From Bill Sullivan, Civil War Series Media Director
Antioch, CA — (March 26,2013) –– After being absent for several long years, the best 360 cubic inch sprint car teams are returning to the likes of the East Bay this weekend as Antioch Speedway welcomes the return of the Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Sprint Car Series this Saturday night, March 30th.
The 3/8 mile banked oval known as Antioch Speedway has been dominated over the years by stock car,dirt modified and wingless events forming their season long schedule, however this season the winged warriors return much to the area open wheel fans that have longed for the wheel to wheel competition this traveling campaign brings to every event in which it competes.
Saturday’s event will be the sole appearance for the Civil War Sprint Cars at Antioch Speedway and will become the opening segment of the 2013 championship series following the cancellation of the Marysville opener two weeks ago. Drivers and race fans alike are geared up for the new war to begin with the best of the west going head to head starting this weekend.
Saturday’s race is the first Civil War series event at six different venues in the season to come for the Civil War Series and is surely a race not to be missed as this series places California’s best race teams on some of the areas most competitive tracks to determine who will become the lone warrior at the conclusion of the 2013 tour.
The Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Sprint Car Series is a unique championship campaign managed by Handy Racing Promotions in conjunction with those tracks participating in the series. Each of the tracks that host this competitive tour during the season agree that their 360 sprint car division will “go dark” on the dates in which the series participates at one of the tracks on the tour.
This program format has proven successful over the last two decades and allows a driver to compete for the prestige of a championship title in a traveling campaign without forfeiting the same opportunities at his or her weekly track. At the same time the format produces impressive car counts for each race that pays a minimum of $2000 to the winner excluding bonus and additional contingency winnings, all of which will be unveiled this weekend in Marysville.
Topping the entry list Saturday night will be defending Civil Was Series champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn. Forsberg garnered his seventh Civil War Series Championship last year and will look to kick start his pursuit of the title this Saturday night.
Colby Wiesz of Colfax chased Forsberg to the crown last season in the Civil War Series campaign. Wiesz is expected this Saturday night with the likes of former series champion Greg DeCaires who placed third overall last year over Princeton’s Mason Moore. In addition to last year’s fab four look for area driver Bradley Terrell of Sebastapol to be in competition as well defending Rookie of the Year Koen Shaw, Jeremy Burt, Robert Stice and Richard Bailey to name a few.
Former series champion Sean Becker is also expected to be on hand as he returns full time to the series to chase his arch rival Forsberg for another championship crown. Some 30 different teams are excepted Saturday night and the playing field is leveled as the Antioch racing surface will be new to everyone on the Civil War tour.
Antioch Speedway is located on the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds at the corner of 10th and L Streets in Antioch and can be reached at 925-779-9220 or online at www.racemerced.com for additional information.
To view the complete schedule for the Civil War Sprint Car Series visit the official website of the tour at www.civilwarsprints.com.