Saturday October 5th marked the conclusion of the 2013 Lucas Oil Late Model series at the Irwindale Event Center. Ryan Partridge and the number 48 LoanMart Racing team came into the race with a comfortable thirty-six point margin over second place Toni McCray, this would mean that Partridge would have to finish 18th or better.
The day started well for Partridge and the 48 as he set fast time in the first practice within a few laps. As soon as the 48 was back in the pits Partridge and the LoanMart team placed the car on jack stands, as usual the team sat out the second practice to let the car continue to cool as they prepped for qualifying. Partridge was the second to last car to qualifying setting 3rd quick time. Partridge stated that the car "was a little off". Although Partridge was 3rd quick the top six would be set by a 6 lap trophy dash in which he would start 4th due to the invert. Partridge and the team discussed plans to keep safe during the dash and they decided that if things got hairy up front they would drop to the back. Just after the green dropped a speedy Partridge settled into second behind the 55 of Cole Custer. Partridge would finish second and start on the outside pole.
Cole Custer slowly led the field to the green flag, when it was dropped it was a slow start as Partridge shot past Custer but, Nascar called for a restart, it was another slow start so Partridge checked up allowing Custer to take the lead. The faster Partridge stayed glued to Custer who made his car very wide, as they raced three wide with lap cars. Coming to get the white flag Partridge and Custer had to split two lap cars running side by side, Partridge went low with a lap car to his outside,as Custer split both the lap cars. Custer made contact with the lap car to his outside sending him nearly spinning into turn one but Partridge did not gain much ground due to his poor entry, But as they exited turn two Partridge was once again on his bumper, Custer got lose going into turn three due to his damage and Partridge dove to the bottom in hopes of a slide job off turn four but Custer began his decent to defend as they exited the two made heavy contact sending Partridge spinning, but Partridge made an amazing save and still finished in second claiming the championship.
This is Partridges second track championship, first in Late Models and Partridge gave LoanMart Racing there first championship. Partridge said that "None of this would have been possible without LoanMart, PPL Motorsports, my amazing crew and supportive family"
-Stephen Appell
