By Bill Sullivan
ROSEVILLE, CA (1-7-11) – The 2011 season schedule for the Hoosier Racing Tires California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series has been officially slated by the office of Handy Racing Promotions Incorporated and each of the participating tracks in the series. The latest version of California’s premier series for 360 cubic inch powered winged sprint cars is sure to produce a stellar chase for the coveted statewide championship title as it raises the stakes significantly in the season to come.
This year, the Hoosier Tires sponsored series will compete for more than $250,000 over the year and an outstanding championship fund of $40,000 in championship funds is in place with $10,000 of that amount earmarked for the 2011 Civil War Series Champion alone. Additional contingency awards throughout the year are expected to exceed the $30,000 mark in various products as well.
The 2011 Civil War Sprint Car Series will consist of 14 events at six of California’s best known race tracks that have all experienced the thrill of Civil War Sprint Car Racing in year’s past. The hosts of this tour span Northern California from the Sierra Foothills to the Wine Country and the Coastal Region. Every regular Civil War Series event will pay $2000 to the winner and $300 to start the 22 car A-feature.
As it has in years past, the Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Series will begin on Saturday, March 19 at the famed quarter-mile clay bullring track in the foothills, Placerville Speedway. Placerville will host a total of four events in the season to come, returning on April 30, July 2, and for the series finale on September 24 which will be bannered as the annual “Tribute to Al Hinds” event that pays $3000 to win.
In addition to the Tribute to Al Hinds event, another notable event for the Civil War Series at Placerville Speedway will fall on the July 2 event when Placerville Speedway joins forces with the El Dorado County Fairgrounds to celebrate Independence Day at the races which will be followed by a giant fireworks display.
Petaluma Speedway will be the second track the Civil War Series will visit on the schedule. The famed 3/8 mile tacky track on the Sonoma-Marin County Fairgrounds will host three events during the year. The first will be on Saturday April 9 followed by return visits on July 9 and July 23 .
Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico will be home to three Civil War Series events in the year ahead. The winged warriors will take to the Chico clay on Friday night May 13 followed by the special Memorial Day weekend race during the Silver Dollar Fair on Sunday, May 29 and the famed Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational on Wednesday night, September 7. This event will bring the top 32 drivers in the current Civil War Series standings to the opener for the high profile Gold Cup Race of Champions.
The tour will travel north to the track that always welcome’s the Civil War Winged Warriors with open arms, American Valley Speedway in Quincy on June 18th. This event will include an open competition race on the Friday night prior and is always a great race for the teams with a racer bbq for drivers that chose to travel to the scenic facility one day prior to the event.
Calistoga Speedway is California’s largest dirt track, a flat half mile located in the scenic wine country on the Napa County Fairgrounds. This year the Civil War Series will return to the big track for the Calistoga Cup on Saturday, August 6th. During the off season new clay and new life has been brought into this historic dirt track and this event is surely one that race fans will enjoy as drivers reach new heights in speed in the shadow of the Napa Valley.
Ocean Speedway in Watsonville will host a pair of Civil War Series events in the season to come. The first event will be Friday night, July 8 and September 23. Both events will be run in conjunction with the track’s weekly Taco Bravo Championship Series to produce a hearty car count and exciting program as the track regulars take on the traveling warriors on the coastal range clay.
In 2010, more than 125 different team competed in various events in the traveling Civil War Series. The campaign consisted of 13 total events at six different California race tracks. Eight different drivers hoisted feature event trophies during the past season and one driver repeated in the form of a championship in grand fashion.
The Civil War series is proud to carry numerous contingency sponsors that will be detailed as the season nears. Inquiries for co-title and associate sponsorship of this very visible series are also being entertained.
Those who are interested in becoming a contingency sponsor for the 2011 Civil War Series can contact the business office of Handy Racing Promotions at (916) 783-DIRT. To view the complete schedule for the Civil War Sprint Car Series visit the official website of the tour at www.civilwarsprints.com.