Scorching temperatures above the 100 degree mark greeted the Position One Motorsports team at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale this weekend. Drivers Mackena Bell, Luis Martinez Jr. and Randel King showed up determined to give a 100% effort despite the difficult conditions. With only one race remaining in the season after this weekend, there was a sense of urgency in the air. The trio were joined this weekend by newcomer Joshua Brander. Brander is no stranger to Position One Motorsports as he has raced with them as part of their go-karting program and is a full time mechanic at the Position One Shop. This would be his oval track racing debut. 

S2 Race

After having qualified on the pole, S2 driver Randel King would end up starting the race in the sixth place as a result of the field being inverted. The starting position would have little effect on King who currently leads the division points chase by 10 points. Once the green flag waved King began his charge towards the front in spectacular fashion taking the low side of the track and at times going 3-wide. Brander followed his teammate in his charge towards the front but King's pace was too fast and by lap # 10 King was now leading the race by 4 car-lengths. Brander was able to hang back in the fifth spot and quickly built up his confidence around his new environment. Unchallenged for the lead, King would go on to win the race, his third of the season. His teammate Brander finished in the fifth spot; a very respectable debut effort.

Super Late Model Race #1

Luis Martinez Jr, just off his first win of the season, qualified for this weekend's event in the second spot but started Race #1 in fourth due to the inverted field. Martinez took the start of the race and quickly began protecting his position against a challenge from fellow competitor Rip Michaels. The third place of #01 Danny Gay was in third, only 4 car-lengths away from Martinez. With Michaels trailing Martinez, the youngster from Long Beach mounted an attack for the third spot and by lap #17 he was only two car lengths away from Gay. By lap #21 Gay, Martinez, and Michaels were locked in a 3-way battle for the third spot. Martinez's efforts would pay off and he would eventually finish the race in the fourth spot, only 0.251 seconds from third place.

Mackena Bell started Race #1 in the 10th position and hammered her way forward at the start. Bell was followed by the #06 of Dave Beat and he soon began to mount a challenge for Bell's spot. Bell and Beat fought side by side for the position with Bell able to fend off his challenges but by lap # 20 Beat had managed to take away the tenth spot. Bell was not about to let Beat walk away with the position without a fight and she hounded him throughout the race, despite an attack from the #57 of David Ross. She eventually got by the #5 of Travis Thirkettle, who was falling back in the field, and with that Bell was able to solidify a tenth place finish.

Super Late Model Race #2

Race #2 would see the same results as earlier in the evening. Martinez would start the race in the fourth spot again and much like the first race he began his challenge for the fourth spot which was owned by Bear Rzesnowiecky. Martinez and Rzesnowiecky continued their fight for the fourth spot throughout the race. On lap #12 Alex Haase retired from the race and that allowed Rzesnowiecky and Martinez to move up one spot. The #5 of Travis Thirkettle caught up to Martinez and began harassing him for the fourth spot. Martinez was not going to make it easy on Thirkettle and he spent the rest of the race battling him and at the end he was able to protect his fourth place finishing spot.

Mackena Bell began her second race in the tenth spot and like she always had in the past began her attack towards the front at the drop of the green flag. By lap #10 Bell was about 7 car lengths away from the ninth spot but things got more harrowing on lap #22 when #43 Dennis Furden attempted a challenge for Bell's tenth spot. At one point the distance between Bell and Furden was at a slim one car-length . With calmness and determination Bell managed to avert Furden's challenge and by lap #27 Furden was four car-lengths behind Bell. She was able to maintain her position. With the ninth place of Dave Beat enjoying a sizable lead over Bell she settled for a tenth place finish. Her second tenth place finish of the night. Her finishing spot should help the youngster from Carson City, Nevada in her quest for the Rookie of the Year award.

Randel King - Driver: “Once again the Position One Motorsports crew came through and gave me a great car for the race. I have to thank the Position One Motorsports organization for continuously coming through every weekend and for trusting me with their car. It's great to continue our momentum and keep our lead in the division. Hopefully we can keep that lead.”

Luis Martinez Jr - Driver: “Despite the difficult conditions with the heat we managed to have another great pair of races. We had some good battles during the race and managed to finish fourth both times which helps us in the overall points scheme. Overall I am very happy with the results. A lot of thanks go to my crew, King Taco and Eibach Springs for their support.”

Mackena Bell – Driver: “Well it was a very hot day. We missed it a bit for the race. We were fast in practice but we were loose during the first race. The crew worked hard in the heat and hopefully we'll be back in two weeks and get a top-5 finish. I really would like to thank D4D, Eibach Springs, NGK Spark Plugs and Position One Motorsports for their support.”

Joshua Brander – Driver: “First off I have to thank Luis Martinez Sr. for the opportunity he has given me to race this weekend and thanks to the crew that I had. This was a great experience and the education that I got was priceless. It was an honor representing the Position One Motorsports organization. I'd also like to thank everyone who got me to this point for their support and trust.”

About Position One Motorsports: After competing in the Formula TR series in 2007 and 2006 and finishing 3rd in the Championship both years, Position One Motorsports entered the 2008 racing season looking to continue its success as a participant in the Whelen All American NASCAR Weekly Racing series events at Southern California's Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. At the conclusion of the season the team finished 9th in the points. For 2009 Martinez and newcomer and NASCAR Drive for Diversity participant Mackena Bell, will race the NASCAR Whelen All-American series at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Housed in a state-of-the-art facility in Southern California, Position One Motorsports continues to support an array of go-kart ventures.

For more information on Position One Motorsports and its partners, visit www.position-one.com