After a year and a half of hard work and learning the transition from dirt to pavement former Dirt Track Champion Robby Sawyer finished second place Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway in the NASCAR Super Late Model Division. Race fans and family knew he was getting faster every week but his performance this past weekend elevated to the top of his class. The performance of his driving ability began early in the day when Sawyer pulled onto the track and qualified fifth at 18.447. The competition is close and there is no room for errors as the final qualifying times in the top eight were separated by thousands of a second. The top six qualifiers would run a six lap shoot out trophy dash where Sawyer finished third. The trophy dash gave Robby an idea of what the main event starting position would make on his decisions and what might be expected in the main event.

A reverse six of qualifying order was drawn and this would now start Sawyer on the outside pole of the grid for the main event. The green flag was thrown but a crash in the middle of the field saw a yellow come out as the cars would once again take the green for a complete restart. On lap two Sawyer moved into first and held the lead for two laps when he was passed by the six car of David Beat. Sawyer tucked behind Beat and the two seemed as they were working together as they began to pull away from the remainder of the field. Sawyer began to experience break problems on lap 20 and was radioed that they were glowing red. On lap 28 a second yellow was thrown when a car spun in between turns three and four. When the green flag flew again Sawyer was now faced with two problems; one was the break problems or lack of breaks and two having the field bunched up again after having a successful lead on the field. On the restart the #25 car made an inside attempt to pass Sawyer but Sawyer drove a smooth line and it didn't take Robby no time before he got back in the preferred groove of the track. Sawyer began to pull away and at times look to be closing in on Beat but then several laps later would fall off the pace shortening his lead over the third place car. What was learned after the race was Sawyer had lost his breaks and was compensating his speed to cool down the little breaks he had. Later In an interview with the Los Angeles Times a reporter asked, "If you had not lost your breaks do you think you would caught David Beat?" "Yes, stated Sawyer, without any hesitation, there is no doubt in my mind." see also Sports in Los Angeles Times

Tonight was the twenty-one year olds best finish to date in the NASCAR Super Late Model Division. "Were up against some teams with Big Sponsors and crews and our team is a family and hometown (Bakersfield) supported operation. I know Robby is capable of performing and tonight proves it as he ran the fastest lap in the main event at an 18.81 lap time. It just takes someone recognizing his talent and to give him an opportunity to further his racing career," stated crew Chief Kelly Sawyer. Sawyer will compete again at Irwindale Speedway on August 19, 2006.


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On another note: The race team would like to thank the following people for their help in the pits and on the radio at this evening's race: Kevin, Dave, Bruce, and Johnny....your help was appreciated! We would also like to thank Diane, Manager of BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse in Arcadia for being there tonight and all the great food you feed our team!

Twenty-two cars showed up for the NASCAR Super Late Model Main Event. Sawyer started the main event in the 18th position. A first lap accident before turn one involved several cars get tangled up when one of the cars missed a shift because of an earlier transmission problem. The accident had Sawyer making a quick decision as he took the pit exit to miss flying debris. Sawyer pulled back onto the track during the yellow and the field took a complete restart of the main event. Sawyer's fast lap came on lap four at 18.544 and averaged 97.066 miles per hour during the race. Sawyer's car seemed to be working great as he moved onto the scoreboard for the first time this season holding the tenth position on the marquee. What the crew did not know was Robby was struggling with a handling problem because of the car being very loose. It became evident to his crew chief when several times out of turn two Sawyer had the car almost sideways as he saved the car from hitting the wall. With fifteen laps to go Sawyer's handling problems increased as he lost three positions. Sawyer finished thirteenth in the fifty lap main event. "That was one loose racecar," Sawyer told his spotter Kevin over the radio. The Super Late Models will race again on July 8, 2006 and Sawyer plans to be there.

Twenty-nine NASCAR Super Late Models showed up for Saturday's nights racing. The SLM feature began with a pair of two-car crashes that sidelined Ray Robinson and then Andy Coyle. Second starter Dan Moore grabbed the lead on the third attempt to start the race. Moore, in his new car for 2006, led through lap 24 in a three-way battle with pole starter David Beat and Johnson, who passed Beat for second on lap 13. Sawyer took advantage of the on track action and moved up in position. Robby Sawyer's best lap of the evening came on lap eight at a 18.514 at 97.224 miles per hour. Sawyer finished a respectable 13th of the twenty-nine car starting field and continues to improve each race. Finishing is a huge factor at Irwindale, "Every week we move one step closer in the right direction", states crew chief Kelly Sawyer. The NASCAR Super Late Models will race again next weekend. photo gallery of race weekend (opens new window)

March 25, 2006:
Taking to the track after two rain outs the NASCAR Super Late Models competed Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway. Thirty competitors in the Super Late Models were split into three heat races. Sawyer started on the pole of the first heat and fell back to third when a yellow was thrown due to light rain. The heat race was called because of wet track conditions. The heat races are a new addition on the race schedule giving the drivers an extra opportunity to earn points. The evenings main event saw 29 cars take the green flag in the fifty lap race. Robby Sawyer started 21st in the evenings main event which saw several cautions. Sawyer drove a lap time of 18.696 at 96.277 miles per hour on lap five making this his fastest lap of the race. When the checkered fell Sawyer finished 15th in the field.

Post race interview: "The car was loose off, real loose, and a couple of times Robby was sideways coming out of turn two, he did a great job of handling the car and getting it through the traffic and wrecks. The dirt experience played a major role in tonights performance, I am very proud he drove the way he did" stated the Crew Chief Kelly Sawyer.The Super Late Models are scheduled to race again on April 8th.