Category: Racing

Articles about northern California racing.

Brad Sweet from Grass Valley is heading to Martinsville.

The Kroger 250 is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race this weekend at the famous Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. The following is a press release about Northern California race car driver Brad Sweet from his team at Turner Motorsports. Qualifying can be seen on Speed TV on Saturday 7:30 to 8:30 am. The race is Saturday, 11:00am-1:30pm and again from 9:30pm-12:00am also on Speed TV.

The #32 Great Clips Chevrolet Truck driven by Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA.
The #32 Great Clips Chevrolet Truck driven by Brad Sweet from Grass Valley, CA.

No. 32 Great Clips Silverado Team News and Notes

Racing around the world’s largest paperclip a first for Sweet… This weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event at Martinsville Speedway will mark Brad Sweet’s first start at the famed .526-mile track. The rookie driver hopes to build on his learning experience this season in the NCWTS by adding to his solid start thus far.

This Week’s Chevy Silverado… The No. 32 Great Clips Chevrolet Silverado team will bring chassis TMS-017 to the half-mile Martinsville Speedway for Saturday’s 250-lap event. This chassis was run earlier this season at Phoenix International Raceway where Sweet finished 11th.

Crew chief Trent Owens has some laps under his belt at Martinsville… Veteran crew chief Trent Owens will guide Sweet around the southern Virginia-based track this weekend. Owens has some experience of his own behind the wheel at Martinsville Speedway, having competed in a NCWTS race in 2002, finishing 17th. Owens is off to a solid start himself in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season with one win, three top-five and four top-10 finishes.

First Win… Turner Motorsports captured its first win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Mark Martin and the No. 32 Dollar General Chevrolet. The organization is in its sophomore season of NASCAR competition and has already captured one win, one pole, along with 18 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes. Turner Motorsports has expanded from a two-truck NCWTS operation in 2010 to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series, fielding three entries in the NCWTS and four entries in the NNS.

Brad Sweet on Martinsville Speedway: “I’m looking forward to racing at Martinsville this weekend. It’s an old-school, short track tucked in the south of Virginia with a lot of racing history. I hope to get up to speed quickly, qualify well, be competitive throughout the weekend and bring the Great Clips Chevy home with a solid finish.”

– Turner Motorsports Press Release

Rocklin Native Justin Marks To Race on Saturday

Justin Marks from Rocklin, California will race in the 4th race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck series on Saturday at the Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Justin is currently in 18th place in the points standings. His best finish so far was 18th at Phoenix International Raceway. Qualifying can be seen on Speed TV on Saturday 7:30 to 8:30 am. The race is Saturday, 11:00am-1:30pm and again from 9:30pm-12:00am also on Speed TV. Here is a press release from Turn One Racing and the Go Pro racing team. Please check out the Official GoPro® Store.

MARKS RETURNS TO MARTINSVILLE:

Justin Marks will make his second career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. The track, which is best known for its paper-clip shape and 12° banking, is one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit. “It’s obviously a very difficult race track; its one of the most difficult tracks on the schedule,” said Marks. “I feel like we had a pretty good test and I feel like we’re making progress every time, so I’m looking forward to it. Martinsville is one of those tracks that I’m going to have to lean on the veterans as much as I can and get as much advice as I can over the course of the weekend because typically the new guys, or the less experienced guys, don’t do that well there.

There is such a style to getting around there fast. I really enjoy driving the track; I think it’s a really cool venue and sort of a unique challenge. I’m encouraged because I feel like this team is getting better and better every week. We’re ready to apply it and get a good finish.”

A Pitstop by Justin Marks of Rocklin, California in the #66 Go Pro Chevrolet Truck.
A pitstop by Justin Marks of Rocklin, California in the #66 Go Pro Chevrolet Truck.

THE CREW CHIEF’S CHOICE FOR MARTINSVILLE:

Crew Chief Doug Wolcott has selected chassis No. 54 for the 13th Annual Kroger “250”. This truck was last raced by former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, Jack Sprague at Martinsville Speedway in 2008. The truck qualified 15th and finished 11th with Sprague at the controls. Since then, the truck underwent a complete overhaul including a new front clip and body.

