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California Civil War Series is back in Chico

By Bill Sullivan /Civil War Series Media Relations

CHICO, CA (5-29-11) – When it comes to traditions at the annual Silver Dollar Fair, the sight of winged sprint cars before a colorful backdrop of carnival sights and sounds is right up at the top of the list with cotton candy, funnel cakes and the Ferris Wheel. It’s fair time at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds this week so step right up and witness the fire breathing sprint cars of the Civil War Sprint Car Series as it brings it’s amazing stars such as “The Shark, Mr. Excitement, Chicko, The Human Highlight Reel” and many more to the Silver Dollar arena.
When it comes to the Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Series its much more that catchy nicknames, it’s a racing series will never let an avid open wheel race fan down and is sure to bring a first time spectator back to the track once they witness the spectacle. The latest version of California’s premier series for 360 cubic inch powered winged sprint cars has already begun to produce a stellar chase for the coveted statewide championship title.

On Sunday night the open wheel racing will entertain fans at a bargain price as the Civil War Sprint Car Series takes to Silver Dollar Speedway for its second visit of the year and it’s fourth segment of the season. This event is second to none when it comes to quality entertainment at a bargain price. Admission to the speedway is free with admission to the fair which is just $8 for adults, $3.00 for children from ages 6-12. Children under six will be admitted for free and seniors are just $4.

Sunday’s event for the Civil War Series is the fourth event in the 2011 series that competes at six different California tracks throughout the year. The event will pay $3000 to the winner and $300 just to start the feature race. This is the premier traveling series for winged 360 powered sprint cars in California and produces higher car counts than any other traveling series in the state both winged and wingless. Sunday’s event is one of three visits to Silver Dollar Speedway, the series returns in September to open the Gold Cup Race of Champions with the “Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational.”

Sean Becker on the track. Photo by Steve LaMothe. — Sean Becker from Antelope, CA on the track in Placerville. Photo by Steve LaMothe.

Entering Sunday’s race, former two time champion Sean Becker of Antelope leads the Civil War point standings after the completion of three events. Becker currently sits 15 points ahead of Visalia’s Steven Tiner. Defending five time champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn is lurking in the top three as well. Forsberg is just 16-points out of the lead. Sitting in fourth place is Herman Klein of Sacramento.

Rounding out the top five is Penngrove’s Alissa Geving. The former series Rookie of the Year is 20 points out of the lead. Former Civil War champion Mike Henry of Citrus Heights is in the sixth position over Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign. Former Silver Dollar Rookie of the Year Kyle Hirst of Sacramento is eighth ahead of Elk Grove’s Nicole Miller. Jeremy Burt of Grass Valley rounds out the top ten in the series.

With three races in the history books, the Civil War Series is looking to be one of the most competitive yet. A mere 60-points separate the 10th place driver from the point leader which clearly illustrates that this campaign features the best of the west on any given night and hosts a posse of talented drivers who are all capable of taking home a win in any event as the playing field is more than level.

In three events the series has produced three different winners. Becker was the latest winner in War #3 at Silver Dollar Speedway. Stephen Allard of Chico won round two of the campaign at Placerville Speedway and defending champion Forsberg, better known as “Mr. Excitement” won the series opener at Petaluma Speedway. Over the three events that have taken place, 56 different drivers have already competed and earned points in the Civil War Series. Twelve different drivers have claimed heat race victories. Eighteen different drivers have earned top ten finishes. Nine different drivers have finished in the top five in the three events and two different drivers have earned fast time awards.

Sean Becker, current points leader in the Civil War Series. Photo by Steve LaMothe.

Sunday’s event will be well worth the price of admission as the Civil War Series brings nearly 40 of California’s high speed rebels without a cause to the exciting banks of Silver Dollar Speedway for a bargain price. Remember, admission to the speedway is free with fair admission. This is an incredible value that offers hours of entertainment over the holiday weekend.

