In one week the 21st annual Southwest Contractors Trophy Cup will kick off at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare. Here’s a look at the past winners of the prestigious event, which has been held at four different tracks over the years, including San Jose Speedway from 1994-‘99, Ocean Speedway in 2000, Kings Speedway from ’01-’05 & Thunderbowl Raceway from ’06 to present.
Brent Kaeding leads all drivers with four Trophy Cup victories to his credit, but son Tim Kaeding will be looking to match that next week aboard the Rod Tiner Racing 83 Sprinter. TK picked up the 2006 Trophy Cup while driving for Tiner and also had the veteran crew chief wrenching on the Terry Cowen 7t during his initial win in 2002.
Past Trophy Cup champions
2013 – Kyle Larson
2012 – Jason Meyers
2012 – Jason Meyers
2011 – Jac Haudenschild
2010 – Jonathan Allard
2009 – Tim Kaeding
2008 – Brad Sweet
2007 – Jason Meyers
2006 – Tim Kaeding
2005 – Brent Kaeding
2004 – Jac Haudenschild
2003 – Steve Kent
2002 – Tim Kaeding
2001 – Craig Stidham
2000 – Tommy Tarlton
1999 – Brent Kaeding
1998 – Brent Kaeding
1997 – Mark Kinser
1996 – Brent Kaeding
1995 – Kevin Pylant
1994 – Ronnie Day
Don’t forget all seating is reserved for the Trophy Cup. If you haven’t purchased your seats yet, be sure and do so by contacting the Thunderbowl Raceway box office at 559-688-0909. A seating chart is available at www.thunderbowlraceway.com
With its unique format the Trophy Cup regularly produces some of the best racing seen all season. Each time a driver hits the raceway for competitive racing there are points awarded, with it all being a lead-up to the 50-lap feature on Saturday night that is completely inverted based on points accumulated up to that part of the event.
Adding to the lure this season is that fact that it will feature Winged 360 Sprint Cars all three-nights to make it an all out battle for the Cup. All cars that start the Saturday A-main are guaranteed $2,000 in total winnings, with the overall champion guaranteed $20,000 in winnings. There are currently over 100 entries for the prestigious event.
Returning to the Trophy Cup once again will be the “Taco Bravo Fiesta Night” on Friday and then the Saturday afternoon spaghetti feed. The fiesta night will run from 11pm to 1:30am after the races on Friday and the spaghetti feed will run from noon to 2:30pm on Saturday.
On Thursday night from 11pm to 1:30am after the races there will also be a post-race party featuring hot dogs & chili dogs. Fans and teams are encouraged to attend all the special events. Live music will be performed at all of the eating events by the Midnight Wine Band. As always the Trophy Cup benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation like it has since the very beginning.
This Saturday night the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway will also host the 29th annual Cotton Classic featuring the King of the West Winged 410 Sprint Cars & the Wingless USAC West Coast 360 Sprinters.
The Merle Stone Chevrolet 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.