HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – March 21, 2011 – Sprint today announced it will partner with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ drivers A.J. Allmendinger (Los Gatos, Calif.) and Casey Mears (Bakersfield, Calif.) as they battle for home-turf bragging rights at Auto Club Speedway in the Auto Club 400 on Sunday, March 27, in the Sprint Bragging Rights Challenge.
Allmendinger’s and Mears’ private race within a race will determine which driver’s charity receives a $5,000 contribution on behalf of Sprint. Whichever driver scores the highest finishing position in the Auto Club 400 will earn the donation for his charity of choice. A.J. Allmendinger and the #43 Best Buy Ford
Allmendinger has chosen the Paralyzed Veterans of America as his charity, while Mears has named the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America as his charity of choice. Monica Palumbo - Miss Sprint Cup
As part of the overall Sprint Bragging Rights Challenge, Allmendinger and Mears will appear alongside Miss Sprint Cup, Monica Palumbo, at the Stonewood Center Best Buy Mobile in Downey, Calif., on Thursday, March 24. NASCAR fans are encouraged to visit the store during race week to take advantage of a special offer. All 71 Los Angeles area Best Buy® and Best Buy Mobile™ specialty stores will offer up to 25 percent off select Samsung Android™-powered smartphones from Sprint.
Allmendinger, Mears and Palumbo will appear at the Stonewood Center Best Buy Mobile from 6 to 8 p.m. PDT. Fans seeking autographs and photos will have the opportunity to meet and hear from all three inside the Best Buy Mobile store that evening. In addition, fans can compete in the racing simulators and register for a chance to win prizes, including tickets to the weekend’s events at Auto Club Speedway.
It was a big weekend for certain Northern California race car drivers.
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Katie Sullivan from Corning, CA.
At the 42nd NHRA Gatornationals three NorCal drivers qualified to race on Sunday. Brian Thiel of Pleasant Grove was eliminated in Round 1 in the Funny Car class. In Pro Stock Motorcycles, young Katie Sullivan from Corning made it through to Sunday but was also eliminated in Round 1 by eventual Final Round winner Eddie Krawiec. The Northern California racer with the best finish in Gainsville, Florida was Karen Stoffer from Minden, Nevada (almost NorCal). She red lighted in the Final Round on Sunday in Pro Stock Motorcycles. She is now in 3rd place in the points standings.
Kody Swanson from Kingsburg, CA with younger brother Tanner.
The John Padjen Classic took place in Chico last Friday night. Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, CA won the USAC and BCRA Midget 30 lap feature. He was followed closely by Bryan Clauson originally from Carmichael. Third was Scott Pierovich of Alamo, CA. Shannon McQueen from Bakersfield was fourth, and Tanner Swanson, Kody’s younger brother rounded out the top five.
Second place finisher Kyle Hirst from Loomis, CA.
In the inaugural USAC Western Classic Sprint Car Series race the top spot went to Bill Rose of Indiana but the rest of the top 5 were all NorCal drivers. Second place went to Kyle Hirst of Loomis. Finishing in third was Colby Copeland from Roseville. Fourth was Andy Forsberg from Auburn and Fifth was Brent Kaeding of Campbell, CA.
The World of Outlaws raced Saturday night at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. There were several NorCal drivers competing. Paul McMahan of Elk Grove came home with a 3rd place finish.
