From Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA — (October 6, 2014) — What started back in April will officially come to end this Friday night October 10, with the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo geared up to cap the 2014 season in style at the Ocean Speedway on championship night.
The most recent event on September 19 saw Watsonville’s Justin Sanders become the ninth different winner in 12 races this year, following a thrilling late race battle. By doing so, Sander’s also moved up to a season-high third in the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo standings going into the finale and has been one of the hottest drivers as of late.
The man of the hour going into Friday however is certainly Fremont’s Shane Golobic, who is looking to wrap up his second Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo title. The 23-year-old earned the Taco Bravo championship in 2012 while diving for Steve Osborne Motorsports and is searching to give current car owner Keith Day his second crown as well. Keith’s brother Ronnie drove to the title in 2011 aboard the familiar Keith Day Trucking No. 22 mount.
Golobic has scored one victory on the season and has tallied a trio of Ray Scheidts Electric Fast Time Awards throughout the course of the year. His impressive consistency has kept him out front for much of the campaign and comes into the finale possessing a 74-point advantage in the standings. One of his key nights came in May when he took the Nobel Construction Back Row Challenge and charged from 22nd to third. Since then it’s been clear sailing for the San Jose State graduate.
When it comes to history, Golobic is also gunning to become the third driver win two championships with the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, joining Brent Kaeding and Tommy Tarlton.
After claiming Rookie of the Year in 2012 Lemoore’s Carson Macedo is looking to lock up the second spot in the Ocean Sprints standings on Friday night. The 18-year-old recent World of Outlaws winner has been as equally impressive when it comes to consistency this season, having finished among the top-five in all but two events. Macedo has been knocking on the door, but is still searching for his first Taco Bravo victory and he’ll look to check it off on Friday.
Completing his first full season of action with the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto goes into Friday ranking fourth in the standings. The talented competitor has been impressive all season long and is coming off a fourth place finish during the most recent event on September 19. Reigning champ Brad Furr rounds out the top-five in points and is looking to rebound after a tough outing at the last event. The Stockton wheel-man has two wins this season and leads the Ocean Sprints with four fast time efforts.
Drivers rounding out the top-10 in the Ocean Sprints standings and looking for solid efforts at the finale this Friday will include Salinas’ Jason Chisum, Gilroy’s Kurt Nelson, Fresno’s Koen Shaw & Anthony Simone and Salinas’ Jeremy Chisum.
More possibilities for championship night include sevent-time Civil War Series champ Andy Forsberg of Auburn, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, Laton’s Heath Duinkerken, Fremont’s Dustin Golobic, Riverdale’s Landon Hurst, Hanford’s DJ Netto & Collin Markle, Visalia’s Steven Tiner, Corralitos’ Jerry Bonnema, San Jose’s Nick Ringo Jr & Nicholas Ringo, San Francisco’s Nick Recsino Jr., San Jose’s Nick Green, Hollister’s Tomas Bray Scully and others.
The front gate at the Ocean Speedway will open at 4:30pm this Friday night October 10 with hot laps at 5:15pm, qualifying around 6pm and racing to follow. All seating will be general admission with adult tickets costing $17, seniors 65 & older $16, children 6-12 $13 and kids five and under free. A family pack featuring two adults and two kids is available for $55. The Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California with the physical address being 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Ocean Speedway & the Ocean Sprints would like to thank Taco Bravo, High Five Pizza, Nobel Construction, Ray Scheidt’s Electric, Beer Optics, B Scadden Designs, Hoosier Tires West and Kaeding Performance for their support.
For more information on the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo log onto http://www.oceansprints.com and for more on the Ocean Speedway check out http://www.oceanspeedway.com