By Bob Burbach
Marysville –Actually it’s hard to get all that’s going on at MRP this Saturday in the headline. It’s been a week of noteworthy events and sponsorship increases as MRP continues to move forward. Marysville’s Performance Auto Supply, long time participant and sponsor at MRP, announced today that they would pick up sponsorship of the MRP Winged Sprint Car Series for the rest of the year. Immediately after the announcement promoter Paul Hawes told this observer that the winner’s share for the feature event would be raised to $1200 starting this Saturday. In addition, the May 7th event will signal the return of “The Contingency Connection” bonus to the series. In addition to the $1200 in cash offered to the winner, some $1250 in additional contingency awards will be given to the winner. The winner must carry the decals submitted by The Contingency Connection in order to receive the bonus. Also this Saturday, national sponsor WIX Oil Filters has included MRP in their “100 Nites of Racing”. Saturday night is MRP’s night to shine. There will be additional WIX awards added to the racers purse and some great giveaways for the fans.
Paul and Kathy Hawes welcome the mighty Performance Auto Supply Winged Sprint Cars as the headliner as the MRP point season shifts into high gear. The Wingless Warrior Sprint Cars will also be on the card with the ever-popular MRP Mini Stocks. The new kids on the block, the MRP Hobby Stocks will cruise in for round 4 in their inaugural season. The 5-division program will also welcome the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars for their first look at MRP for 2011.
As it regards the Winged Sprint Car Series, the $1200 to win will be a guaranteed 1st place payoff weekly. Additional increases through the field will also be added as additional sponsorship, participation and car count increases in the class. As additional sponsorship dollars are offered for the class, that money will be distributed through the middle of the feature event finishing positions, according to promoter Hawes. After years in a racecar, and not always having up-front successes, promoter Hawes favors an even distribution of additional purse to those who can use it the most. This will continue to be policy regarding any additional sponsorship money that may be collected in the future by the raceway.
After a superb, captivating performance in the recent KWS 410 sprint car show at MRP, Korey Lovell will challenge point leader Billy Wallace in an effort to get to the top spot in the standings. Wallace carries a tenuous 9 point advantage into Saturday’s WIX “100 Nites of Racing”/Arnes’ Paint event over Lovell, MRP’s very own “5-time”. Brent Dothage, having endured consecutive mechanical setbacks in consecutive point races runs in 3rd place in the standings and will be itching for a win. Last time the 360s hit the track at MRP two drivers showed that 2011 could be their year. Veteran campaigners Brandon Dozier and a newly invigorated Robby Hight ran quick, clean and mistake free feature events last time out; Dozier won with Hight finishing 2nd. Both drivers were easily able to run away from the star-studded field. MRP’s Performance Auto Supply Winged Sprint Car series hasn’t looked this strong in quite some time. Dozier and Wallace are, so far, the only drivers who have won that are currently placed in the top 10.
This observer would be remiss if he didn’t mention the super smooth, super-fast efforts of rookie star William Fielding. “Chilly Willie” as he likes to be called has been a real treat to watch as he sharpens his skills in a sprint car after significant successes in outlaw kart racing. Fielding could easily become a superstar with the natural skills he seems to possess.
Johnny Reeves was the feature event winner last time the Wingless Warriors raced at MRP. Reeves took a wild flip up the back chute during his heat race but managed to repair the car for the feature. Reeves romped to a straightaway victory after he and his crew worked tirelessly to get his white #25 back in working order. Brett Youngman is hot on Reeves’ heels in the point standings as Youngman looks for his 1st feature event win. Ray Benkowski, Jeremy Hawes and Joel Giusti are all due and looking for victories in the “slide ‘em sideways” series.
Be there Saturday as the Yuba Sutter’s only professional sports stars face danger in every turn.
There is a logjam at the top of the MRP Mini Stock standings and it looks as if it’s not going to break apart anytime soon. You can throw a blanket over the top 3 in the standings. Shaun Merritt and Misty Castleberry are creating quite a stir among the fans that have watched this duo slug it out in all 3 races presented this season. Howard “The Lawman” Law has been hanging around and securing well-deserved top 5 finishes and is a real threat for the point lead. 8 points separate the trio with Castleberry atop the standings by 4 point over Merritt and the aforementioned 8 points over Law. Jimmy Ford and an ultra-quick Alan Furuta look to move up in Saturday’s event.
MRP Wingless Sprint Car hot shoe, Jeremy Hawes brings a 7-point lead into this Saturday’s Hobby Stock program that will feature the return of Mike Dehoogh to the series after being seriously burned in a practice incident 3 weeks ago. More new cars are waiting to debut in this entry-level stock car class. Josh Wilson is 2nd in points as this class hits the clay for only the 4th time ever.
As an extra-added attraction, the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will appear for the first time this season. Marysville’s Arnes Paints will also sponsor championship point racing action in all divisions.
The pit gate opens at 3pm on Saturday, the front gate will open at 5 and cars will be hitting the track for wheel packing around 5:30, with hot laps and racing to follow. Racing will begin at about 6.30
IMPORTANT: 2011 minor releases must be signed by parents for all minors entering the pits. Concessions will be available. All classes of racecar are invited to participate.