By Bob Burbach
Marysville- 3-time MRP Champion Winged Sprint Car driver Colby Wiesz will try for that illusive 50th victory during the Sherm Toller Memorial Race Saturday at Paul and Kathy Hawes’ Marysville Raceway Park. Wiesz will join some 40 other drivers in a 30-lap assault on the MRP clay in the final winged sprint car race of the 2011 season.
The race is a celebration of the life and a tribute to Sherm Toller, a long time associate of Marysville Raceway Park who worked feverishly on behalf of the raceway. He was the MRP infield voice for more than a decade.
Wiesz is a 3-time champion at MRP and a 6-time winner of the prestigious Mel Hall Memorial race. Wiesz will have some tough company at this classic event. With no other 360 events scheduled the field is will be packed with winged sprint car stars. While some may be bent on preventing Wiesz from grabbing #50, it’s likely that most will be there to scoop up their share of the generous purse. The $2000 to win plus contingencies is included in one of the highest payouts of the year at MRP. As an extra bonus, MRP is waiving all entry fees. There is a $45 pit pass.
Toller was a resident of Grass Valley. The winner of the 1st Sherm Toller Memorial Race Jeremy Burt is from Grass Valley and will be there to defend his title. MRP’s 2011 champion Billy Wallace is also from Grass Valley. Is there anything to it? Who knows. With no points on the line all the gloves are off. The 2011 Sherm Toller Memorial will be one to remember.
The Wingless Warrior Sprint Cars with a nice fat $1000 to win purse will also be on the program as well as the Pro 4 Sprinters. It will be the final open wheel race of the 2011 season.