DOMINATE NIGHT FOR
JOANIDES, JACKSON RACE CARS & J&M RACING TEAM!
(06-26-2010) -
With severe budget constraints over the past two years, many teams had
surpassed the performance of the J&M Racing's seven year old
chassis. Although driver, Nick Joanides, was able to win two of the
first seven races and lead the points heading into the eighth event, it
was always a struggle to keep up with the newer equipment out there.
After nearly two years of making virtually no changes to the car, team
owner Loyd McGhee stepped up and approved some much needed upgrades.
Jackson Race Cars worked tirelessly through the past two weeks, cutting
up the chassis, widening the tread-width, tuning up the engine, among
other things. Their efforts paid off in a big way as they put on one of
the most dominating performances seen in quite some time in the ultra
competitive Auto Club Late Model series.
Joanides set
the pace in his only practice session. After having not won a pole in
this series in more that two years, he surprised the field as the last
car to qualify with a pole position run. A roll of the dice set the
invert at six cars, lining Joanides up on the outside of row three for
the start of the race. From there, he wasted no time getting to the
front. He took the 5th position on lap 1.
He made a three wide pass to
the outside on lap 2 to take over the third position. He quickly closed on the
top two cars and made an inside pass for second in the 1st
and 2nd turns on lap 4 and then took the lead on the same lap through turns 3
and 4. Joanides quickly pulled out to a straightaway lead. Two caution
flags slowed the action, but neither were enough give Joanides a
challenge as he easily pulled out to large leads after each restart.
The win allowed him to extend his point lead heading into the Fourth of
July weekend event next week, where the track puts on one of the most
spectacular fireworks shows anywhere in California.
WILD, WILD NIGHT
LEADS TO TWO WINS IN THREE RACES AND NEW POINT LEADER!
(05-29-2010) -
What was supposed to just be another routine twin main event in the Auto
Club Late Models at
Toyota Speedway turned into a night wilder than Nick Joanides could have
ever imagined.
Joanides'
friendly Super Late Model rival, Rip Michels threw down a challenge for
Nick on Friday Night. After Nick did not respond, Rip brought his
challenge to the press in an effort to get Joanides to respond.
The
challenge? To run in the tracks new "SKID PLATE" division
race. These cars are every day front wheel drive cars, however the rear
tires are removed and replaced with steel plates. These cars produce an
incredible fireworks show and something of a demolition derby as sparks
fly from the steel plates and with cars spinning every lap. With a
"no yellow" rule, there is carnage all over the place. FULL
STORY / TIM KENNEDY STORY
PLUG PULLED ON
JOANIDES' SUPER LATE MODEL!
(04-27-2010) -
Toyota Speedway will have a first time Super Late Model Champion in 2010
as the plug is pulled on 2 time defending champion, Nick Joanides’ Super Late Model program. Joanides
instead will look to repeat as Champion in the Auto Club Late Model
Series. FULL
STORY
LATE ENTRY
JOANIDES A WINNER AGAIN!
(04-17-2010)
IRWINDALE, CA - That was no ghost in the yellow and black No.77 late
model at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
Nick Joanides
promised that he would not be racing in any more Automobile Club of
Southern California series races this season. So who was the winner in
front of 2,000 on Saturday night? No one other than the reigning series
champion, who had to hold off Rod Johnson Jr. of Canyon Country in the
final five laps of the 50-lap main event. FULL
STORY
JOANIDES PERFECT
IN 2010!
(04-10-10)
- Nick
Joanides won his second consecutive 2010 NASCAR Super Late Model feature
in a Toyota Speedway at Irwindale race Saturday in the No. 71 Loyd
McGhee-owned Mr. Crane Chevy Monte Carlo, making him a perfect two for
two. The series welcomed Pepsi One as the new sponsor replacing AC
Delco. Joanides, a real estate appraiser from Woodland Hills during the
week, scored the 36th feature victory of his career at Irwindale. He
tied retired late model 2002-03 champion Todd Burns for fourth place on
the list of all-time feature winners, despite competing at the track
full time for just three years. The double 2009 track champion (SLM and
Auto Club Late Model) and 2009 NASCAR Whelen California State champion
said his team needs sponsors to continue and will only race one series
this season. The fifth-fastest qualifier and trophy dash winner led
every lap in front of about 1,500 spectators on a chilly night. The
second weekly TS@I event this season competed with the NASCAR Sprint Cup
race telecast live on Fox at 4:30 PM. FULL
STORY
Joanides Extends Streaks With Opening
Night Win!
