American Racing series and a demolition derby, plus $1.00 hot dogs all night, helped lure patrons to the eight-year old speedway in eastern Los Angeles County.

The SLM race, the second 75-lap event for the series in seven events this year, was taped by a television production company for telecast later on the Lucas Oil Motor-sports Hour weekly show on the Versus Channel (formerly The Outdoor Life Network). The May 26 SLM race is scheduled to air Saturday, June 23 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m (PDT). It will be the second tape delayed telecast of the SLM series at IS to air on the show. Andrew Phipps’ victory in the 75-lap race on April 7 was the first race from IS shown on the program on May 5.

Michels, from San Fernando, drove the No. 12 Sunrise Ford, Turbo Torq 2007 Ford Fusion owned by Bob Bruncati, a Ford dealer in Fontana. He jumped from fourth to third in current points and is only 20 points from the point lead. When asked about seeking a ride for the NASCAR Grand National West series, Michels said, "Sure, bring them on, I’ll drive even a back-up car for some team." With a GN West 200-lap race scheduled at Irwindale on Wednesday, July 4, a wise GNW car owner would get an affirmative answer from IS track master Michels to an offer to drive a GNW car at his favorite track. It offers him a new challenge and a chance to demonstrate his prowess behind the wheel. A ride in the GNW No. 09 just opened so the owner may reach fan-favorite Michels through the IS office.

Race Date: May 26, 2007