MEET MARKS ON SATURDAY!:

Justin Marks, teammate Cole Whitt, and other NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers will take part in an autograph session on Saturday, April 2nd from 9 to 10 a.m. The autograph session will take place across from the ticket office at Martinsville Speedway.

MARKS PREPARES FOR MARTINSVILLE WITH MOTOR MILE TEST:

Justin Marks and the No. 66 GoPro team took their Chevrolet Silverado race truck to Motor Mile Speedway in Dublin, Va. last week for a private test session to prepare for the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. “I think the test went real well,” said Marks. “I think the guys all worked together better than they have at any other race track this year, races included. We were able to get through a lot of changes and stick to the plan really closely. The truck responded really well to the different stuff that we did and we changed a lot of geometry. I think it was great because now I am comfortable in the truck and I know how to drive it. I feel like it was a really efficient test. It was definitely great for us to do because I think we learned a lot about this truck. “

TURN ONE RACING IS TIED TO VIRGINIA:

Virginia’s own Van-Go Rentals – “Your Temporary Transportation Solution” is a team sponsor of Turn One Racing. Van-Go Rentals is based in Lynchburg, Va. and is locally owned and operated. In addition, the team receives support from Grand Springs Water, a co-packaging facility and private label bottling company that offers natural spring water with an exceptional taste.

– Turn One Racing Press Release

The World of Outlaws to race this weekend in Northern California

Another consequence of all the rain has been the difficulty of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series finishing their tour of Northern California. Tonight, a busy weekend was supposed to begin at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford. But, because of all the water the previously rain-postponed A-Main will be postponed again. Jason Meyers from Clovis, CA and the defending series Champion was set to start on the pole.

On Friday night they will travel to Merced Speedway to race for the first time in series history. Saturday night they will race in the beautiful wine country at the Calistoga Speedway. The World of Outlaws last raced the 1/2 mile track in Calistoga in 2007.

Several drivers from Northern California have found success in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Recent articles on the World of Outlaws website discuss this. The first one is about Jason Meyers from Clovis.

One on One with 2010 World of Outlaws Champion Jason Meyers

Clovis, Calif. native speaks about winning title, off season tweaks and goals for 2011

FRESNO, Calif. – March 25, 2011 – Champion, Businessman, Father and Husband. These are just a few of the words one can assiocate with 2010 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Champion Jason Meyers. The racer from Clovis, Calif. has come full circle, becoming the first driver ever from the Golden State to win the presitgious title and sits down with WorldofOutlaws.com for an in depth interview.

One on One with Jason Meyers from World of Outlaws Sprint Cars on Vimeo.

Recently, this article about another NorCal driver, Paul McMahan, from Elk Grove California, was posted on the World of Outlaws website. Paul, so far this year, has 3 quick times in the first nine events, and that doesn’t include the record he shattered at Volusia the night before the Outlaws started racing. He has five Top 10s this season, so he’s off to a great start.


Paul McMahan Seeks Success in State that Launched his Career

Calistoga Speedway helped shape the California native’s path to World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

CONCORD, N.C. – March 30, 2011 – Many drivers on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series tour can trace their passion for the sport back to a single track as they were growing up. Some dreamed of tackling the high banks of Eldora Speedway or holding the throttle wide open in front of a sold out crowd at Knoxville Raceway. For Paul McMahan , his path to The Greatest Show on Dirt can be tracked to Calistoga Speedway, a roomy half-mile oval in the picturesque wine country of Northern California. (Photos by Paul Arch, Paul Trevino)

McMahan and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to Northern California this weekend for their first visit in series history toMerced Speedway on Friday and their first event since 2007 at Calistoga Speedway on Saturday.

“I remember going to Calistoga to watch my uncle race non-wing cars about 12 times a year,” said McMahan, 40, who pilots the #83 HR Cattle machine owned in a unique partnership by Californian Dennis Roth and Kasey Kahne. “We used to camp there all the time and I have a ton of great memories growing up there in the ’70s and ’80s.” Read more.