(03-27-10) -
After staring a career worst 12th, driver Nick Joanides methodically
worked his way to the front and won the season opener at Toyota Speedway
for the second consecutive year. The win was also his seventh
consecutive in 100 Lap special event races. By winning on opening night,
the reigning two time champion extended his streak on top of the point
standings to 34, far eclipsing the previous record of 17. The win was
quite eventful as Nick narrowly avoided a major accident to keep his
hopes alive (see video in full story) TIM
KENNEDY STORY.

Joanides
Ranked Fourth in Nascar's First Power Ranking
Why he’s
here: Had five wins, three seconds and a fifth in final nine races in
Super Late Model season at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) and
finished third in the national standings. Also won the Late Model title
at Toyota Speedway. In total, won 17 races with 38 top five finishes in
42 starts. FULL
STORY
Record-Setting Joanides Plans Triple
Duty In Toyota Showdown
(01-12-10) -
NASCAR.COM - Nick Joanides was California’s dominant force in NASCAR
Late Model racing in 2009. He is the reigning NASCAR Whelen All-American
Series California state champion, and was ranked third nationally. With
momentum growing, he’ll look to continue that momentum on his home
turf in less than three weeks.
FULL
STORY
NASCAR
TOYOTA ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE OF EVENTS |
Date |
Track |
Laps |
TV |
Time |
01-29-10 |
Super
Late Model 100 |
100 |
Speed
Channel |
7:35
PM (PST) |
01-29-10 |
K&N
Pro Series Open 50 |
50 |
Speed
Channel |
9:00
PM (PST) |
01-30-10 |
K&N
Pro Series 225 |
225 |
Speed
Channel |
7:10
PM (PST) |
01-30-10 |
Late
Model 75 |
75 |
Speed
Channel |
9:20
PM (PST) |
JOANIDES RACE VOTED 2ND BEST OF
2009
Nick
Joanides' victory in the Nascar Auto Club Late Model season finale was
voted the second best California motorsports race in all of 2009 by long time
motorsports writer Tim Haddock.
"#2.
NASCAR Late Model season finale at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale: Nick
Joanides, a driver from Woodland Hills, became the first driver in the
history of the track to win the Super Late Model and Late Model
championships in the same season. Joanides won the Late Model season
finale, only his third win of the Late Model season. It was in the Super
Late Model class that Joanides truly dominated. He won 14 races and
finished in the top five in all 22 Super Late Model races. Joanides also
won the NASCAR Whelen All American Series California State championship
and landed a NASCAR Nationwide Series seat at Memphis Motorsports
Park." CLICK
HERE FOR FULL LIST BY TIM HADDOCK
JOANIDES CONCLUDES HISTORICAL
SEASON (2009 RECAP)
The
2008 season was what appeared to be a once in a lifetime type of season.
The team was nearly flawless in their premier division Super Late Model
Championship run and fell just short of an historical double
championship as they also competed in the Late Model division, missing
that title by just 8 points. Duplicating such as season appeared bleak
when sponsorship funding was far more limited and the return of three
time champion and all time win leader, Rip Michels. With no funding for
the Late Model, the team planned to sell the car. Championship hopes
appeared bleak heading into the 2009 season. Instead, driver Nick
Joanides and his J&M Racing/Jackson Race Cars team shattered
virtually every Super Late Model record on the way to their second
consecutive championship. And in a true case of "it was meant to
be", they made history and captured the Late Model championship as
well. In total, they won four 2009 championships. FULL STORY
JOANIDES COMES UP SHORT IN VEGAS
(11-07-09)
- In the final race of his 43 race 2009 schedule, Nick
Joanides had high hopes to win the Las Vegas Open Comp Super Late Model
event. Nick and his J&M Racing/Jackson Race Cars team hovered
between first and third through each of the practice sessions that took
place over two days. In qualifying, Joanides missed the top spot by just
one one thousandths of a second to take second. The line up however
would be determined by the finishing order of the ten car dash. The dash
was inverted, putting Joanides ninth on the grid for the ten lap race.
