Category: Racing

Last weekend was the busiest of the year so far in Northern California. Almost every track and series had races going on. Here is a report from Handy Racing Promotions on the California Civil War Series and Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Car events at Placerville Speedway.

PLACERVILLE, CA (4-30-11) – The 2011 Fast and Furious Dirt Track Racing Season began to live up to its name Saturday night at Placerville Speedway in a very big way. Last night brought the biggest race of the season to the 46 year old quarter mile dirt track and along with it came its largest crowd, one which was standing room only early into the night.

When the checkered flag waved, veteran driver Stephen Allard of Chico took home a hard earned $2000 victory Saturday night in a race that kept the fans back and forth from being on the edge of their seats or on their feet from start to finish. Allard was aboard the #77f Sprint Car fielded by Finely Farms for Saturday’s event. He shared the glory in victory lane with Mason Myers of Browns Valley, winner of the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Car Division.

“I can’t thank this team enough for giving me the opportunity to drive for them,” said Allard. “We’re not really sure what the future plans are at this point but they have given me a really good race car and I’m glad I was able to give them a win here tonight and good race for all of these fans that came out to watch us.”

The Hoosier Tires Civil War Race Series is a 14 race campaign that takes place at six well known California race tracks from the sierra foothills to wine country and the California coastline. The series boasts overall car counts and competition that is second to none as drivers compete for more that $250,000 over the year and a $40,000 championship fund that will pay $10,000 to the champion alone this year, the highest in the history of the series.

A total of 35 cars formed the roster in Saturday’s winged sprint car division Saturday night. In qualifying Allard turned an 10:949 to earn the fifth fastest lap of the night. Shawn Wright of Lodi was the fast qualifier of the night with a 10:813 second lap.

After winning the first heat race of the evening, an eight car inversion resulted in Allard starting on the outside of row four for the 30-lap feature event. When the green flag waved he quickly set his sights on the top three position as Herman Klein of Sacramento took the early lead off the outside of the front row and went to battle with Visalia’s Steven Tiner who started third. Pole sitter Greg De Caires of Elk Grove suffered a drive train failure at the waving of the green flag and veered into the infield to avoid an incident.

After chasing him for six laps, Tiner took the lead from Klein in turns one and two while Allard was still back in the fifth position. As the front runners raced their way into lapped traffic. On lap eight Allard advanced in the fourth position before overtaking Sacramento’s Kyle Hirst for third and then moving into second place over Klein on lap 14.

Once in the bridesmaid position, Allard searched for a faster line than Tiner on the dry slick race track as the two leaders broke away from the pack in lapped traffic. With 22 laps down, Allard dove to the inside of turns one and two and took the lead. He was nearly crashed out of the top spot moments later when he was struck by the lapped car of David Silveria on the back stretch. While Allard was able to maintain his line, Silveria climbed the backstretch wall and rolled over along with Shane Golobic who rolled over violently trying to avoid the incident.

The red flag worked in the favor of Tiner and put his #94 back on the pole for the restart with eight laps to go. Once the green flag waved Tiner and Allard went to battle once again both fighting for the low line of the track. On lap 27, Allard went to the high side of turns three and four and muscled his way outside of Tiner, taking the lead as they approached the front stretch. At the checkered flag Allard was followed by Tiner and Klein. Antelopes Sean Becker finished in fourth with Elk Grove’s Nicole Miller rounding out the top five.

“When that red flag came out I knew it wasn’t going to help us,” said Allard. “I was lucky I wasn’t part of it. I knew Steven (Tiner) would be tough to pass the second time without any traffic in front of us. Down low is where the moisture was but luckily I found something in three and four. I can’t thank my crew enough tonight, they gave me a great car for this track.”

Although he was happy with a podium finish Saturday, Tiner was disappointed with the end result as he wanted to give his team a win. He explained the adversities he was faced with late in the race that led to the end result.

“I’m happy to finish where we did, anytime you run second in one of these races you did well but I think we had the car to win tonight,” said Tiner. “The power steering started going out there in those final laps and it took everything I had to stay up there. I though we had second chance with that red flag but he was really fast once he went up top. I just really wanted a win for these guys, they deserve it working so hard on this car for me.”

In the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Car feature, Mason Myers of Browns Valley led all 20 laps of a caution flag flogged feature event. The feature event saw its share of crashes from start to finish that Myers was lucky to avoid. The biggest one of the night involved multiple cars in the opening turn and completely blocked the track requiring every two truck in attendance to clean up.

In the end, Myers went to victory lane for the very first time in his career at the conclusion of the race. He was chased across the line by his brother Cody Myers. DJ Johnson of Stockton finished in third followed by Johnny Reeves of Elverta and Matt Streeter of Galt. A total of 23 wingless cars were in competition Saturday night.

