Articles about northern California racing.
Jason Meyers from Clovis, CA the 2-time World of Outlaws Champion has decided to leave the tour full time in order to remain at home and spend more time with his family. In this video talks about his decision and a little about what he will do now.
Jason Meyers Bids the Road Farewell from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.
For more information on Jason and perhaps his future plans, please visit his website: www.eliteracing.net
Photo courtesy of Steve LaMothe of Steve’s Racing Photos.
By Gary Thomas
Antioch, CA – Every driver and team that signs into the back gate on April 7 at the Antioch Speedway will be looking for a strong night, but Elk Grove’s Bobby McMahan will be searching to settle some unfinished business after the way last year’s Cancen Oil King of the West Series opener ended.
The season-opener this year for KWS will be “Jackson Rancheria Night at the Races” and all fans in attendance will have the chance to take home cards worth $25 of free play at Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort. We will be kicking off the season “Rancheria Style” at the Antioch Speedway so you won’t want to miss it!
During the first race of the season last year McMahan had things going his way, as he won his heat race and the dash to put the McMahan Motorsports No. 25 sprinter on the pole of the main event.
McMahan would proceed to jump into the lead of the race when the green flag waved in the 30-lapper and pace the first seven-circuits, until disaster struck in lapped traffic. The incident occurred in the first corner and resulted in his night coming to an end upside down.
“The night definitely didn’t end like we wanted at the season opener last year and it was disappointing because we felt like we had a car to win,” said McMahan, who finished runner up in points with NARC in 1996 & Golden State in ’97. “These races are always tough to win with KWS, so when you have a chance, you always want to capitalize on it.”
McMahan last visited victory lane at a traveling 410 sprint car series event in 1998 at the Bakersfield Speedway and he’ll be hoping to change that in 2012. At the end of this past season he was also one of the hottest drivers on tour with the King of the West Series and capped the year with an eighth place finish in the standings.
At one point in the summer months McMahan claimed three consecutive podium finishes, with one of those coming at the Antioch Speedway. The 1996 Northern Auto Racing Club Speedweek champion also capped his week-long title that year by winning at Antioch, while driving for famed California car-owner Clyde Lamar.
“They’ve done a lot of work at Antioch over the last few years and it has become a really racy track,” commented McMahan. “Both ends of the speedway are different and it kind of throws a challenge at you, but it’s had a top and bottom groove lately so that’s what you ask for as a driver.”
The McMahan Motorsports stable will feature a two-car team this year with son Sean gunning for Rookie of the Year with KWS. The younger McMahan attempted the same last season, but engine problems sidelined his No. 26 mount after the second race of the year.
“We’re excited to have Sean come back out and go for Rookie of the Year this season,” said the older McMahan. “For myself I’d say my goals will be to finish in the top-five of points and get a win or two. If we can continue where we left off last season that’s something we can definitely accomplish.”
Other drivers looking to find victory lane during “Jackson Rancheria Night at the Races” on April 7 will include defending KWS champion Tim Kaeding, 13-time champ Brent Kaeding, two-time titlist Jonathan Allard, 2004 champion Jason Statler, Antioch KWS track record holder Evan Suggs, rising star Rico Abreu and many more.
On Saturday April 7 the front grandstand gate of the Antioch Speedway will open at 5pm. Hot laps are scheduled for 6pm, with qualifying at 6:30 and racing anticipated to start around 7. Tickets will be available the day of the race with adults being $20, children 6-12 $10, seniors 65 & older $10 and children 5 & under free. A family pack with two adults & two children will also be available for $50.
The Antioch Speedway is located at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds on the corner of 10th & L Streets in Antioch, California. Take SR-4 East (Highway 4) to the Somersville Road North Exit. Follow Somersville Road to 10thStreet. Turn Right on 10th Street. The address for the track is 1201 W. 10th Street Antioch, CA 94509.
Don’t forget to “like” the Cancen Oil King of the West Series on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints and follow us on Twitter @kwssprintracing for the most timely and up to date information on the series.
Also check out our official website at www.kwssprints.com for the latest news, results, history and more on the Cancen Oil King of the West 410 Sprint Cars presented by Goodyear.
Be sure to catch archived shows of “KWS Tonight,” along with special highlight clips from the 2011 season at http://vimeo.com/user5784994/videos and http://vimeo.com/user10076991
PLACERVILLE, CA (4-2-12) – Following last week’s late dose of winter that washed out the Civil War Series opener, Placerville Speedway is geared up more than ever this week to officially open the 2012 Fast and Furious Dirt Track Championship racing season this Saturday night at the local bullring with three divisions in competition.
The fire breathing winged 360 sprint cars will headline the program at the quarter-mile clay oval located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. The winged warriors will be joined by the Limited Late Model Division and the always entertaining grassroots Pure Stock Division for a trio of family entertainment to kick off the Easter Holiday weekend.
A total of 23 events are slated to form the schedule at Placerville Speedway in 2012. The majority of these events will be point racing events the three weekly divisions will compete for weekly winnings and accumulative points towards the 2012 Red Hawk Casino – Hoosier Racing Tires – Coors Light Championship titles. The recently rained out Civil War opener will likely be rescheduled during the year and announced at a later date.
Last season at Placerville Speedway, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg lived up to his long standing name of “Mr. Excitement” as he muscled his way to a dominating track championship driving for the F&F Racing Team owned by veteran competitors Alan Bradway and Steve Tuccelli.
Forsberg entered the final race of the year with an impressive 65-ppint lead and capped the 2011 Placerville Speedway season with 10 top ten finishes, 9 top fives and 4 feature wins, more than any other driver out of the 50 different drivers that competed throughout the year. Forsberg was chased to the championship title by Placerville’s Scott Russell. Antelope’s Sean Becker was third overall followed by Placerville’s own Jimmy Trulli, Brett Miller of Chico and CJ. Humphreys of Placerville.
Forsberg and the Placerville Posse that chased him hard in 2011 will be returning Saturday night. For the first time in his career, however, Russell will be returning as a car owner with former Silver Dollar Speedway champion Stephen Allard behind the wheel.
In the Limited Late Model division, Auburn’s Thomas Arbogast captured the division championship in 2011 and is expected to return. Last year Arobogast entered the final race of the year just five points ahead of defending champion Dan Brown Jr. of Grass Valley. When the final checkered flag waved, Arobogast captured the title with Galt’s Les Friend stealing the bridesmaid position over Brown, Matt Davis of Auburn and Doug Granboise of Jackson.
This year, the regulars of this exciting division are expected to return to the red clay along with some additional new faces in the division. One driver that is advancing into the Late Model ranks will be former Pure Stock Champion Tom Tilford of Citrus Heights. Tilford will miss the opening night race due to travel commitments but will return to make a run at the track championship for the remainder of the year.
In the Pure Stock division, the 2011 championship title went to Clarence Holbrook the III of Galt who held off veteran driver Rick Grunert of Woodland for the title. In the end, Holbrook claimed the crown by 14-points. Veteran local driver Dennis Armstrong of El Dorado finished in third place followed by Grass Valley’s Burney McClure and former Champion Chris Curtiss of Placerville. The majority of the track regulars in this divison are expected to return along with new faces in this ex citing grassroots division that is popular with fans of all ages.
Placerville Speedway will open its gates on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. Adult tickets will be $13, Seniors and Juniors will be $11 and Children will be $6 unless they are five years or younger. The pit gate will open at 2 p.m. on Saturday for competitors.
For further information on the upcoming opener the 2012 racing season at Placerville Speedway please visit www.placervillespeedway.com or call the track business office at (916) 783-3478.
– Media Release from Handy Racing Promotions
Photos courtesy of Donna Peter from Race Photos by Donna.
For more information on F&F Racing please visit: www.fnfracing.com.
