By Bill Sullivan, Racing for the Troops
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (3-18-10)- In auto racing every driver has a special track in their heart that they long remember and always look forward to returning to. For Elk Grove’s Bobby McMahan, one such track is Placerville Speedway. The veteran driver will return to the place where he began his sprint car racing career this Saturday night as one of two drivers representing the well known Racing for the Troops sprint car team.
McMahan will return to Placerville this Saturday night with teammate Kyle Harris of West Sacramento for the Hoosier Tires Civil War Series opener. For McMahan, Placerville Speedway is the track where he first raced a winged sprint car. For Harris, Placerville is one of many tracks that the young driver is learning to hone his skills in becoming a competitive sprint car driver in hopes to one day maintain a resume similar to that of McMahan.
The year was 1982 and very few area tracks were open to the idea of permitting newly licensed teens to compete in auto racing events. Today it is much different, many drivers begin racing as soon as they are tall enough to reach the pedals. For McMahan, Placerville Speedway played a key role in the launch of his successful racing career that continues to flourish today.
“I had raced quarter-midgets and wanted to move up to sprint cars but there weren’t many tracks around here that would let a 16-year-old kid race,” said McMahan. “Then we found out that Placerville Speedway was ok with it so my Dad got us a sprint car and we went racing at Placerville Speedway.”
That same year McMahan drove his way to the Rookie of the Year title in the sprint car division at Placerville. The time was just the beginning of a very successful racing career for McMahan. He went on to become one of the track’s most competitive drivers along with similar accolades at Baylands Raceway three years later.
In 1986 McMahan began competing with the Northern Auto Racing Club. While the California tour would draw him away from Placerville on a weekly basis the foothill quarter-mile was always a favorite to return to when the campaign made it’s annual stops here. He then went on to become a successful competitor with the USAC Western States Sprint Car Series before he stepped away from racing from 2003 until 2008 to spend time with his family and focus on the racing career of his son Sean.
Anyone who followed the racing scene last year is well away that McMahan is back in a very big way. He claimed the 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway Championship while his Racing for the Troops teammates Sean Becker and Harris each finished in the top ten as well. Becker claimed 5th in the track point standings and Harris finished 8th in his first full year of racing.
But 2009 wasn’t all about the numbers for McMahan and the entire team. It was the final year both McMahan and Harris raced in the company of their car owner Steve Harris who was battling cancer. During the off season Harris lost his courageous battle and this Saturday night will mark the team’s first time back on the track since his passing.
“It’s always special for me to go back to Placerville, that’s where I started racing,” said McMahan. “This is tough for all of us to be going back to racing without Steve by our side. He was a great man not only in racing but in business and as a husband and Father. Continuing on is what he wanted us to do and here we go. Last year we didn’t do real well at Placerville, it wasn’t Steve’s favorite track. Maybe he will be helping us out a little bit this time.”
Even more so than McMahan, Harris will be returning to the driver’s seat Saturday night with an incredible void in his life. For his entire childhood life Steve Harris supported his son’s racing career and kept him focused on a future in the sport. Beginning Saturday, Harris is ready to follow that lead.
“Last year was crazy for us, we were going in all different directions doing all different things,” said Harris. “We had to, my Dad was already beating the odds. But in that time he taught me to sit back and look at the big picture. He taught me to follow my dreams and look into the future and my future is in racing. I’m ready to follow that now.”
Becker will be in competition Saturday night as well but he will not be behind the wheel of a Racing for the Troops ride in this event. For the Civil War Series Becker will continue to pilot the Scott Miller #2sb sprint car but both teams are sure to confer and work together in the pit area.
Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team have a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises and Redline Oil.
The team is proud to continue it’s support of military veterans and active duty service members, educating the public on the needs of those returning from war and supporting activities which provide resources to America’s active military, veterans and their families. They invite all the race fans to their pit area following the races where both McMahan and Harris will have new t-shirts for sale. They look forward to meeting fans of all ages. You can earn more about the team’s mission by visiting their website at www.racingforthetroops.com.