He moved up to the fifth position at race end to earn the fifth starting
spot for the 200 lap main event.
Joanides
and the team were confident with the car, however they were forced to
carry an additional 150 pounds over all other competitors due to what
Las Vegas officials determined was a superior engine in the car. Dyno
results show that it does have a 20 horsepower advantage, making the 150
pound penalty pretty steep for such a small engine advantage. In the
end, the 150 pounds would prove costly. That much extra weight is hard
on tires and a distinct disadvantage in a long 200 lap race. At the
start, Joanides quickly
moved up to the third position and was in close contact with the
leaders. As the laps wore on, the weight began to take its toll as he
dropped back to the fifth position at the 100 lap break. On the restart
for the second half, the top two cars made contact, Joanides checked up
and was hit from behind, dropping him back to the seventh position. He
was able to work his way up to a second place finish at the
checkers. It was his 22nd top two finish in 24 races for this
series. The winners car was impounded and later found to have illegal
heads, however officials chose to allow him to keep the win.
START AND PARK TEAMS PROVE COSTLY
FOR JOANIDES
(10-23-09)
- Nick
Joanides had high hopes to make his Nationwide series debut at Memphis
Motorsports Park, but Nascar's qualifying procedure of locking in the
top 35 teams in the point standings proved costly.
FULL STORY / SEE
ESPN2 COVERAGE ON THE "VIDEOS" PAGE
JOANIDES JOINS RWR FOR NATIONWIDE
SERIES DEBUT
(10-17-09)
- CIRCLE
K RACING - Nick Joanides is ready for the next step. The
California native has had an historic 2009 year thus far, claiming the
NASCAR AC Delco Super Late Model Championship, the NASCAR Auto Club Late
Model Championship, the NASCAR California State Championship, the Lucas
Oil Slick Mist Championship and second runner-up honors in the NASCAR
National Championship points.
Joanides
will make his Nascar Nationwide Series debut at the Memphis Motorsports
Park on October 24th in the #31 Rick Ware Racing entry.
“We
have watched Nick closely this year after winning last year’s Super
Late Model title and runner-up in the California State Championship.
He has a ton of talent and is a great person as well. With his
recent stats of 36 wins, 94 Top 5’s and 108 Top 10’s in his last 113
races, there’s not a hotter young talent out there than Joanides”,
stated Rick Ware.
Joanides
and RWR are looking forward to a successful debut and future together.
M3 aka Matthews Mobile Media will be the primary sponsor for the event
as the organization looks for potential sponsorship for Joanides in 2010
for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. FULL STORY
JOANIDES
WRITES HISTORY AT IRWINDALE WITH DUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!
(10-03-09)
- By Keith Lair - IRWINDALE - The Late Model title was an
afterthought.
The goal
for Woodland Hills' Nick Joanides and La Verne's Loyd McGhee was to
win a second consecutive Toyota Speedway at Irwindale ACDelco Super
Late Model series title and contend for a NASCAR Whelen All-American
Racing Series championship.
Joanides
did both, winning the track title for his car owner and finishing
third in national points.
But what
Joanides did on Saturday night, in front of 5,000, may have been more
impressive than winning another Super Late title. Joanides became the
first driver to win two track titles in the same year. He finished a
safe fourth in the first Twin 40 race and then got the victory in the
series finale to take the Automobile Club of Southern California Late
Model series. The two divisions are the track's top series. SEE
VIDEO ON THE "VIDEOS" PAGE / TIM
KENNEDY STORY / KEITH
LAIR STORY / ED
HOLLOWELL STORY
JACKSON RACE CARS DOMINATES AGAIN!
(09-26-2009)
– 2009 Super Late Model Champions, Jackson Race Cars, J&M Racing
and driver Nick Joanides finished the season just like they started it,
leading 99 laps in the 100 lap Super Late Model season finale.
With
a fresh motor and setup in the car, the team completely dominated the
weekend. They posted the quickest time in practice and backed that up
with a pole qualifying run. After an invert for the start of the race,
Joanides quickly took the lead from Rip Michels on lap 2 and went on to
pull out to nearly a straightaway lead. Their quickest lap was more than
2 full tenths of a second quicker than the second fasted time of the
night. “Tonight was all Jackson Race Cars, a monkey could have driven
this thing, it was on a rail” said Joanides. It was their 14th
win, 20th top 2, and 22nd top 5 finishes of the 22
race schedule. The win marked their fifth consecutive win in 100 lap
special event races.
