Toyota All-Star Showdown

The Toyota All-Star Showdown is a nonpoints, all-star race that brings together the top drivers in NASCAR's lower-level series.

It was inaugurated in 2003, and all five events so far have been held at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in suburban Los Angeles. Historically held in October or November, NASCAR moved the 2008 season event to January 23-24, 2009, after all of NASCAR's regional series had finished their 2008 seasons.

2006 format

In 2006, the Showdown was a two-race card, as it had been throughout its brief history. One was for drivers in the AutoZone Elite Division, comprising the Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest divisions. The other was for drivers in the Grand National Division, which was made up of the Busch East and AutoZone West Divisions.

The top 15 drivers in points in each of the two Grand National series comprised the field for that division's race for a total of 30, while the top 10 drivers in points in each of the four Elite series set the field for that division's race, or 40 in total.

On Friday night, the fields were split in half and the drivers competed in qualifying races (akin to the Gatorade Duel) to determine the starting lineup for the following night's main event. The drivers with the worst position in their respective division's standings started at the front of the field, and the lineups were filled by alternating the series. (For example, a Northwest driver followed by a Southeast driver followed by a Southwest driver followed by a Midwest driver.)

Drivers in the first race took the inside lanes for the Saturday main event, while those in the second race took the outside lane. All drivers entered automatically qualified for the main race.

2007 Format

The 2007 Showdown was held October 19-20, again at Irwindale Speedway, with a new two-day format.

The first race became a 150-lap Super Late Model race held on the Friday night, with any Super Late Model racer who races in a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track eligible for the event.

The Grand National race featured major changes:

* The race is 250 laps and features a 40-car starting field.
* Top 15 drivers in both Grand National divisions invited and receive bonus money.
* Any driver approved by NASCAR to race in this division at tracks of one-half mile or greater may attempt this race. (Previously, only the top 15 in each division was eligible.)
* Only exempt cars automatically qualified for the race.
* Exemptions were awarded on the following (Any Grand National team may help these champions in other cars obtain a ride):
** Any Grand National race winner in 2007.
** All NASCAR Regional Series champions for 2007
*** Busch East Series
*** NASCAR West Series
*** Whelen Modified Tour
*** Whelen Southern Modified Tour
*** Canadian Tire Series
*** Corona Series leader as of September 2 (Due to the race being before the NCS season ends; this problem was resolved with the 2008 season by moving the race to January 2009)
*** Whelen All-American Series National Champion
* These exempt drivers (minimum seven) will be added with the top cars from Friday qualifying to form a 30-car starting field.
* A 50-lap last chance qualifier will establish the final ten cars for Saturday's 250-lap feature.

The format change was required because the Elite Division is no longer in place. NASCAR disbanded the division after the 2006 season.http://www.nascarlocalracing.com/content.php?Series_ID=27

Winners

Grand National Division

*2007 Joey Logano
*2006: Matt Kobyluck
*2005: David Gilliland
*2004: Mike Johnson
*2003: Austin Cameron

Late Models

*2007: Greg Pursley (first under new Late Model format)
*2006: Tim Schendel (last with old NASCAR Elite Division cars)
*2005: Auggie Vidovich
*2004: Eric Holmes
*2003: Ron Breese Jr.

External links

* [http://www.irwindalespeedway.com/resultsdetail.php?class_ID=1021061&ID=532&NID=NASCAR%20Toyota%20All-Star%20Showdown%20-%20Grand%20National&MID=October&DID=21&RNUM=Main 2006 Grand National Division results]
* [http://www.irwindalespeedway.com/resultsdetail.php?class_ID=1021062&ID=533&NID=NASCAR%20Toyota%20All-Star%20Showdown%20-%20Elite&MID=October&DID=21&RNUM=Main 2006 Elite Division results]