The four-time NASCAR Whelen All American Series California State Champion
One of the most successful drivers in Irwindale Speedway (CA) history is about to make his first All-Star Showdown start. Trevor Huddleston will team up with Rookie-of-the-Year contender Dean Thompson and High Point Racing, to compete in the “Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown 200 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame” on February 1st. The 1/2-mile in Irwindale is Huddleston’s home track, where he has 51 career victories, which is third best in the facilities history.
The four-time NASCAR Whelen All American Series California State Champion will be making his 14th start in “Spears Srl Southwest TourSeries presented by Lucas Oil” competition. He has four top-five and seven top-10 finishes to date. Six of those starts were at Irwindale Speedway, where he has picked up three top-five and four top-10’s. He finished a career best second in 2017. The Aroura Hills, CA driver also has two Irwindale starts in the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West. One of those starts resulted in one of his two career victories, in that series. As the driver of the Sunrise Ford entry, over the last two seasons, he has finished sixth and fourth in the West’s championship standings.
Starting off 2020, Huddleston is excited to be able to participate in the All-Star Showdown, after watching the event from the grandstands as a youth. He was seven-years-old, when the first Showdown was held in 2003, and a teenager when the last event was run in 2011.
“I am beyond excited that the Showdown has returned to Irwindale”, Huddleston told the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour. “As a kid I remember watching the event, dreaming of the day I could finally compete in it. It’s so special with the number of cars, and three main series racing. It’s gonna be one heck of a night.”
The 2017 NASCAR Whelen All American Series National Championship runner-up driver is always a threat for victory, at his home track, as witnessed by his record there. But he is still looking for that elusive first win, in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. Trevor would love to get the $25,000 victory next weekend, and join his father Tim Huddleston, as an All-Star Showdown winner.
Trevor began, “Coming into this weekend, I think we are more prepared than ever. We have run really well in the SRL at Irwindale, but have just lacked the extra little bit we needed. But I think this is gonna be the race we finally dial it all in. Hopefully we can add another Huddleston to list of winners in the All-Star Showdown.”
To do that, the four-time Irwindale Speedway Late Model Champion knows he will have his hands full. He knows that his High Point Racing, RACECAR Factory Team will need to be at the top of their game, and that the competition for the win will be formidable.
“The competition in the SRL is like none other”, Huddleston explained. “Each and every weekend there are at least 30 drivers with a legitimate shot to win. Especially being at Irwindale, we’re gonna gain even more super competitive racers. It’s gonna be tough to win. Everyone has got to be at the top of their game.”
Huddleston’s season has already begun in his Late Model, having already scored a victory at Havasu 95 Speedway (AZ). It will be another busy season, for the 23-year-old racer, one that will look somewhat familiar to last season, with a few more SPEARS Southwest Tour Series starts.
“I am happy to say I will be running another year in Bob and Maureen Bruncati’s Sunrise Ford ARCA Cars, as well as numerous races in my High Point Racing Late Model”, Huddleston stated. “We will also be running part-time in the SRL series, and hopefully hitting some of the big races this year.”
With such a busy schedule of events in 2020, Trevor is very grateful for the opportunities he has had to participate in a slate of events, such as are planned. The 2015 Madera Speedway Short Track Shootout runner-up credits a great group of friends, family, team personnel and sponsors for those opportunities.
“There are so many people that allow me to live out my dreams, and without them, none of this would be possible”, the 23-year-old asserted. “I would like to thank High Point Racing , Racecar Factory, Lucas Oil, Sunrise Ford, The Loe Pit Stop, TerraClean, and all my friends and family.”
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 $78,000 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 winner’s share, 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”.
