For over half a century, Sprint Cars have converged in the Golden State of California to go wheel to wheel for pride, glory and a big pay day. On September 12th and 13th, Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. will play host to the 58th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions. The event, which typically is considered one of the crown jewel events in Sprint Car racing, will mark the second time in 2011 that the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series has visited the quarter mile bull ring and is a pivotal race in the final stretches of the season.
“The Gold Cup has for years been one of the biggest races in California and has always been a race that you wanted to put your name on,” explained 2010 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Champion and Gold Cup race winner Jason Meyers. It meant the world to myself and our entire team last year to add the Gold Cup to our list of accomplishments and we are looking forward to going for the repeat this year.” Jason Meyers from Clovis is the points leader in the World of Outlaws. Photo by Steve LaMothe.
Meyers, a native of Clovis, Calif. became just the 8th driver in series history to claim the series title in an exciting point’s battle between himself and four time champion Donny Schatz. Meyers currently holds the point lead over Schatz and recently picked up his fourth win of 2011. Schatz has been on a tear since winning the 51st Goodyear Knoxville Nationals and is looking to play the role of spoiler as the Outlaws head to Meyer’s home turf. Sitting in third is the 20-time Champion and 12 time Gold Cup race winner, Steve Kinser. The Bloomington, Ind. native is beginning to pick up momentum as he tries to capture an unprecedented 21st title. The spring winner at Silver Dollar Raceway, Craig Dollansky, finds himself fourth in points and tied with Steve Kinser for most wins on the season with seven. The Elk River, Minn. resident had the car to beat in March and is as hungry as ever. Rounding out the top-5 in the points standings is California native Paul McMahan.
“Gold Cup would be awesome to win,” said McMahan, who now resides in Nashville, Tenn. “The format is a little bit different with it being a two day show. I’ve been going to Gold Cup since 1978 and it’s race I’ve always wanted to win. It would be a dream come true.”
The Outlaws will take their ever tightening points battle into Silver Dollar Speedway with $10,000 on the line as well as bragging rights for the year. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.SilverDollarSpeedway.com
The Louie Vermeil Classic is back for the fourth annual revival of traditional sprint car and midget racing on the historic half-mile oval! The USAC CRA and USAC Western Classic sprints will go head-to-head with action from the USAC Western Midgets also on the card. A complete show will be held both days. Don’t miss the huge vendor midway and autograph sessions with legends of racing’s past. The $10 beer and wine tasting will also be back with a commemorative Louie Vermeil Classic glass.
Tickets are $30 reserved or $25 general admission, with ages 4-12 only $10. Tickets can be purchased by calling (916) 863-7223
PLACERVILLE, CA (8-27-11) – For many years Placerville resident Mark Wells has dabbled in the sport of sprint car racing locally. Operating on a limited budget, Wells has made sporadic appearances at Placerville Speedway with a “go out and have fun” attitude. This past Saturday night, Wells had more fun at the speedway and he wasn’t even in the car. Joey Magaruh of Vacaville gets his 1st win of the year. Photo by Donna Peter.
For the past few weeks, former track champion Joey Magaruh of Vacaville has been strapping into the white and silver #94w that doesn’t don any fancy graphics and sponsorship hoopla. On this particular night, that car rolled into victory lane for the very first time as Magaruh outwitted the best of the best during the penultimate point race of the year at Placerville Speedway.
“This is pretty amazing,” said Magaruh. “This car is not a high dollar car, we all know that. It’s set up well, it has quality components on it but it is nothing when compared to what it is running against out here. Tonight the track was just how I like and I was able get out in front really well and hold them off. This is great for Mark, I’m really glad we got this win tonight for him, he deserves it.”
Magaruh started on the outside of the front row for Saturday’s 25-lap Hoosier Tires feature event. At the waving of the green flag he went wheel to wheel with Placerville’s Scott Russell. The two leaders rubbed wheels on several occasions and traded the lead in the early laps until Magaruh powered to the point using the high line of the dry slick track to his advantage.
After a pair of absences, Kyle Hirst of Sacramento returned to action Saturday night and muscled his way up to the bridesmaid position to challenge Magaruh midway through the race Saturday night along with point leader Andy Forsberg of Auburn. Despite having the two winningest drivers on his tail, Magaruh used the risky high line of the track as well as some psychological wit to maintain the lead that both drivers made several aggressive bids for.
One of Magaruh’s most successful strategies was on the restarts. As the leader, setting the pace was at Magaruh’s discretion. Each and every time, Magaruh would bring the field to the starting cone at a snail’s pace and then accelerate down the front stretch. The maneuver caught his counterparts off guard over and over, giving Magaruh a bit of advantage to gain an early lead each time.
“That’s really what it was, more about getting in their heads than anything else,” said Magaruh. “As the leader it’s your call as long as your between those cones so I was bringing them in slow knowing they had the power off that corner to slide under me. It threw them off a couple times and allowed me to get out a few car lengths by the time we reached the back stretch.”
Magaruh crossed the line Saturday night with Hirst in tow followed by Forsberg. With the finish and the lack of his rival Sean Becker of Roseville starting the main, Forsberg officially locked the sprint car title on Saturday, stretching his lead to 65-points. Russell finished in fourth followed by Brett Miller of Chico.
The battle for the Rookie of the Year continued to heat up Saturday night as well. The two drivers eligible for this division are Matt Land of Elk Grove and Jake Morgan of Fair Oaks. Land a graduate from the Capitol City Midgets while Morgan has advanced from the Outlaw Kart ranks. Saturday night Land finished 14th in the feature while Morgan rolled in 19th after a late race spin.
Entering next Saturday’s final race Land is currently leading the contest, tied for eighth place in the point standings while Morgan is currently 11th in the ranks, ten points behind land. According to the stated rules, the title will go to the driver who finishes the highest in the point standings unless both drivers end the year tied in points which is the only scenario in which a co-rookie title will be awarded. The rookie title is as contested as the championship with one final night left. Placerville's Chris Curtiss gets his 3rd win of the year in Pure Stocks. Photo by Donna Peter.
In the Pure Stock division, 21 cars started the feature event and Placerville’s Chris Curtiss was fortunate to start on the outside of the front row to avoid the traffic mayhem. Curtiss drover around pole sitter Scotty Grunert of Woodland. Once he took the lead the race was far from over for Curtiss. His first serious challenge was Burney McClure of Nevada City as he charged up beside Curtiss to bid for the lead.
Curtiss and McClure traded paint on several occasions until McClure got caught up in the traffic and sent into a spin in the second turn. Matt Tilford of Orangevale then became the biggest threat to Curtiss. Despite numerous caution flags and restarts, Curtiss held of the challenges of Tilford. Clarence Holbrook III finished in third to maintain his division point lead by 15-points. Les Friend of Galt drove duel divisions on Saturday and finished in fourth over Kevin Wirth from Garden Valley.
In the Limited Late Model Division, Live Oak’s Matt Micheli dominated the competition on Saturday night from start to finish. Micheli took the lead at the green flag and stayed out in front of defending two time champion Dan Brown Jr. of Grass Valley. Matt Davis of Auburn raced in the third position all the way to the finish line over Les Friend of Galt and Jay Norton from Cameron Park. Matt Micheli from Live Oak wins in Limited Late Models. Photo by Donna Peter.
Point leader Thomas Arbogast of Auburn had a tire go flat during Saturday’s feature event and finished 8th. The championship in this division will be one to watch as only five points separate Arbogast and Brown entering the final race of the season next week.
The grandstands at Placerville Speedway will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday Adult tickets will be $13, seniors and juniors are $11 and Children are $6. For additional information please visit www.placervillespeedway.com or contact the track office at (916)783-DIRT.
