By Bob Burbach
Marysville CA –Once again the powerful MRP Winged Sprint Cars will return to Marysville Raceway Park. The premiere division at MRP will be back with the MRP Wingless Warriors and the MRP Mini Stocks. This will be the last race left on the schedule for the winged cars before the annual California Sprint Car Civil War Series returns for the Mel Hall Memorial Race. The Mel Hall Memorial Race will be presented on Saturday May 25th. The west’s best winged 360’s will be in the house for that cornerstone event.
Last week Grass Valley’s Jeremy Burt extended his point lead the standings with his second wire to wire victory in the MRP Winged Sprint Car class. While Kelseyville’s Brent Dothage had mechanical issues last week, Spark’s Nevada’s Mike Monahan and Grass Valley’s Billy Wallace have moved closer to the top in the standings. Yuba City’s Korey Lovell has been very quick lately. The 5 time champ is in the hunt every week. Last week he and Wallace had some issues near the end that surely frustrated Lovell, the winner of 37 feature events at MRP. We’ll see how this shakes out Saturday.
Keep an eye on Woodland’s Peter Paulson, Oroville’s Heath Hall and Auburn’s favorite son Jimmy Steward this week. These drivers are all due for a trip to victory lane.
Legal Shield Winged Sprint Car Qualifying will post the weekly $100 for quick time, courtesy of Legal Shield representative Rod Engberson. This bonus will be offered in addition to the generous MRP cash purse and Contingency Connection bonuses for the winning driver.
Anderson California’s Rowdy McClenon will return Saturday to try to hold off a determined Jeremy Hawes of Marysville and surprisingly quick rookie contender Cameron Bartlett of Yuba City in the MRP Wingless Sprint Car Series title chase. McClenon confirmed that he will be at every event at MRP in 2013. Hawes and McClenon are having some stirring duels at the front lately. The wingless cars at MRP have produced some very close quarters, eye-popping racing.
Shaun Merritt of Marysville continues to lead Yuba City’s Howard Law in the MRP Mini Stock standings. Law and Merritt have each visited victory lane in their run for the title. Merritt has won twice. But, once again, 4 time champion Misty Castleberry may try for another visit to victory lane herself. Castleberry is set to run in the MRP Wingless Sprint Car class on the Saturday. It’s anybody’s guess as to whether she’ll roll out the Mini.
The popular MRP Hobby Stocks will push and bang their way around the MRP clay after a couple of weeks off. Jeremy Hammons is on the top of the heap in the point standings. The Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will be back after their very successful first visit to MRP earlier this season.
The pit gate opens at 3PM. Grandstands open at 5PM. Hot Laps are at 5:30 with qualifying scheduled for 6:15. Racing begins after qualifying.