7th – Tim Kaeding of San Jose (winner of the KSE Hard Charger Award)
8th – Jason Meyers of Clovis
10th – Shane Golobic of Fremont
11th – Jonathan Allard of Chico
14th – Bud Kaeding of Campbell
15th – Brad Furr of Santa Clara
16th – Kyle Larson of Elk Grove
18th – Jason Statler of Grass Valley
20th – Bobby McMahan of Elk Grove
22nd – Brent Kaeding of Campbell 2010 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Champion Jason Meyers of Clovis, CA
Finishing 14th in the B Main was 16 year old Sean McMahan of Elk Grove, son of Bobby and nephew of Paul McMahan. Other NorCal drivers in the B-main were:
1st – Jason Meyers of Clovis
2nd – Tim Kaeding of San Jose
6th – Mason Moore of Princeton
8th – Robbie Whitchurch of Chico
9th – Evan Suggs of Scotts Valley
11th – Cody Lamar of Rio Linda
13th – Billy Strange of Elk Grove
14th – Sean McMahan of Elk Grove
15th – Brenton Nugent of Lotus
16th – Andy Forsberg of Auburn
18th – Tyler Wolf of Redding
T.J. Bell from Reno, NV driving the #50 Chevrolet Truck
In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced at the famous Darlington Raceway. The legendary track took its toll on most of the NorCal drivers. The veteran Matt Crafton ended up with a 4th place finish to maintain his lead in the points standings. The other drivers didn’t fair quite so well at the difficult track.
4th – Matt Crafton of Tulare
22nd – T.J. Bell of Reno, NV
24th – Justin Marks of Rocklin
36th – Brad Sweet of Grass Valley
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series as well as the Grand Am Series had the weekend off. The IZOD Indy Car Series doesn’t start until March 27th.
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Justin Marks made his first date with the “Lady in Black” on Saturday night when he made his first career start at the infamous 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval. Being patient and on his toes seemed to pay off at the track best known for leaving its mark on unsuspecting superstars, until Marks’ – who had avoided the event’s first seven wrecks – made contact with the wall just 49 laps from the conclusion of the 6th Annual Too Tough to Tame 200. Justin Marks of Rocklin, CA
“I was happy that we had a truck that was the most competitive so far this year,” said Marks after the race. “It looked like the GoPro Chevy was headed to a solid top-15 finish, maybe better. I’m not sure if there was something on the track or if I just made a mistake but we got sideways right behind Ricky (Carmichael) when he went around. We caught the wall just enough to end our night. It was pretty disappointing.”
Before the collision, the 29-year-old Rocklin, California native had cracked the top-15, which was a significant improvement over qualifying, where his fast lap would only claim 28th starting spot. “Darlington is a very difficult racetrack but a lot of fun to drive,” said Marks. “Everything you hear about showing respect and staying focused are absolutely true. It requires a level of concentration and confidence rare to other tracks.”
That concentration and confidence paid off at the drop of the green flag. Marks started 28th and never looked back; breaking into the top-20 after 10 laps. After logging 25 laps and avoiding the event’s first three accidents, Marks’ brought his No. 66 GoPro Chevrolet down pit road to the attention of the crew, who outfitted his Silverado with four fresh Goodyear tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment to help aid the truck from being tight in the center of the corner, and loose off.
When the race resumed, the truck picked up speed and Marks was able to drive it into the top-15 by lap 40. Taking the opportunity to hit pit road again under caution on lap 59, Crew Chief Doug Wolcott called for two right side tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment, returning Marks to the track 14th. The #66 GoPro Chevrolet Truck driven by Justin Marks of Rocklin, CA.
Marks battled in the top-15 until the next caution waived on lap 90 for a single truck wreck in turn two. Making his final pit stop of the night, Marks hit pit road for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment, returning to the track 15th. Just three laps after taking the green flag on lap 95, Ricky Carmichael wrecked while exiting turn four and made hard contact with the outside retaining wall. Marks tried to take evasive action to miss Carmichael’s machine, but he slapped the wall with the right front instead.
Marks limped his GoPro Chevrolet to pit road under caution where the crew assessed the damage. With the toe knocked out and the right front fender gone, Marks’ chances of coming away with a top-10 at Darlington were done. After a short red flag, the race resumed with Marks in 26th place. Despite the damage, Marks hung on to finish 24th in his Darlington debut.
Marks and the No. 66 GoPro team will enjoy two weeks off before heading to Martinsville Speedway for the Kroger 250 on Saturday, April 2nd for race number 4 of 25 in the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season.
