By Bill Sullivan, Handy Racing Promotions Inc. Communication Director
CHICO, CA (8-14-10) – The 2010 Feather Falls Casino championship is winding down to it’s final weeks and the one and only Silver Dollar Speedway and this Friday night is one of the biggest events of the year for the smallest of race fans. It’s Kid’s Night at Silver Dollar Speedway, one of the greatest evenings of affordable family entertainment in the North State.
This Friday night, all children ,11 and under, get free admission to the grandstands at Silver Dollar Speedway. The freebies don’t stop there, in addition to the complimentary gate entrance; all youngsters will also be offered free popcorn and soda courtesy of Handy Racing Promotions and Pepsi Cola. During intermission the young ones have the opportunity to step into the spotlight as Silver Dollar Speedway will host bicycle races by age group on the race track surface.
The top three finishers in each of the bike races will receive a trophy for their efforts and everyone who competes is awarded a participation ribbon. Once the family fun filled bicycle races are concluded a brand new bicycle will be raffled off to ton lucky child in the grandstands.
“This is one of the greatest nights for families to come to the speedway,” said former Silver Dollar Speedway champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn. As a youngster, Forsberg competed in the annual Kids’ Night festivities with many of his counterparts. Today he joins with the other drivers in assisting the youngsters with the bike races. “It’s always great to see the look in the kid’s eyes when they sit on the starting line with the cheering crowd. Times are tough right now, this is the perfect night to bring the kids to the races, they get in free and have a great time.”
Friday night will feature four divisions at Silver Dollar Speedway in the weekly championship series presented by Feather Falls Casino, Hoosier Tires West, Riebes Auto Parts and Pepsi Cola. The fire breathing Winged 410 Sprint Cars will headline the program along with the Dirt Modifieds. The Dirt Solutions Limited Late Models are set to make a return visit along with the colorful coupes of the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars.
While the season is winding down the race for the track championship is heating up. Chico’s own Jason York leads the championship point standings entering Saturday’s event. York is a 2000 track champion at Silver Dollar Speedway and has competed in all 10 events so far this season. He has three top five finishes this year and sits 14-points in the lead over Tyler Wolf of Redding. Mark Hall of Grass Valley is third in the standings, the former Marysville Raceway Park champion has claimed a feature event win this season and sits 25-points out of the lead. Brett Miller of Chico, another one time winner this year, is fourth overall and holds off young Chico ace Kenny Allen, the 2009 Rookie of the Year at Placerville Speedway and the Civil War Sprint Car Series.
In the Dirt Modifieds, Randy McDaniel of Olivehurst is at the helm of a heated battle for the 2010 Silver Dollar Speedway Championship. McDaniel has won three feature events this season and has finished in the top five on all but one occasion this year. He leads the point standings by a mere 6 points over Darin Ruley of Chico. Wade Kennemore of Susanville is third in the standings, 17-points out of the lead. Defending track champion Mark Abouzied of Chico is fourth in the standings. Abouzied has claimed one feature win this season but has had his share of misfortune setting him back in his quest for a repeat title with a 52-point deficit between first place and himself. John Abbott of Chico rounds out the top five in this division.
In the Dirt Solutions Limited Late Model class look for former winner Jerry Bartlett of Yuba City to return. The 2009 Placerville Speedway champion that is known to most as “Mr. Controversy” is sure to bring his controversial, elbows up exciting driving style back to the banks of Silver Dollar Speedway along with the likes of his arch rival Matt Micheli, former wingless racer David Larabee of Chico is a likely entrant along with Les Friend of Galt and, George Magenheimer, Thomas Arbogast and more.
Friday night will bring the always exciting Nor Cal Dwarf Cars back to the Silver Dollar clay. This traveling division tours Northern California and is one of the most entertaining guest divisions at any track where they compete. The motorcycle engine powered miniature coupes are an ideal division to compete on “Kids’ Night” at Silver Dollar Speedway.
Friday night the grandstands at Silver Dollar Speedway will open at 6 p.m. with qualifying starting at 6:30 followed by racing at 7. Adult tickets will be $12, juniors and seniors $10, all children 11 and under are admitted for free for this night of racing. For complete point standings and further information on this upcoming event visit the track website at www.silverdollarspeedway.com.
As championship point racing winds down to it’s final weeks at Silver Dollar Speedway, it only means one thing; the 57th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions is rapidly approaching. This annual event is known as “The Biggest Little Sprint Car Race in the World” and it all takes place September 8, 9, 10 and 11th at Silver Dollar Speedway.
The 2010 Gold Cup Race of Champions is an event that any avid race fan will not want to miss. On Wednesday, September 8 it all starts with the Civil War Sprint Car Series Gold Cup Invitational along with the Wingless Sprint Car Stars of the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Shootout Series and the Mighty Midgets of the Bay Cities Racing Association as they return to the Gold Cup opener with the BCRA Western Midget Spectacular. All seating on Wednesday night will be general admission.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the best drivers in the nation will comet together for three big night of racing on the Silver Dollar clay. Race fans can witness top national drivers like Steve “The King” Kinser, Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Jac Haudenschild and many more as they take on the best of the west in this three day event that culminates with the $50,000 to win Gold Cup feature event on Saturday night, September 11.
Three day tickets are currently on sale as well as single day tickets. Tickets may be purchased through the track business office at (916) 969-7484. Three day ticket packages are $130, single day tickets are $40 for both Thursday and Friday night and $50 for Saturday night. In addition to the racing the Gold Cup Race of Champions will bring a number of after race events to race fans. It starts on Thursday night when Kronik Energy presents the sounds of “Double Funk Crunch” live in the Silver Dollar Pavilion at 10 p.m.
This electrifying versatile party band has entertained for some of the country’s biggest corporations including Yahoo, Google and event the President of the United States. Discount tacos, beer and sodas will be part of the family friendly happy hour affair that is free to all race fans, teams and drivers.
On Friday night the famed Joe Hunt Magnetos Chili Feed and Miss Gold Cup Bikni Contest will rock the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. The Miss Gold Cup Bikini Contest pays $1000 to the winner and $50 to each entrant. A limited number of entries are available and can be obtained at silverdollarspeedway.com or through the track business office.
For more information on all the upcoming events at Silver Dollar Speedway visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com. or call the track business office at (916) 969-7484. You can also learn more aboutn Silver Dollar Speedway by visiting the Chico Farmer’s Market on Thursday night’s in downtown Chico, stop by and pick up a coupon for an upcoming event at the one and only, Silver Dollar Speedway.