After a one month absence, Position One Motorsports returned to NASCAR ACDelco Super Late Model series competition at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale this past weekend. At the end of the evening the team accomplished one of it's goals: to improve its point standings and to continue its education in the fierce competition that is Super Late Model series racing. 

Hoping to improve on points standings, the Baldwin Park, California based team and driver Luis Martinez Jr (#03-KING TACO) approached these two races with renewed determination and focus.  The Twin 40 races  also saw Crew Chief Steve Portenga return to the team.  As is the case with racing Rounds #9 and #10 would leave the team with mixed results.   
 
Qualifying:   
Once again, the conditions at the Speedway proved difficult as temperatures soared to the high 90 degree mark.  Undeterred by the conditions Martinez suited up and entered the track and put on a strong qualifying effort, ending up 3rd on the time sheet.  By the time the session was completed Martinez would end up 12th.  While it wasn't a top-10 result, the team was nevertheless impressed with Martinez' ability to return after being gone one month and still quickly adapt himself to the 350 horsepower car.

Race #1 :
Under cooler conditions and with a beautiful Southern California sunset, Martinez took the green flag and immediately shook off all of his rust.  By Lap # 18 the KING TACO car was battling with Travis Thirkettle (#05- Natl Papers: High Point Dist ).  The caution flag came out on Lap # 21 for a spin caused by Matthew Eshleman (#44- So Cal Wraps).  On the restart Martinez caught up with fellow Position One sponsored driver Randel King (#35 - Randel King Racing).  Eshelman caused another caution flag on Lap # 26 with another solo spin.  On the restart, King and Martinez continued their on-track battle.  Both drivers drove hard and smart and as the checkered flag dropped King would finish 12th while Martinez followed in 13th.  
    
Race #2:
The second and final race for the Super Late Models contained much the same as the last race: Martinez and King battling alongside each other.  Unfortunately there would be a far different outcome for Martinez.  

At the drop of the green flag Martinez immediately began slicing and dicing alongside Stephen Peace (#77-Erreca's Inc) and finally was able to pass him for 9th place on the inside on lap #5.  Shortly thereafter the battle for 9th got crowded as Randel King joined up, making it a three-way fight.  By lap # 26 Jeff Eshleman (#88-So Cal Wraps & Graphics) joined the fray and made it a four-way battle. Lap #31 saw Martinez' luck change for the worse as Eshelman pinched Martinez alongside Turn #1 causing both cars to spin.  Eshelman continued while Martinez' race came to an end as a result of terminal car damage.  A 13th place finish was all Martinez could muster.  While Martinez' luck soured, Randel King added to his number of top-10 finishes finishing this race in 9th.

In the 2008 points chase, Position One improves as Martinez climbs back up to 10th in points with 218 points while King sits in 8th with 260 points.

Position One Motorsports will compete again on June 28th when the eleventh race of the  NASCAR ACDelco Super Late Model series is scheduled to occur.  

Steve Portenga – Crew Chief -  “After being gone from the team for the last 2 races I have returned to a different driver.  Luis is a more aggressive, assured, and knowledgeable driver.  We still have quite a bit of racing left in the season and I am sure that we will have figured out what we need to do to improve ourselves.  We have great sponsors and crew members and all we need are some breaks, but I'm sure we'll get there”.      

Luis Martinez Jr – Driver: “We tried different things this weekend.  Some things worked and some did not but we learned from it.  We once again made forward progress despite the last race incident and I believe that will only make us stronger for the next race so that we can finish the year on a strong note ”.  

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 enters 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 Irwindale Speedway and Camping World West Series.  Housed in a state-of-the-art facility in Southern California, Position One Motorsports continues to support an array of go-kart ventures.