Full Throttle

Persistent rain washed out racing Friday in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, forcing Toyota Speedway at Irwindale officials to delay all three races for Saturday.

If there’s a way from Irwindale to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, Brian Ickler figured it would be by moving to North Carolina.

“I’m definitely glad I moved back,” he said.

“There is a lot more exposure back there. You’re running a lot more. There’s better equipment. You’re in the center of NASCAR.”

In his first full season in the Camping World East series last season, he won three races. That earned the 23-year-old an automatic starting spot in tonight’s 250-lap Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

Friday’s activities were rained out, the 10th rainout in track history and the first time in nearly two years.

Four years ago, the then-19-year-old from Poway, CA was a rookie in Irwindale’s Super Late Model class. He won the 200-lap season finale and finished 11th in points. He jumped to the Grand National West series the next season and qualified for the Showdown, winning a 50-lap qualifying race.

Racing for Bill McAnally in 2007, he won a West race at Irwindale and finished fourth in the series.

And then he decided to go East with financial help from his parents, Kurt and Lauri. “We rented a shop (in Mooresville, N.C.) with nothing,” he recalled.

“We had to build everything from the ground up. It was difficult. It was a lot of money. It took a lot of time catching up. We started with nothing. We’re very fortunate to have cars, and we’re ready to go.”

There are now four cars in the shop, but with financing issues, Ickler is unsure how many events he will run this season.

Track staff tries to dry the track Friday evening. (Photo Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

“I’d like to move up, but without good equipment, I’m not going to do it,” he said. “I had a few feelers. But it’s all about money right now. It’s a little tough.”

There was one driver in the pits who is familiar with racing in the rain in January in Southern California: Ricky Carmichael.

Carmichael is used to racing three times in Southern California in January. But not on four wheels, and not on dirt. His experience comes from the Supercross series, where it seemingly rains on at least one of the races at Angel Stadium.

“It’s always Anaheim 1, when it’s kind of boggy,” the six-time supercross champion said.

“It’s been a long day. It’s pretty funny being here in Southern California to be racing something other than a motorcycle. I never thought I’d be here for that.”

After the lunchtime rain, track officials began drying the track by dragging tires and using a jet blower. Super Late Models went onto the track at 3:50 p.m., but within 15 minutes it was drizzling again.

NASCAR, Speed and track officials decided to postpone all racing at 6:25 p.m. They did continue drying the half-mile oval, though, so that cars could practice before the curfew.

“They should have been here last Saturday,” quipped track CEO Jim Williams.

“I’m as disappointed as the racers and fans. The good thing is we have a pit full of cars. We’ll be in good shape.”

Three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. is also used to rain. “If you want your crops to grow, just bring in a truck race,” he said.

One of the biggest draws in the race called the “Daytona 500 of Short Track Racing” is bound to be 18-year-old Joey “Sliced Bread” Logano. The racing phenom will take over the Home Depot #20 in the Sprint Cup Series for outspoken driver Tony Stewart for 2009. Logano goes head-to-head against 18-year-old Marc Davis, his teammate in the Joe Gibbs Racing program.

Marc Davis explained why the Toyota All-Star showdown is called the Daytona 500 of short track racing. “For short track racing, it’s the biggest race. It’s a showdown between the East Coast and the West Coast. That’s a huge deal.” Most racing prospects coming up through the ranks race in either the Camping World West or Camping World East series. Earlier today, both Camping World series announced expanded lineups for NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity 2009 programs.

“Irwindale’s a really fun race track, with the progressive banking,” according to Davis. “You can run four wide. There’s a little bit of beatin’ and bangin’. It’s a typical short track. It’s a lot of fun and you can learn a lot.”