Next
week, the team will head back to the track one more time in hopes of
wrapping up an historical double championship, a feat that has never
been accomplished, let alone in the same season. They lead the Late Model
standings by 34 points with twin races remaining. KEITH
LAIR RACE STORY / TIM
KENNEDY RACE STORY
JOANIDES CONTINUES TO EXTEND LATE MODEL POINT LEAD
(09-19-09)
IRWINDALE
- Driver, Nick Joanides, in the J&M Racing/Jackson Race Cars Auto
Club Late Model extended their point lead once again from 26 to 34 points over
defending three time Champion Tim Huddleston with two races remaining.
With only a $10,000 budget for the entire season, the team has done an
incredible job at getting the most out of their dated equipment.
Saturday night was a Twin main event night. Joanides qualified 6th and
8th for the two races. Joanides moved up to finish in the 3rd position in
the first race. In the second race, Joanides put on a tough battle for
the second position on the bottom of the race track during the closing
laps. The tires however were worn out after nearly two full races and he
was unable to complete the simultaneous pass of the 2nd and 3rd place
cars. Joanides settled for the 4th position.
JOANIDES PICKS UP THIRD 2009 CHAMPIONSHIP, ONE MORE
STILL UP FOR GRABS!
(09-12-09)
IRWINDALE
- Driver, Nick Joanides and his J&M Racing/Jackson Race Cars team
scored two top 5 finishes Saturday night to pick up their third
championship of 2009. Having already clinched the California State Title
two weeks ago, Joanides entered the event with a commanding lead in the
track standings for the AC Delco Super Late Model Division. With the two
top 5 finishes, Joanides won the title by 88 points over former three
time Champion and all time win leader, Rip Michels. Their finishes also
earned Joanides the championship in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist Super Six
program. Joanides ended up third in the final
National Standings, which score points for more than 3,000 drivers
across the country. Points for the National Standings are based solely
on car count with points awarded in reverse order at 2 points per car. A
drivers best 18 races are counted toward the final standings. Their 28
point deficit means that if just one more car had shown up at Toyota
Speedway throughout the season, Joanides' total would have increased by
36 points to 849, giving him the title with 8 more points than Champion
Phillip Morris' 841 point total. Furthermore, Joanides ran 7 fewer races
than the eventual national champion, yet still scored more wins and top
5 finishes. Joanides also ran 24 fewer races than the second place
driver. In total, the team competed in 21 races with 13 wins and 21 top
5 finishes. Their win and top 5 percentage were the highest in the
nation. Only twice this season did they finish out of the top 2
positions. Joanides and his team will head back to the track
next week for twin races in the Auto Club Late Model Division, looking
to increase their 26 point lead with four races remaining.
JOANIDES EXTENDS LATE MODEL POINT LEAD
(09-05-09)
IRWINDALE
- Driver, Nick Joanides, in the J&M Racing/Jackson Race Cars Auto
Club Late Model extended their point lead from 16 to 26 points over Mike
Johnson with three races remaining. Forced to run old tires again due to
the tracks tire rule, Joanides fought hard for a sixth place finish. Tim
Huddleston, previously second in points, wrecked again for the second
consecutive week. His 14th place finish allowed Mike Johnson to take
over the second spot.
 |
 |
Nick
Joanides picked up his 12th and 13th victories in the AC Delco
Super Late Model division at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
(Calif.) this past weekend. Jon
Kuchta |
JOANIDES CLINCHES CALIFORNIA STATE TITLE WITH TWIN
WINS, STILL IN CONTENTION FOR NATIONAL TITLE.
(08-29-09)
IRWINDALE
- Nick Joanides and his J&M Racing, Jackson Race Cars team picked
up their 12th and 13 wins of the 19 race old AC Delco Super Late Model
season Saturday. The wins clinch the California State championship for
Joanides and keeps them in contention for the National Championship with
two weeks remaining in the season. The wins brought Joanides' Irwindale
total to 32, to move him into a tie for 5th on the all time win list
after competing for only the past three years at the 11 year old
facility. Their 13 wins tied Joanides with 2004 National Champion Greg
Pursley for the most point race wins in a single season. Their 19
consecutive top 3 finishes breaks their own record of 17 set last year.