Racing returns to Placerville Speedway this Saturday night with championship point racing for 360 sprint cars, limited late models, pure stocks and dwarf cars. The 2011 racing season at Placerville is presented by Red Hawk Casino, Hoosier Racing Tires, Riebes Auto Parts Pepsi and Coors Light. Associate partners include the Mountain Democrat, Arnolds for Awards, Windfall Classifieds, Carls’ Jr, the Paint Spot, Dunn Consulting, Minute Man Press, Roger Miller Concrete and ADCO Driveline. For complete results of Saturday’s race visit www.placervillespeedway.com.

The grandstands at Placerville Speedway will open up once again at 5 p.m. on Saturday night. Qualifying begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by heat races at 7. Adult tickets will be $13, Juniors and Seniors will be $11, Children $6. Those five and under will be admitted for free. All seating at Placerville Speedway is first come-first serve at 5 p.m. Learn more about Saturday’s event at www.placervillespeedway.com. It’s all happening at Placerville Speedway, where more than one million fans have entertained with fast and furious dirt track racing all summer long since 1965.

Media Release from Handy Racing Promotions Inc.

All photos courtesy of Donna Peter from Race Photos by Donna.

There was lots of racing this past weekend. The Indy Cars Series was in Brazil, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the K&N Pro Series East were in Richmond, Virginia. The World of Outlaws were in Indiana and the NHRA drag races were in Houston, Texas. The K&N Pro Series West raced on the road course at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

J.R. Hildebrand from Sausalito was one of the “Hardest Chargers” in the IndyCar race is Sao Paulo, Brazil. The race was halted on Sunday because of rain. They finished up on Monday, J.R. who qualified 22nd rallied for a 10th place finish. It was his first Top 10 in the IZOD IndyCar Series. J.R. is now in 15th place in the points standings and still the leader in the Rookie of the Year race.

Brian Thiel from Pleasant Grove had a great start to the weekend in the NHRA Funny Car division by making it through 4 rounds of qualifying. He was awarded the privilege of facing the legendary John Force in round 1 of eliminations on Sunday morning. This is where things went bad. The roof hatch on Brian’s car came open while he was staging and he timed out while trying to get it fixed. What unfortunate timing for a problem like that. He is consistently showing progress and I expect to see him competing in the final rounds by the end of the year.

Karen Stoffer from Minden, Nevada racing Pro Stock Motorcycles in Texas qualified in the 2nd spot for Sunday’s elimination rounds. She then lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Andrew Hines.

Katie Sullivan from Corning ran a 7.088 at 186.90 mph on Friday for 20th best and then had some trouble on Saturday and did not qualify for Sunday’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals.

Matt DiBenedetto: I recently learned of a NorCal race car driver competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He is 19 year old Matt DiBenedetto from Grass Valley, CA. Matt ran a limited schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing in Nationwide last year but has joined a new team X-Racing for the entire season. He finished in 10th spot in the race at Richmond last Thursday for his 3rd Top 10 finish in 3 races this year. Matt is now in 5th place in the points standings.

Paul McMahan from Elk Grove finished in second position in the World of Outlaws race in Indiana, his best finish of the year. He qualified 3rd and won the Dash. Paul is now 7th in the series points standings.

Jason Meyers from Clovis ended up with a 12th place finish and retains his 3rd place standing in the points.

Brad Sweet from Grass Valley on a break from the NASCAR Truck Series, got to return to racing with the World of Outlaws. He qualified 6th and came in with a 14th place finish.

Jim Inglebright from Fairfield finished 3rd in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the road course at Miller Motorsports Park in Toole, Utah on Saturday. David Mayhew from Atascadero came in 5th and is now in 4th place in the points standings. 83 year old Hershel McGriff from Bridal Veil, OR raced to a 16th place finish on the lead lap in a field of 34 cars. (Amazing!)

Marysville Raceway Park Highlights from Golden State King of the West on Vimeo.

Willie Croft of Citrus Heights won the King of the West Series race in Marysville on Saturday night after setting a new track record in qualifying earlier in the day. Tim Kaeding from San Jose is the points leader and finished in second place.

Bryan Clauson from Carmichael finished 3rd in the feature event of the USAC Sprint Car Series in Gas City, Indiana. He maintained his lead in the points standings. Kyle Larson from Elk Grove won his heat race but struggled to a 17th place finish in the Main.

Peter Murphy from Clovis won the USAC West Coast 360 race at the Thunderbowl in Tulare. He came in 2nd place in the ASCS main event as well. Jace VanderWeerd from Visalia is the early points leader in this regional series.

Tommy Tarlton of Fresno is now 2 for 2 in the new ASCS Southern California Regional Series. He won Saturday night at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare and now has a 30 point lead in the point standings over 19 year old Cory Eliason of Visalia who finished in 3rd place.