By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – January 30, 2011…The very first Winged Sprint Car event of the 2011 season in California is getting set to fire off with the inaugural appearance of the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour at Tulare’s Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway on Wednesday February 9.
The American Sprint Car Series is celebrating its 20th year of action and is coming off a season that saw the National Tour average nearly 60 drivers an event and featured 19 different winners throughout the campaign.
The overall point fund for the Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprints is set at $250,000, with the winner of the championship awarded with a solid $60,000. The event at Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway will also mark the season-opener for the tour and is expected to feature a strong field in attendance, along with a number of home state competitors on hand.
The California contingent vying to keep the money in the Golden State is expected to be led by a number of drivers including San Jose’s Tim Kaeding, Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson and Easton’s Tommy Tarlton, three drivers coming off fantastic seasons and who always run well at the Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway.
Driving for Central Valley based Roth Motorsports “TK” last season grabbed three victories at the 1/3 mile clay oval, including the final night of the Trophy Cup, in which he and Larson had a tremendous duel for the win. The former Golden State 410 Series champion picked up a total of 15 wins on the West Coast last year.
Last season’s Golden State 410 Sprint Car Series champion Larson will throw his name into the mix on February 9 competing for Finley Farms Racing. The 18-year-old had a great year in 2010, becoming the youngest Golden State 410 champion ever and scoring nine overall wins on the year, including the annual Cotton Classic in October at Hanford.
Tarlton is fresh off a year that saw him claim his second consecutive Taco Bravo Ocean Sprints championship, winning four main events along the way. The driver of the Corporate America Lending No. 21 mount also raced to a pair of wins with the Golden State 410 Series, during what was one of the finest seasons of his career.
Reigning ASCS National Rookie of the Year Kyle Hirst is also set to be on hand February 9, as he makes his maiden voyage aboard the Smitty Boys Racing No. 14s sprinter. Hitting the road with ASCS last season the 23-year-old finished eighth in the series standings and has come home for 2010 driving for Steve Smith, who won the Civil War Series owner title last year.
Other California drivers expected to be on hand include three-time USAC Silver Crown champion Bud Kaeding of Campbell, five-time and defending California Sprint Car Civil War Series champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn, Placerville’s Andy Gregg, Sacramento’s Willie Croft, Princeton’s Mason Moore, Visalia’s Steven Tiner and more.
Eunice, Louisiana’s Jason Johnson will open up his title defense on February 9 behind the wheel of the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 machine. The now two-time ASCS National champion raced to five wins with the series last season and also made an appearance at the Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway in October, finishing fourth in the standings at Trophy Cup.
After finishing runner up in the Lucas Oil ASCS National points last year Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon will look to put his name towards the front of the championship chase in 2011 aboard the Tel-Star Communications No. 99 mount. Like Johnson, the youngster also competed at last October’s Trophy Cup, but finished one spot short of making Saturday’s feature.
Bixby, Oklahoma’s Shane Stewart will be searching to take back the Lucas Oil ASCS National crown after finishing third in the standings last year, while driving the California based Paul Silva Motorsports No. 57 entry. The 2009 ASCS National titlist has had success in the past at Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway and will hope for more of the same on February 9.
Other Lucas Oil ASCS National contenders expected to be in action will include Jack Dover, Tim Crawley, Tony Bruce Jr., Zach Chappell, Gary Wright, Johnny Herrera, Jeff Swindell, Danny Wood, Dustin Morgan and more.
After competing at the Thunderbowl the Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Cars will then head right down the road to Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford for an event on Saturday February 12.
For more info on the American Sprint Car Series log onto http://www.ascsracing.com
The front gate will open at 4pm with racing scheduled to kick off around 6 on Wednesday February 9. All seating will be reserved with adult bleacher tickets costing $30 and grandstands $35. Kids 6-12 will be $15 in the bleachers and $18 in the grandstands. Children 5 and under are free.
Upcoming events- Following the ASCS National event the Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway will then be back in action with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series on Saturday March 19. The best of the best in 410 Sprint Car racing will be in competition, including defending series champion Jason Meyers of nearby Clovis.
The Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway is a 1/3 mile clay oval and is located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds in Tulare, California. More information can be found by contacting (559) 688-0909 or by logging onto http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com