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The Inaugural Race of the new Western Classic Racing Series

JOHN PADJEN CLASSIC TO KICK OFF INAUGURAL WESTERN CLASSIC SEASON

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (March 7, 2011) – On Friday, March 11, the new USAC Western
Classic Racing Series will stage it’s debut event with the “John Padjen Classic” at Silver Dollar
Speedway for USAC traditional Sprint Cars and Midgets with Bay Cities Racing Association cosanctioning
the Midget portion of the program.

The “John Padjen Classic” will honor retired promoter John Padjen, who throughout his career
has promoted West Capitol, Silver Dollar, and Placerville Speedways along with many special
events. His list of accomplishments includes being nominated as RPM Regional Promoter of the
Year four times and being inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Some of the highest profile names in Sprint Car racing will converge on Silver Dollar Speedway to
square off against a large number of drivers who are racing for the USAC Western Classic
Racing Series championship.

2010 USAC National Drivers Champion Bryan Clauson, whose father Tim Clauson raced Winged
Sprints at Chico for many seasons, will compete in both the Sprint Car and Midget divisions in
one of his first USAC starts in Northern California.

“This will be my first time running the sprinter in NorCal, so it’ll really be a lot of fun to go to a
place I grew up at as a kid and race there,” Clauson said. “We should have a lot of friends and
family in the stands, as we don’t get the chance to run in NorCal very often at all. I’m really
looking forward to Friday Night.”

In addition to Clauson, both 13-time King of the West Sprint Car champion Brent Kaeding and
son Bud Kaeding, a former USAC Silver Crown champion, will head to the fairgrounds and
challenge for the victory. 2010 California Sprint Car Civil War champion Andy Forsberg,
Plainfield, IN’s Bill Rose, and Geoff Ensign are also expected to appear for the $2,000 to win
Sprint Car feature.

“Hopefully exposing this part of the country to USAC racing will help grow the sport as a whole
and bring in new fans and promoters,” Clauson said. “I’d really like to have my name as the first
winner!”

The inaugural season for the USAC Western Classic Racing Series has attracting a long list of
drivers contending for the championship. Among those committing to the full season of action is
six-time USAC champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, Calif. Hunt will compete in both the dirt and
asphalt portions of the 16 race schedule driving for Mike Phulps.

Sprint Car of Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA (2010 USAC Western States Sprint Car Champion)

Other drivers attempting to run all 16 events include Alamo, Calif.’s Scott Pierovich, who will drive
for car owner Ken Pierson, Tim Barber will drive for Ted Finkenbinder, Jerry Kobza of Folsom will
drive self-owned entries on both surfaces, and Shauna Hogg is also going to try out the dirt in
2011.

The roster of drivers committed to solely the dirt series in 2011 includes Spec Sprint graduates Ryan Bernal, to drive for Danny Olmstead, and Jerry Cisco in a ride from owner Richard Basden. Two drivers joining the series full-time have extensive resumes in Winged Sprint Cars at Chico
with Jason York of Chico and Roseville’s Colby Copeland.

Additional drivers expecting to contend for the 2011 USAC Western Classic Racing Series on dirt
include Mark Beck, Scott Hall, Marty Hawkins, Todd Miller, Jimmy Riddell, and Matt Sherman.

The USAC/BCRA Midget portion of the program has attracted a strong roster as well, with
Kingsburg standouts Kody and Tanner Swanson making the trip to Chico. 2010 BCRA champion
Nick Foster, Jr. and 2010 USAC champion Cory Kruseman are expected, along with 2009 BCRA
champion and series president David Prickett and Stockton’s Jonathan Henry.

Race fans can order their tickets in advance now for the “John Padjen Classic” on March 11 and
for the adjoining “Mini Gold Cup” on Saturday night for the World of Outlaws by calling (530) 350-
7275. Silver Dollar Speedway is online at www.silverdollarspeedway.com

Adult grandstand admission is $20.00 with juniors and seniors $15.00. Children ticket prices are
$6.00. Front grandstand gate is set to open at 5 p.m. with racing scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

More information on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series is available on Facebook at
keywords “USAC Western Classic Racing Series”. The United States Auto Club is online at
www.usacracing.com The USAC Western States is available at www.usacwesternstates.com
with contact information and the latest news.

The USAC Western Classic Racing Series is brought to you by: Amsoil, Hoosier Tires West, and
Kaeding Performance.

A USAC Western Classic Racing Series Press Release.