In addition to the Civil War Sprint Cars, the Silver Dollar Speedway Wingless Sprint Cars will also be in competition on Sunday night. These exciting wingless cars are an excellent co-star to the winged warriors wherever they race and will ensure an action packed night of racing.
The grandstands at Silver Dollar Speedway will open at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Qualifying will begin at 6:30. An early arrival to the track is suggested as this annual race in conjunction with the Silver Dollar Fair routinely packs the grandstands due to its bargain price and top billing.

For further information on this upcoming event visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com or www.civilwarsprints.com. The Civil War Series is managed by Handy Racing Promotions Inc. in cooperation with the participating tracks on the tour including Petaluma Speedway, Calistoga Speedway, Silver Dollar Speedway, American Valley Speedway and Ocean Speedway. Learn more about this exciting traveling series at their official website today.

Thanks to Steve LaMothe of Steve’s Racing Photos for the generous use of his photos.

Bryan Clauson from Carmichael, CA to race the “Indy Double”

Bryan Clauson from Carmichael, CA the 2010 USAC National Driver Champion

Bryan Clauson, USAC’s 2010 National Driver Champion, will seek back-to-back victories in two of America’s major traditional racing events May 27 as Indianapolis, Ind. celebrates the 100th anniversary of the prestigious Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Bryan Clauson, the Noblesville, Indiana (originally from Carmichael, CA) driver, who recorded 10 USAC feature victories in 2010 on his way to the National title and added the 2010 USAC Mopar National Midget crown, also was named to the 2010 American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters (AARWBA) First-Team All America.

On May 27, as part of his USAC National Driver Championship, package, he will compete in the Firestone Indy Lights “Freedom 100” on Miller Light Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Later that night he will also compete in the prestigious “Hoosier Hundred” USAC Silver Crown Championship race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The pavement-dirt combo offers a distinct challenge to the 21-year-old, although seven of his 2010 National victories came on dirt and three on pavement.

“The Freedom 100 weekend is a weekend I’ve had circled on my calendar from the time USAC and INDYCAR announced the partnership,” says Clauson. “The opportunity to race at IMS is something I dreamed of as a kid growing up in the Indy area. This whole scholarship is being touted as getting back to the old days, the days where your short track stars became your Indy 500 stars. To have the opportunity to run the Freedom 100 and the Hoosier 100 all in the same day is really cool, and a real throwback proposition. It has been a long time since fans have been able to see someone race at the speedway, and a local dirt track all in the same weekend, let alone in one day! It will be a long afternoon, but what in the world is cooler than running an Indy-type car at the mecca of motorsports the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then hurrying over to the Indy Fairgrounds to race in one of USAC’s most tradition filled races, the Hoosier 100. Hopefully I won’t be the only one doing the double that night, and the fans will come out and join me in completing the double!!!”

Jay Drake might be Clauson’s best source of advice as he plans for the “double.” Drake, USAC’s 2004 National Sprint Car Champion and father of USAC’s 2010 National Ford Focus Champion Nick, competed in both races on the same day in 2005, finishing third in the Freedom 100 and fourth that night in the Hoosier Hundred.

“Things sometime come full circle,” admits Jay, who once competed in the Indy Lights on the IMS road course and flew with Chip Ganassi to Eldora Speedway that night to race a USAC Sprint car on dirt. “Bryan was involved in Chip’s development program that year and Chip wanted to see Bryan race at Eldora,” says Jay. “We helicoptered to Eldora but couldn’t land because we had to wait until they flew a driver to the hospital who had crashed in practice. The driver was Bryan.

“I’m not sure Bryan needs any advice from me on this opportunity. He’s very versatile, having raced in all of USAC’s National series and done more than one race in a day several times. I think the biggest challenge will be to focus on which car he’s in and being confident of his team and his equipment. Plus, the added challenge of the time frame. That was one thing I was worried about, but I was able to drive to the Fairgrounds and still have time to switch over to the dirt race. Obviously when I did both on the same day, I had already competed in the Indy Lights at IMS the previous year, but not on the same day as the Hoosier Hundred. That helped. He and I both share the advantage of racing for Tony Stewart, who was a big help, but the change from the 190-mph-plus speeds at Indy to the 100-plus speeds on the dirt is significant and you have to adjust mentally. It’s truly a mind game and it makes for a long day.

“I think Bryan will have the same feeling I did when I first drove down that long straightaway at Indy. It was really neat, realizing a lifelong ambition. I was fortunate to do it for the first time on a practice day and then doing it on race day was really cool.”

At least four USAC graduates have gone on to win in the Firestone Indy Lights Series. Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget graduate Ed Carpenter won the inaugural Freedom 100 in 2003 and open-wheel star Aaron Fike won the same year at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Formula Ford 2000 participant Arie Luyendyk Jr. won at Chicagoland in 2008. Last year, USAC Midget graduate Brandon Wagner won the series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Additonal information regarding these races can be found at www.usacracing.com or www.indycar.com.

Kody Swanson from Kingsburg, CA Badly Injured in Crash

Kody Swanson, a 23 year old from Kingsburg, California was badly hurt in a USAC National Midget race in Huabstadt, Indiana on Saturday night. In lap 81 of the 100 lap main event, Kody’s car flipped and rolled several times. He was life-flighted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for treatment. Kody who is currently in 7th place in the standings and his younger brother Tanner Swanson race in several USAC divisions. On May 12th in Indianapolis, Kody and Tanner finished 1-2 in the 2nd USAC Pavement Sprint Car race of the year. Kody is first in the points standings in that division and Tanner is 4th. Earlier this year, Kody was selected to compete in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race that preceded the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Kody Swanson from Kingsburg, CA at the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Event in Long Beach.

Here is an update on Kody’s condition from the team’s Facebook page by Jordan Swanson (his wife of three weeks): “Kody is alert between naps and has his cute n quirky personality shining through. Head Condition: he has a sml fracture by his left temple and also a chip in the bottom of his scull where it sits on the 1st vertebrae. Both will heal completely on their own with time and tlc. X-rays from his neck came back outstanding w no issues whatsoever. He can take the brace off if he wants, but currently feels more comfortable with it on. Neuro surgeon came by and said he’s glad that we don’t have to see him anymore because kody is doing great. Thanks for all the concerns and prayers, they are surely working!!! Keep them coming”

Here is a note that Tanner posted on Kody’s website describing what happened with a link to an interview Kody did from his hospital bed.

“As many of you have already heard, this past weekend TK Motorsports has seemed to have had a little bump in the road. Kody Swanson was seriously injured Saturday night while driving his #11 Wilke-PAK Motorsports/Toyota at the Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN. He took a violent series of flips on Lap 81 of the feature which resulted in Kody needing to be Life-Flighted to the local Saint Mary’s Hospital in Evansville, IN. After being in the ICU unit for a day and a half he was then moved upstairs to a normal room. Kody has a small chip out of the base of his skull as well as his collarbone. He also has 2 fractures on the right side of his pelvis, and one on his skull behind his left ear. All of these injuries will not need any surgery or braces, so time will be Kody’s best healing tool. He has been stable the whole time and his sense of humor has never dwindled. We expect for him to be released from the hospital in the next day or two as he is hoping to go watch his younger brother Tanner race at the Hoosier Hundred on Friday night.

In the pits before Saturday night's USAC Midget race in Haubstadt, IN.

For updates on Kody’s condition the Swanson Brothers-TK Motorsports Facebook page has been where most of them are currently posted, however I will do my best to let all of you know when Kody is released from the Hospital.

The FOX 7 news station in Indiana came to interview Kody on Sunday evening and that interview has been posted for your viewing at the following link.

http://tristatehomepage.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=273317

Kody may look like he has been through a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson, but in the last day he has lost a lot of the swelling around his eyes and a lot of the bruising from his forehead. He is now up and walking around in his room, and is anxious to get home. Not only Kody but our whole family would like to thank everyone for their countless prayers and well wishes, they are appreciated and are greatly needed during this time of Kody’s recovery.”

Thanks,
Tanner Swanson

Kody and Tanner Swanson from Kingsburg, CA in 2009.

All of us at NorCal Car Culture would like to wish Kody a speedy recovery!