IRWINDALE : Kelley Keeps Hopes Alive for Series Title

Brian Kelley’s second-place finish in Saturday night’s 50-lap NASCAR super late model race at Irwindale Speedway helped him cut into Rod Johnson’s lead in the series standings.

Kelley, of Arleta, came into the race trailing Johnson by 92 points. But Johnson, of Canyon Country, got in a multi-car crash on lap 27. His car wasn’t repairable and he finished 19th.

That helped Kelley move within 58 points of Johnson with one race remaining. The final race is for twice the points in two weeks.

“I have a lot of respect for Rod and you never like to see that happen,” Kelley said. “It will definitely make the last night not a gimme.”

Bakersfield’s Dan Holtz won the super late model race when Sean Woodside, the NASCAR Winston West points leader, bumped Greg Voigt on lap 47, sending both cars spinning. Darren Young, of Gilbert, Ariz., led 49 of 50 laps to win his fifth Mechanix Wear speed truck challenge feature at the speedway.

Craig Crossland of Lakeside took the lead on the sixth lap and won the 20-lap Allison-Legacy Cars race. Alex Romo of Covina led 11 of 12 laps in winning the NASCAR street stock race.