Phoenix, AZ — (August 24, 2014) — On Thursday, September 4th, the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series will return to Dennis Gage’s Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. Held during the “61st Gold Cup Race of Champions,” the third round of the “California Sprint Week” will also feature the Honda USAC Western and BCRA Midgets. The Pit Gates at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds will open at 2:00pm, the Spectator Gates will open at 5:00pm, with Racing set to begin at 7:00pm.
Paying $2,750-to-win and $350-to-start, the event will mark the second appearance of USAC/CRA at the popular 1/4-mile oval. On September 8, 2011, NASCAR’s Kyle Larson raced to his first series win aboard Brent Kaeding’s #99 Stadelhofer Construction Maxim. On that night, “The Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild set the track record of 13.600 in Paul Silva’s #57 Silva Motorsports ART.
In April 1989, Silver Dollar Speedway hosted the original California Racing Association for two nights of action that were won by Jerry Meyer in Bruce Bromme’s #3 Nance. Famed drivers “BK” Brent Kaeding, John Redican, Brad Noffsinger, “The Flying Shoe” Ron Shuman, Tim Green, “The Tempe Tornado” Lealand McSpadden, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, and J.J. Yeley have also claimed the checkered flags at Chico.
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS: Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway has a strict 90db at 100 feet state mandated sound rule. The Flowmaster “Suitcase” (Part 53545-USAC) is the track legal muffler and if the sound levels are broken, the racer will be disqualified and not allowed to compete. Per series rules, all fuel-injected 410 and 360 powered sprint cars must run the Hoosier 105/16 Medium Right Rear Tire and all four corners must be Hoosier. Cars must pass a tech inspection, drag links and tie-rods must be steel with steel rod-ends, and one-way radios are mandatory for drivers. USAC/CRA charges a $25 entry fee to all competitors, which includes a transponder rental. Carbureted spec sprints are welcome to race with USAC/CRA and can still use their track legal Hoosier tires. USAC/CRA follows the National Series Rule Book, which can be found at www.usacracing.com/assets/files/rules/2014/2014_Appendix_C_National_Sprint.pdf.
At press time, “The Demon” Damion Gardner of Concord, California holds a 155 point advantage over the competition. Driving Mark Alexander’s #4 Scott Sales Company / J&D Performance Spike, Gardner earned his seventh victory of the year at the August 16th “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” at Perris. To date, the two-time and defending champion has four Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, ten heat race victories, eleven top-10 finishes, and 154 feature laps led. “The World’s Fastest Sprint Car Driver” will be looking to continue his championship bid as he goes for his 54th USAC/CRA victory.
Temecula, California’s Mike Spencer is second in the championship point standings. Piloting Ron Chaffin’s #50 Grubstake Mini Storage / Madera Produce Maxim, Spencer earned his 57th career Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award and scored nineteenth in the Perris feature. Currently, the five-time champion has five fast time awards, one feature win, two heat race victories, one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one Keizer Wheels / Racing Optics Hard Charger Award, nine top-10 finishes, and 51 feature laps led on the season. Mike will have his sights on adding Silver Dollar Speedway to his win list.
Nic Faas of Huntington Beach, California is a close third in the USAC/CRA point chase. Racing Keith Ford’s #73 Berry Pack / King Racing Products Spike, Faas ran eighteenth in the “California Racers Hall of Fame Night” main event. To date, the former USAC Western Midget Champion has three heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 1 feature lap led to his credit. At press time, it was announced that Kevin Thomas Jr. and Robert Ballou are scheduled to drive the JFM entries at Calistoga’s “Louie Vermeil Classic.”
Sitting fourth in the USAC/CRA point standings is Yorba Linda, California’s Matt Mitchell. Driving his #37 Campbell Bros. Storage / Pit Boss Maxim, Mitchell took fifth at Perris Auto Speedway. Currently, the 2-time “Salute to Indy” winner has one feature win, two heat race victories, seven top-10 finishes, and 35 feature laps led in the campaign. Matt will be looking to earn the $2,750 payday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds.
After running third at Perris, Austin Williams of Yorba Linda, California has climbed to fifth in points. Piloting Jack Jory’s #2 John Jory Corporation / AMA Plastics Spike, Williams has one feature win, one heat race victory, six top-10 finishes, and 48 feature laps led on the season. The 2009 Rookie of the Year scored a win Petaluma on June 28th and will have his sights on his first Chico win.
Currently eleventh in points, Yorba Linda’s Logan Williams leads the chase for Rookie of the Year honors. Snohomish, Washington’s Gary Taylor, Cody Swanson of Norco, and Verdemont Heights’ Chris Gansen are also in contention.
Among the other drivers expected to be in action are Brody Roa, “The Cadillac” Cody Williams, Richard Vander Weerd, Jake Swanson, “The Kruser” Cory Kruseman, Ryan Bernal, Jace Vander Weerd, Ronnie Gardner, D.J. Johnson, Bud Kaeding, Colby Copeland, Jim Richardson, and more.
Silver Dollar Speedway is located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds at 2357 Fair Street in Chico, California. Advance tickets are on sale with 4-day and single day tickets available for the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Thursday’s Reserved tickets are $30, General Admission tickets are $15, and Kids tickets (11 & Under) are FREE. For more information, visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com or call (530) 350-7275.
To catch all of the action of the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, Loudpedal Productions has DVD videos available for purchase. For more information, call (805) 407-7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Circle Track Performance, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Engler Machine & Tool, Extreme Mufflers, Huntington Beach Glass & Mirror, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Racing Optics, Rod End Supply, Rugged Radios, Saldana Racing Products, Weld Racing, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at lwjennings@earthlink.net.
For more information on the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/USAC-CRA-Sprint-Car-Series/167535183297971) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/USAC_CRA).