From MRP
Reno NV- Promoters Paul and Kathy Hawes, and Race Director Craig Hall were among several Marysville Raceway Park associates and staff that attended this week’s RPM Promoter’s Workshop in Reno, Nevada. Tuning in on the latest news from the world of short track racing around the United States, promoter Paul Hawes has fashioned a significantly more exciting schedule at MRP this year than the track has seen in decades. The season, with an ever-vigilant eye on MRP’s primary divisions, will be peppered with intriguing special event offerings. Facility improvements, food and beverage quality and a “total fan” experience are also on tap for those who come to the raceway as spectators. MRP will be the place to be on Saturday nights starting in March.
The wildly popular Winged 360 Sprint Cars will continue to headline point racing competition at the venerable clay oval for 2012. The resurgent MRP Super Stocks and the MRP Mini Stocks will also be featured performers on a regular basis in year long point racing competition. The MRP Super Stocks will, of course, also be headlined in season beginning and ending open shows as well. The Pro 4 Sprint Car Series will return with a full season of dates for the quick, winged 4-bangers. The speculation that the MRP Hobby Stocks might not return was quashed and they will return for their sophomore season with a number of new cars expected in MRP’s extremely economical, entry-level stock car class.
From a scheduling perspective though, the parade of special events that will march through Marysville this season features a diverse, eye-popping array of shows. While it likely will be a couple weeks until it is official and available, the schedule will include the following:
After careful examination and negotiation MRP will once again host the California Sprint Car Civil War Series. California’s premiere winged 360 sprint car series is currently being looked at for multiple dates. Marysville Raceway Park was among the first tracks to ever feature the series that debuted during the1993 season. In its 19th season the Civil War will gain strength in car count and quality of the traveling teams, all positive motivational factors in bringing the series back to MRP. It will be the first races for the Civil War Series at MRP since promoter Hawes’ complete refurbishment of the facility during the last few years.
Former Marysville promoter Mel Hall, who passed on in 1999 was one of the founding fathers of the California Sprint Car Civil War Series. For the first time, in his honor, this year’s Mel Hall Memorial Race will be a California Sprint Car Civil War Series event. It will be the most prestigious stop on the circuit. This gala event is tentatively scheduled during the Memorial Day weekend. All of the other winged sprint car tracks in northern California will go dark and allow their cars to travel to MRP for this date. MRP will host an amazing number of quality cars and star drivers from the series. MRP’s professionals will also saddle up and challenge the Civil War stars in these events.
Another early season California Sprint Car Civil War event has been penned in for one of the opening races of the season for the Civil War. Like the Hall Race, all other tracks will be dark and this early season event will be filled with ready-to-go racers.
The 3rd Sherm Toller Classic for Sprint Cars will also be scheduled as an early season special featuring the Winged Sprinters and the MRP Wingless Warrior Spec Sprints. The season ending event for open wheelers, The 15th Gold Fever Open will also showcase the Winged and Wingless Sprint Cars.
For winged sprint car fans the beat goes on, as the King of the West (KWS) 410 Sprinters will make an early season stop at MRP. The virtually unlimited winged sprint car class will invade MRP with their outlaw sprinters bringing nationally recognized star drivers to a 100 MPH tussle in the clay.
At this writing, at least 4 Joe Hunt Magneto Wingless Sprint Car Shootout races have been scheduled. This will include the series’ final event that will crown the touring series champion.
This year promoter Hawes has teamed up with the fabulous “Gene Romero Flat Track Motorcycles” for what appears to be a late season date. It’s been 15 years since a traveling professional touring flat track, slide ‘em sideways bike show has made an appearance at MRP. MRP is a wild ride on 4 wheels. It should be a gas on only 2.
The 2nd Merle Shepherd Memorial race will be placed in its traditional August slot featuring MRP’s primary classes.
Promoter Hawes’ (who comes from a late model/modified stock car background as a driver) has penned a number of Limited Late Model Stock Car dates in addition to the full season of MRP Super Stock racing. The “bookend” dates for Late Model special events will open and close MRP’s fendered season. Before becoming one of short track racings best fielded winged sprint car tracks, MRP’s roots were covered with fenders. With MRP’s Stock Car racing heritage in mind promoter Hawes will once more bring in mid-season Late Model shows. Specific dates will be announced.
BCRA full midgets and Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will make appearances and the 17th West Coast Dwarf Car Nationals will be offered as a late season treat. A complete schedule will be announced as soon as promoter Hawes has finalized it. We are aware that many teams and fans are trying to make their plans for 2012. We will be prompt.
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Happy holidays…Marysville Raceway Park had a spectacular display of racecars in the recent Marysville Christmas Parade. We’ll be at the Olivehurst Christmas Parade this Saturday. Don’t miss it. C’mon out and say hi!