Normally when the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions make their way out for the feature event, they have 30 laps of thrilling racing action. Friday night August 7th they will be battling for 30 laps, but when they return to I-55 Raceway for a second night of racing action the rules will change.
On Saturday night August 8th the drivers of the All Star Series will be ready for a grueling 55 lap showdown known as the Ironman 55 at I-55 Raceway. In its inaugural running the Ironman 55 will present a new challenge to drivers and teams alike as they see who can go the distance around the 1/3-mile bullring for a $20,000 payday at the end of the night.
The last time the All Star Circuit of Champions raced at I-55 Raceway was in 1989 for a special event that featured twin 25-lap features. The winner of both feature events was Sammy Swindell. Since then the 1/3-mile bullring has been absent from the All Star Schedule, but the series will be making a long awaited return to the venue for their third race in series history.
Current Circuit of Champions point leader Tim Shaffer has fourteen starts I-55 Raceway, but out of all those events he only has two top-5 finishes. The last time he raced there in 2008 he got one of those finishes when he came home in the fourth position. Second place point runner Greg Wilson has four A-main starts at the famed 1/3-mile with two being top-five finishes. In his last start at Pevely in 2006 Wilson drove the Warnimot w20 to a third place finish.
Of the All Star Circuit of Champions 2009 Rookie-of-the-Year Contenders only one driver will be a true “rookie” at I-55 raceway this weekend. David Gravel is the only title contender who does not have a previous start on the high banks. Point leader Ryan Bunton has one A-main start at the 1/3-mile oval. Daron Clayton has two previous starts with one being a top-ten finish. The “rookie” that has been most successful at the Pevely track is Brandon Wimmer. He has six starts there with a win there in 2006.
| 
|