By Troy Hennig
Marysville, CA (February 21, 2016) – Dirt track racing fans can rejoice. The first important event of the 2016 racing schedule will take place this Saturday night at Marysville Raceway. The annual Sherm and Loree Toller Memorial race features the winged 360 sprint cars, wingless sprints and sport mods. Big money is on the line as the winged 360 sprints will vie for the $2,000 win. Wingless sprints main event winner will receive $750 and the sport mod main event winner will pocket $250. Fans will be treated to a full night of racing including qualifying, heat races and main events. A large car count is expected for all three divisions.
The Sherm and Loree Toller Memorial is set for this Saturday, February 27th. The pit gate will open at 3 P.M. while the front grandstand gate opens at 5 P.M. Qualifying for the winged sprint cars will begin at 6 P.M. with racing to follow. General grandstand admission to this event is $16.00 for adults, $13.00 for juniors (12-15), seniors (over 62) and military with ID. Children, ages 6 to 11, are $6.00. Five and under are free. Family pass is available and cost $45.00 (2 adults, 3 children under 11).
Adding to the prestige of the race is the big bonus offered by promoter Dennis Gage. This year Gage has added the wingless sprints to the challenge. For the winged 360 driver that can win this race, that person can be in line for a chance to win the $10,000 bonus. If one driver can win the first six winged sprint car races between Silver Dollar Speedway and Marysville Raceway, that driver will win $10,000. Win five of the six and pick up a $5,000 bonus. Win four and receive a $2,500. Finally, win at least half of the six races and get $1,500.
The wingless sprint car drivers will have the same opportunity this year. For the first time Gage will offer a wingless driver $5,000 if they can win the first six races of the year between Chico and Marysville. Win five of the six and collect $2,500. Four victories will net that driver $1,500 and win at least half of the first six wingless races and earn an extra $750.
This Saturday night marks the second time that Loree has also been honored at this great event. Both Sherm and Loree worked at the Marysville Speedway for numerous years. Sherm and Loree Toller met in 1973 and were married on June 11, 1978. They met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend at a luau party. It was only natural that these two race fanatics spent their honeymoon time on a road trip to watch the Super Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in Washington. The Toller’s love of dirt track racing led them to visit numerous racetracks over the years. However, their real dedication to our sport came in the early nineties when Sherm began handling the PR and infield announcing duties at Ernie Purcell Speedway in Grass Valley and Loree was hired as the scorekeeper. When Ernie Purcell Speedway closed in 1994, Sherm and Loree gravitated to Marysville Raceway and began working for the Hall family. Sherm was a master of the infield microphone and always made sure he got the story in detailed fashion. Loree loved to oversee the race from the tower and was a natural at scorekeeping. It will be an honor to host their daughters Sheree and Kaylee Toller once again. The girls have stayed true to their parents roots and share the same love and passion towards dirt track racing.
For more information about the track please visit www.marysvilleraceway.com