NorCal Drivers Race Results: March 6, 2011

Northern California driver, Scott Pruett with co-driver Memo Rojas won his second consecutive race in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at the Grand Prix of Miami last weekend. Champions last year, they are off to a great start in 2011 winning 2 of 2 so far.

Clovis driver, Jason Meyers finished 6th in the A-Main and won his heat in the World of Outlaws race in Las Vegas last Thursday. He is now 5th in the points standings. Paul McMahan from Elk Grove won his heat race but faded to 21st in the A-Main event.

A.J. Almendinger of Los Gatos was the top finisher among the 3 NorCal drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He ended up with a 19th place finish to hang on to the 9th spot in the points standings.
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If anyone knows of any other drivers from Northern California or living here now that could be included in these lists, please email us at: tnewey@norcalcarculture.com

“IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE” by Michael Waltrip

Review
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Title: In The Blink Of An Eye
Author: Michael Waltrip and Ellis Henican
Publisher: Hyperion (New York)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Year Published: 2011
Number of Pages: 223
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-1-4013-2431-5
Price: $24.99

Reviewed by Tim Newey

When I first bought the book “In The Blink Of An Eye” by Michael Waltrip, I was expecting it to be mostly about the death of Dale Earnhardt, in part because of the subtitle: “Dale, Daytona, and the Day That Changed Everything” and partly because the release of the book coincided with the 10th anniversary of his fatal wreck. It really was more the story of Michael Waltrip and his personal struggles in the shadow of his legendary brother Darrell Waltrip and the great and timely help he received along the way from some of NASCAR’s biggest stars.

I have always enjoyed listening to Michael on TV. He is very funny, honest and full of energy. That is how he writes. This book is a mini autobiography of his life. It begins in the early 1970’s in Owensboro, Kentucky at a time when his older brother, 3 time Winston Cup Champion, Darrell was already winning races. It proceeds through his career to that day in 2001 and beyond. He talks about his personal trials, his divorce and the difficulty of starting a new race team. He talks a lot about the people along the way who helped him and supported him among those was his unlikely friend, Dale Earnhardt.

Dale Earnhardt Inc. #15 NAPA Chevrolet driven by Michael Waltrip

He describes his feelings of being so incredibly relieved and happy at winning his first race, and then of being so sad and not being allowed by fate, to finally celebrate and enjoy this huge victory. It wasn’t just that someone had died, as heartbreaking as that is, but that the man who had given him everything possible to get his first win, the biggest win of his life, had died. Dale had given him the equipment, the opportunity, the strategy and especially the confidence to get his first ever Sprint Cup win in his first ever race for Dale Earnhardt Inc. It was Dale’s win too. It was proof of the talent and leadership of Dale Earnhardt that he could take someone who had lost 462 races in a row and in his first race in a DEI car, he wins the Daytona 500. What an unbelievable day and what an unbelievable story.

“In The Blink Of An Eye”, has so many possible meanings in this book. It might be going from being a 0 and 462 driver to being a Daytona 500 Champion. It could mean the idea of driving for your hero, the best in the business one minute to being without your leader, your team owner in the next. Additionally, it could mean going from having a supportive old friend always there to encourage you, to minutes later, learning that he didn’t make it.

I really liked the following paragraph. I believe it demonstrates the honesty as well as the sense of humor of Michael Waltrip. He was waiting to hear from Dale Earnhardt about NAPA’s decision to sponsor the new #15 team. Michael said: “I didn’t want to just fade away as a footnote in NASCAR history – a guy who may have lost more races than anyone in Cup. I wanted to change that. I wanted to be a winner. I couldn’t stand the thought of how the Waltrip family history would read after NAPA’s “No Thanks”: One brother 84 wins, 3 championships. The other brother, zero and zero. Sure, I was the sweeter, taller, and better-looking brother, but they don’t put that in the record books.”

This was a surprisingly inspiring book to read. Of course, there are some very sad parts as there usually are in people’s lives, but what comes through is Michael’s gratitude for Dale Earnhardt and the other people who helped propel him to the successes he has enjoyed. After reading this, I am now an official fan of Michael Waltrip Racing. It was remarkable again, this year, on the 10th anniversary to the day of his first win, and also of Dale’s death, that Michael was a winner again at Daytona. He won the Camping World Truck Series race on February 18, 2011 at Daytona driving the #15 truck. This is such a great story, I would highly recommend this book to everyone, sports fans and especially race fans like me, who will never forget that day.

You can order it here: