By Bill Sullivan
PLACERVILLE, CA (4-8-11) –After weeks of rain outs and cancellations in the wake of Mother Nature’s wrath, it’s finally time to go dirt track racing in the sierra foothills this weekend as the famed Placerville Speedway opens is 46th consecutive season at the EL Dorado County Fairgrounds with two consecutive nights of fast and furious dirt track racing presented by Handy Racing Promotions Incorporated.
For the first time in recent history, the championship point racing season will open on a Friday night at the end of this work week with the first championship point race of the season. In this special make up opening event, look for drivers from El Dorado and Amador Counties to converge at the clay bullring along with top drivers from the Central Valley and beyond. Winged 360 sprint cars will be at the top of the race card along with Pure Stocks and the ferocious Dirt Solutions Limited Late Models that will begin a mini series in conjunction with Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway.
Following the Friday night opener, racing resumes on Saturday night with the exciting Midgets and Midget Lites of the Bay Cities Racing Association in action along with the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprints Car Series and the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars. This night will be a very special one for the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars as they race to raise awareness for Crohn’s Disease, an illness suffered by one of their very own, Kady Munroe, who’s parents Frank and Janet Munroe have been fixtures within the Nor Cal group since its very beginning.
To review the season to come at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, a total of 24 events will complete the full season schedule at Placerville Speedway in 2011. The majority of these events will be point racing events the three weekly divisions will compete for championship point funds in the year to come in excess of $20,000 allocated for the year end payouts for the championship chase.
In addition to the weekly championship program that begins this Friday, Placerville Speedway will host a number of special events this year with boosted winnings and impressive showdowns on one of the state’s oldest dirt tracks nestled in the heart of the Gold County, Wine County and so much more. Such events will include the annual Mark Forni Classic. This annual event pays $5,000 to win in honor of the late long time car owner, sponsor and fair board member.
Once again, for a driver to be eligible to compete on this night they must compete in six previous point races or Civil War races at Placerville Speedway prior to the Forni Classic. For each point race drivers compete in they will be awards one point towards their Mark Forni Classic eligibility. Every driver with six eligibility points prior to the event will be eligible for the high pay off, should he or she claim the victory on July 17th.
Placerville Speedway will play host to the Civil War Series four different times this year. This 14 race series will make four appearances at Placerville throughout the year, the first appearance of the year will be April 30th followed by the always exciting Wild Winged Wednesday on June 8 and a July 2 visit to Placerville Speedway that will feature Independence weekend fireworks. Placerville will also host the championship finale that will crown the champion and close the season on September 24th with the famed Tribute to Al Hinds. The day includes a huge area car show and free fan bbq that will be presented by Thompson’s Toyota in 2011 as they work to continue a tradition in El Dorado County following the closure of Family Chevrolet in Shingle Springs which has hosted the event since it was founded.
The first ever Nationally recognized American Sprint Car Series event is set to take place on the tight quarter mile later this summer. The event will bring the nations’ best 360 sprint car drivers together with California’s best for two big days of racing for the Gold Country Nationals on July 29th and 30th. This event is just the beginning for Placerville Speedway as the historic speedway makes it’s transition to align its rules to that of the popular ASCS tour over the next two years.
Not only will this event bring high octane racing to the foothill speedway with drivers from various areas of the United States, it will also bring increased tourism to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds and the surrounding communities. El Dorado offers a wide variety of tourism attractions ranging from local wine tasting, camping, bed and breakfast’s and much more. With two big days of racing in town area hotels, campgrounds and business establishments will enjoy the economical boost the racing community will bring to this great county.
Mountain Democrat Kids night returns to the speedway on Saturday, August 13. This night will feature children’s bicycle races and free admission for youngsters. The event will take place in conjunction with the annual Placerville Police Officers Association Destruction Derby that takes place the next day at the fairgrounds. In addition to free admission to the speedway that night, youngsters will also receive complimentary tickets to the annual derby courtesy of the local law enforcement agency.
Throughout the season a variety of guest divisions will join the weekly divisions at Placerville Speedway. Among the list of visiting divisions will be the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Car Series. This year the wingless warriors will compete in three different events at Placerville Speedway in a special point series that includes events at Marysville Raceway Park and Silver Dollar Speedway. Both Handy, MRP Promoter Paul Hawes and Silver Dollar Speedway have come together to promote one of California’s most popular divisions with a well rounded campaign.
The Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will return to Placerville Speedway during 2011 for seven events. The Bay Cities Racing Association will bring both their Midget and Midget Lites to the facility throughout the year as well with the traditional Midgets making three overall visits and the Midget Lites making four appearances.
Once of the most exciting nights that the BCRA will be in action is on August 6 when they will share the spotlight with the highly anticipated United States Auto Club (USAC) Western Classic Series. This will mark the inaugural visit to Placerville Speedway for this action packed wingless sprint car series with many top wingless competitors expected to form the roster on a night titled “A Tribute to Mike McCreary.”
As a new season begins at Placerville Speedway Saturday night, all three champions from 2010 are expected to return to defend their titles in the new season. Auburn’s Andy Forsberg will return in the winged sprint car division aboard a new team for the driver known as Mr. Excitement. Forsberg has teamed with the veteran F&F Racing team and will drive the #X1 sprint car this year as he guns for another track title.
In the Limited Late Model Division, look for Dan Brown Jr. of Grass Valley to return. Brown will be aboard his family owned #5x in the hunt for another track title. In the Pure Stock division, Chris Curtiss of Placerville returns to defend his first track championship last year. Curtiss will field a two car team this year with his wife, Megan Curtiss driving the second team car as the first husband-wife duo to compete against one another in this division.
Some 50 drivers or more are expected to pack the pit area Saturday afternoon for the season opener. This event has been much anticipated by area race fans that have been homebound for many months in one of the hardest winters in the last decade in the Sierra Foothills. The long winter has taken its toll on the facility at Placerville Speedway and personell from Handy Racing Promotions and the El Dorado County Fairgrounds will be teaming together in the dry days ahead to prepare everything at the speedway for a great night of racing from the track surface, to the hot buttered popcorn, hand dipped corndogs and the always refreshing Coors Light and Pepsi Cola.
On Friday night, the grandstands at Placerville will open one hour later than normal at 6 p.m. followed by qualifying at 7 an racing at 7:30. On Saturday, the grandstands at will open at 5 p.m. with qualifying beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by heat races at 7. On both nights Adult tickets will be $13, Juniors and Seniors will be $11, Children $6. Those five and under will be admitted for free. All seating at Placerville Speedway is first come-first serve once the grandstands open.
For the complete 2011 racing schedule at Placerville Speedway, visit the track’s official website at www.placervillespeedway.com. Race fans are also encouraged to join Placerville Speedway on facebook to interact with other fans, staff and competitors. For additional information contact the track business office at their new phone number (916) 783-DIRT or email them at info@placervillespeedway.com.