By Gary Thomas
Stockton, CA – November 2, 2015…What started in early-April will come to an exciting conclusion this Saturday November 7, with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series putting a cap on 2015 during the 32nd annual Tribute to Gary Patterson at the Stockton Dirt Track.
The Tribute to GP has traditionally been one of the prestigious showcases on the King of the West schedule over the years and this weekend marks the third consecutive season it will be held in Stockton. Names such as Kaeding, Gurney, Sills, Kent, Green, Tiner, Swindell, McMahan and numerous others are scattered among the former winners list of the event, which is held in memory of National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Gary Patterson, who lost his life in a racing crash during the 1983 season.
During the day on Saturday from noon till 4pm a car show & live band will entertain the crowd behind the grandstands. Make plans to arrive early and enjoy the day as we finish off the season in grand style. Camping is available on the fairgrounds for a price of $33 per night.
This Saturday will see the culmination of what has been one of the best championship battles that we’ve seen with the King of the West Sprint Car Series in years. The lead has changed hands numerous times during the season; in fact, one incredible stretch saw a different leader six out of seven weeks that the series had raced.
After 17 rounds of competition it all comes down to Lemoore’s Carson Macedo & Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, who sit just three-points apart at the top of the ladder.
Macedo will wrap up his first full-time King of the West campaign on Saturday and looks to maintain his three-digit advantage to become a “King” in 2015. The 19-year-old has yet to earn a series victory, but has used consistency & smart driving to be where he is at going into the finale. Macedo was battling for the lead in Stockton on August 1 until engine issues sidelined him that night. The youngster is gunning to give great uncle & car owner Tom Tarlton his first King of the West championship this weekend.
Kaeding has scored two wins this year, including the prestigious Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial in May. The veteran driver began his Sprint Car career in 1996 and has accumulated an impressive resume, which includes three USAC Silver Crown Series championships, numerous Budweiser Oval Nationals wins and most recently a triumph at the annual Trophy Cup. Getting the King of the West Series title under his belt however, would personally rank right up there with every major accomplishment he has racked up.
Elk Grove’s Bobby McMahan looks to lock up the third spot in the King of the West standings on Saturday. The veteran has had a smooth & consistent season like he is accustomed to and would earn his best point finish since returning to the series full-time in 2011. Campbell’s Brent Kaeding has claimed the Tribute to Gary Patterson on four occasions and ranks fourth in points, but is only nine-markers up on Hanford’s DJ Netto. The 19-year-old has already won the Pombo/Sargent Classic, along with the Faria Memorial this year and would love nothing more than to add the Tribute to GP.
Two-time series champion & past Tribute to GP winner Kyle Hirst was oh-so-close to a KWS clean sweep in Stockton on August 1. The Paradise driver set fast time, won his heat race, won the dash & looked to be on way to victory in the A-main, until Tyler Walker made a final corner pass to steal the win away. Hirst looks for redemption on Saturday and guns to bring home his sixth victory of the year. After winning the feature in August Walker returns with three total King of the West wins under his belt this year. The 2009 KWS champ will be searching to end the season in style on Saturday.
Former Tribute to Gary Patterson winners Jonathan Allard of Chico & Tim Kaeding of San Jose will both be hoping to break their way into victory lane on Saturday. Allard, a three-time King of the West champion, earned his win at the event in 2007 when it was held at the Calistoga Speedway. While Kaeding, a two-time series champion claimed a clean sweep at the 2008 Tribute to GP when it was held in Chico. Kaeding ranks second in all-time King of the West Series wins, with Allard sitting third on the list.
More drivers set for Saturday will include Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto, who is coming off a career best runner up finish at the last event, along with KWS rookie of the year contender Chase Johnson of Penngrove, past KWS series champs Jason Statler of Grass Valley & Sean Becker from Roseville, Gilroy’s Jarrett Soares, Sacramento’s Willie Croft, Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox, Fresno’s Craig Stidham, Hollister’s Ryan Bernal, Riverdale’s Landon Hurst, Princeton’s Mason Moore, Laton’s Geoffrey Strole and others.
Also in action alongside KWS this Saturday at the Stockton Dirt Track will be the Civil War 360 Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster. It marks just the second time ever that both series compete on the same night at the same track. The Civil War title is also up for grabs going into the night, as Andy Forsberg, Shane Golobic & Justin Sanders are just 10-points apart at the top of the standings.
Two championships going right down to the wire, both decided on one night. It all adds up to one historical moment for Northern California Sprint Car racing. The season-finale couldn’t have been scripted better. Cars will be on track around 5pm for wheel packing with hot laps, qualifying & racing to follow. Drivers meeting is planned for 4:30. Pit gate opens at noon.
Reserved upper deck seats cost $30 on Saturday, with general admission bleacher tickets $20. Kids 6-12 are half price and five & under are free in the lower bleachers. Box seating is also available in increments of six & eight seats. The front gate is scheduled to open at 4pm, with will call & ticket sales beginning at 2pm. To order tickets contact 916-370-9417 from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Pre-sale ends on Thursday November 5 at 5pm.
The Stockton Dirt Track is a lightning fast 3/8 mile clay oval located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California. It is built inside a one-mile horse track and boasts one of the nicest dirt track facilities in the state. The physical address is 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For information on the speedway visit www.stocktondirttrack.com
Info on the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series can be found at www.racepmg.com