Joanides also swept twin races for the fifth time, surpassing all time
win leader, Rip Michels for that feat.
JOANIDES BACK ON TOP OF LATE MODEL STANDINGS,
CURRENTLY LEADS FOUR SEPARATE CHAMPIONSHIP RACES!
(08-22-09)
IRWINDALE
- After a two week absence, Nick Joanides returned to the top of Auto
Club Late Model Standings. He holds a 16 point cushion over reigning
champion Tim Huddleston with four races remaining. Joanides also
currently leads the AC Delco Super Late Model Standings by 78 over all
time Irwindale win leader Rip Michels, also with four races remaining.
As well as leading the two division standings, Joanides also leads the
Lucas Oil Slick Mist Standings by 20 points over Danny Gay with one race
remaining and leads the Nascar Whelen All American Series California
State standings over Jason Romero of All American Speedway. There are
four races left to score points toward the National and State standings.
Joanides is still in contention for the National title.
Recent
Race Results
Date |
Series |
Event |
Start |
Finish |
Laps |
|
09-26-09 |
Super
Late |
Eibach
Springs 100 |
1st |
1st |
100/100 |
Led
99 Laps |
10-07-09 |
Super
Late |
Metro
PCS 200 |
9th |
2nd |
210/210 |
|
01-29-10 |
Super
Late |
All-Star
Showdown |
10th |
20th |
66/66 |
Got
Spun |
01-21-10 |
K&N
West |
All-Star
Showdown |
3rd |
2nd |
50/50 |
|
01-30-10 |
K&NWest |
All-Star
Showdown |
36th |
14th |
225/225 |
Move
of race award |
01-30-10 |
Late
Model |
All-Star
Showdown |
8th |
3rd |
55/55 |
|
03-27-10 |
Super
Late |
Open
Night 100 |
12th |
1st |
100/100 |
|
04-10-10 |
Super
Late |
Pepsi
One |
5th |
1st |
55/55 |
Led
Every Lap |
04-17-10 |
Late
Model |
Auto
Club 50 |
5th |
1st |
50/50 |
|
04-24-10 |
Super
Late |
Pepsi
Twins (#1) |
11th |
6th |
40/40 |
Engine
fading |
04-24-10 |
Super
Late |
Pepsi
Twins (#2) |
11th |
13th |
34/40 |
Engine
Blew |
05-01-10 |
Late
Model |
Toyota
LM 50 |
4th |
4th |
50/50 |
|
05-15-10 |
Late
Model |
Armed
Forces Apprec |
6th |
2nd |
50/50 |
Clutch
Slipping |
05-21-10 |
PCS
Vegas |
Ladies
Night Vegas |
15th |
7th |
40/40 |
|
05-29-10 |
Late
Model |
Auto
Club Twins |
5th |
1st |
40/40 |
|
05-29-10 |
Late
Model |
Auto
Club Twins |
2nd |
4th |
40/40 |
New
Point Leader |
05-29-10 |
Skid
Platel |
Skid
Plate 20 |
22nd |
1st |
20/20 |
1stEver
SkidPlate Race |
06-12-10 |
Late
Model |
Toyota
LM 50 |
5th |
5th |
50/50 |
|
06-26-10 |
Late
Model |
Pipe
Trades Night |
6th |
1st |
40/40 |
06/26/10
Standings |
07-03-10 |
Late
Model |
Firecracker
75 |
3rd |
2nd |
75/75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLICK
HERE FOR PREVIOUS RESULTS AND STATS
|
Recent Stats!
|
|
LAST
99 RACES (With J&M Racing) |
RACES |
WINS |
TOP
3'S |
TOP
5'S |
TOP
10'S |
AVG.
FINISH |
DNF'S |
99 |
40 |
75 |
85 |
94 |
1.8 |
3 |
|
LAST
119 RACES |
RACES |
WINS |
TOP
3'S |
TOP
5'S |
TOP
10'S |
AVG.
FINISH |
DNF'S |
119 |
42 |
89 |
102 |
113 |
2.5 |
4 |
|
|
|