The Spears Southwest Tour season finale, Prelude to the Showdown 100, will close out the 22nd season for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series.
It will be the first time the series closes its’ championship season at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. The Super Late Models will be joined by the Spears Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services for the LiUNA Feel the Power 60 presented by Lucas Oil, and the Spears Modified Series in the Factory Canopies 60 presented by Lucas Oil. All three divisions will end their seasons on the outer half-mile.
Where To Watch
The season finale will find the series LIVE on MAVTV, beginning at 6:00 PM. It will be the first time the series has been featured live on national television. All the weekend’s features can be seen on SPEED SPORT affiliate SpearsRacing.TV, for those without MAVTV. Only the Super Late Model feature will be broadcast live.
The Purse
The winner of Saturday night’s event will receive $6,500, thanks to the Winner’s Bonus from Senneker Performance Services. $2,500, $1,500, $1,250, and $1,000 will be paid out to the balance of the top-five. $1,000 will be paid to start the event, for those on the Spears Manufacturing Frequent Flyer Program. The Spears Pro Late Model winner will receive $2,500, and the Modified winner will receive $2,000.
The Championship Fight
Jacob Gomes and Jeremy Doss will battle it out for the Super Late Model Championship in the finale. Gomes holds a slim 17-point advantage over Doss. He can clinch his second series championship by finishing fourth in Saturday’s event. Gomes has three wins, six top-five, and eight top-10 finishes, compared to the 2018 champ who has two victories, seven top-five’s, and eight top-10’s. Both drivers have completed all 988 laps of competition in 2022, with Gomes leading 327 laps to Doss’ 157. Gomes average finish is 3.1 compared to Doss at 3.4. Gomes has four PFC Brakes Zero Drag Fast Time Awards to one for Doss.
Battle For Third
Cale Kanke currently sits third in the championship standings with 1,088 points. John Moore is 31 points back with 1,057 markers. Dustin Ash is a mere three points behind Moore with Buddy Shepherd another four points behind Ash. All four drivers have a strong shot at the third-place position.
Diverse Field
24 Super Late Models are currently entered for this weekend’s event. Seven states are represented, as well as the province of British Columbia, Canada. Teams are entered from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas.
Rookies
A season high seven rookies are entered for this weekend’s action. Zach Telford leads the list as the current rookie of the year championship leader. Former Madera Speedway Pro Late Model champion Austin Herzog will make his fifth 2022 start, and Stockton 99 Speedway Spears Pro Late Model victor Sean Hingorani will make his fourth start. All American 400 Pro Late Model feature winner at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Jake Bollman, will perform double duty and make his third start of the season. Two-time Colorado National Speedway championship runner-up Nickolas Cooper will be joined by CNS rookie of-the year Zach Morris, as both will make the trip from Colorado. Northwest Super Late Model Series winner Austin Thom will travel from Dundee, Ore. to also compete in the season finale.
Series Debut
Four drivers will make their 2022 season debuts in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Super Late Models. Rocky Mountain Motorsports drivers Nickolas Cooper and Zach Morris will make their first career feature starts in the series. Spears Modified Series championship car owner Eddie Wilcox will also make his first career start and Logan Jewell will make his first start of the 2022 season.
Pro Late Models
18 Spears Manufacturing Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services are entered for this weekend’s action. Seth Wise enters the event as the championship leader with a 57-point cushion over Dylan Zampa. Wise only needs to finish 13th or better to secure the championship in the series second season. Tyler Reif, Christian Bazen, and Tanner Reif complete the top-five. The last time the Pro Late Models visited Irwindale, Nick Joanides scored a thrilling last-lap victory when race leaders Zampa and Dean Thompson made contact, sending Zampa spinning. Cody Kiemele came home second followed by Jefferey Peterson, Ricky Schlick, and Seth Wise. Joanides will look to make it two-and-a-row at Irwindale this weekend.
Spears Modifieds
Jaron Giannini enters the season finale with a 142-point lead in the championship standings. By starting the event, he will secure both the Rookie-of-the-Year title, as well as the overall championship. Jimmy Sloan sits second followed by William Guevara, Travis Thirkettle, and Sam Jacks. The Irwindale Speedway dominator, Thirkettle, will look to sweep the modified action at Irwindale in 2022 and score his sixth total win of the season. 15 modifieds are entered, with Holly Clark looking to perform double duty in both her modified and pro late model. Nathan Byrd will make his return to the series and make his first start in 2022.