By Gary Thomas
Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway – “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial Spring Shootout”
What:
The Cancen Oil KWS Series presented by Goodyear will head for a big double-header weekend at the always action-packed Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare this coming Friday & Saturday May 11 & 12. It will be just the second two-night show for local 410 Winged Sprint Car racing at the track since the year 2000 and all are excited for the weekend.
The event will be known as the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial Spring Shootout” and will also include a complimentary breakfast on Saturday morning at the fairgrounds for ticket & pit pass holders from the night before. The breakfast will be in building two from 8am to 10am. All you have to do is show your ticket stub or pit pass from Friday for the breakfast courtesy of KWS.
Camping is available at the Tulare County Fairgrounds and reservations can be made by contacting (559) 686-4707.
Defending “King of the West” Tim Kaeding leads the Cancen Oil KWS standings going into Tulare and will look to stretch the point lead while racing in his car owners’ backyard. “TK” also scored a World of Outlaws win at the Thunderbowl for Roth Motorsports in March, which was the only 410 event at the track so far this season.
He will face stiff challenges however, from drivers such as last week’s Bradway Memorial winner Jonathan Allard, 2010 Faria Memorial champ Kyle Larson, Hall of Famer Brent Kaeding, Central Valley favorite Tommy Tarlton, three-time Silver Crown champion Bud Kaeding, young star Rico Abreu and many more.
When:
On Friday & Saturday May 11 & 12 the front grandstand gate will open at 5pm. Hot laps are scheduled for 6pm, with qualifying at 6:30pm and racing anticipated to start around 7pm. Also on hand both nights will be the West Coast Wingless 360’s and IMCA Modifieds.
Where:
The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California. From the junction of SR 99 and SR 137, go west on SR 137. At South K go south one-half mile to the Fairgrounds. For directions visit http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=E+Bardsley+Ave+%26+S+K+St&city=Tulare&state=CA&zipcode=93274
Tickets:
Advance tickets for the weekend are on sale and be acquired by contacting the track ticket office at (559) 688-0909. Reserved grandstand seats cost $20 with general admission bleacher tickets $17. For a seating chart visit the track website at http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com
About the track:
The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is one-third mile clay oval with the all-time track record being 12.651, which was set by Tim Kaeding on March 5, 2010. In addition to this weekend the Cancen Oil KWS Series presented by Goodyear will also compete at the track on Saturday July 14 for the “John Anthony Sharp Memorial.”
Last year’s Faria Memorial at the Tulare Thunderbowl:
San Jose’s Tim Kaeding made an early pass of Tommy Tarlton and then held off a late surge from Jonathan Allard to pick up victory at the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” in Tulare. Allard tried hard to track down Kaeding, but clipped the wall coming to the white flag & got upside down. Tarlton finished second with Kyle Larson third, Jason Statler fourth and Roger Crockett fifth.
Top-15 in Cancen Oil KWS presented by Goodyear points going into Friday:
1. Tim Kaeding 633; 2. Jonathan Allard 623; 3. Brent Kaeding 581; 4. Bobby McMahan 578; 5. Evan Suggs 577; 6. Shane Golobic 547; 7. Jason Statler 543; 8. Peter Murphy 534; 9. Andy Gregg 527; 10. Willie Croft 518; 11. Craig Stidham 507; 12. Chad Compton 506; 13. Tyler Wolf 500; 14. Richard Brace Jr. 474; 15. Rico Abreu 394
Winners so far this season with KWS:
April 7 Antioch Speedway: Tim Kaeding; April 21 Marysville Raceway Park: Jonathan Allard; April 28 Placerville Speedway: Tim Kaeding; May 5 Silver Dollar Speedway: Jonathan Allard
Upcoming events for KWS:
Friday May 11 – Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial Spring Shootout”
Saturday May 12 – Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial Spring Shootout”
Saturday May 26 – Calistoga Speedway “Salute to Walt Ross”
Sunday May 27 – Calistoga Speedway “Tribute to Gary Patterson”
Saturday June 2 – Kings Speedway in Hanford “Pombo/Sargent Classic”
Friday June 8 – Silver Dollar Speedway “Road to Dirt Cup”
Saturday June 9 – Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford, OR “Road to Dirt Cup”
On the internet:
Cancen Oil King of the West Sprint Car Series presented by Goodyear-
Official Website- http://www.kwssprints.com
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Twitter- https://twitter.com/#!/KwsSprintRacing