by Troy Hennig
CHICO, CA – MARCH 19, 2012…Since winning an amazing 21 short track victories in 2011, including the Gold Cup Race of Champions, Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson is on the quick track to national stardom. In February of this year, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing signed the 19-year-old to a developmental contract, putting him on the path to a potential future in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
This year Larson already has won two pavement stock races and on March 17th will make his first visit to the famed Bristol Motor Speedway and race with the K & N Pro Series East. However, fans at Silver Dollar Speedway will get a glimpse of this racing phenom during the Silver Cup Race of Champions, March 9 and 10. Larson confirmed today that he will be leaving his North Carolina residence and flying back to California to race at Chico.
Larson will joined by numerous other winged 360 drivers. As of now Grass Valley’s Jason Statler, Fort Jones Dan Menne and Kapolei, HI driver Dean Freitas have all pre-entered. Local pre-entered drivers include Chico’s Mason Moore, Brad Bumgarner and Craig Swim.
The dirt modifieds will be led by regular standouts including Richard Papenhausen of Chico and the father son duo of Randy and Ryan McDaniel of Marysville. A total of eight Silver Dollar Speedway track titles have been won among the McDaniels and Papenhausen. A throng of Susanville area drivers are registered and include the likes of John Sloan, Nevin Kennemore, and Matt and Mitch Murphy.
The wingless sprints and street stocks will join the festivities. Saturday night of the Silver Cup will serve as a Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Shootout Series point race while the Street Stocks feature event winner will receive $500.
Pit gate opens up at 2pm on race days. Front grandstand will open at 5pm for both nights of racing. Friday night adult general admission ticket into the grandstands is $15.00 while juniors and seniors is $12.00. Saturday night’s grand finale will be $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for juniors and seniors. Children each night is $6.00. Kids five and under are free.
For more information please call the track office at (530)350-7275 or visit our website at www.silverdollarspeedway.com. The speedway has a site on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and add sdspeedway to receive current updates about the track.