By Gary Thomas
Stockton, CA – March 14, 2016…The biggest weekend in the short history of the Stockton Dirt Track is set to commence this Friday & Saturday March 18 & 19 when the third annual FVP Western Spring Shootout takes to the blazing fast 3/8 mile clay oval.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series event has seen thrilling finishes each of the last two-years and much of the same is expected at the double header this weekend. The FVP Western Spring Shootout is the only Sprint Car show going on this Friday & Saturday in Northern California, so if you want your methanol fix, Stockton is the place to be. Adding to the excitement this weekend will be Winged 360 Sprints competing alongside the “Greatest Show on Dirt.”
Each night for the Winged Sprint Cars pays $3,000-to-win, along with a $2000 double-down bonus up for grabs if someone sweeps the weekend. The 360 Dash both nights will also feature $1000 distributed to the top three finishers. The winner will receive $500, second place $300 & third place will score $200. Thanks to Reeve’s Sand & Gravel, Sunny Valley Smoked Meats, the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival & Noceti Group Inc. for the extra Dash money.
One of the drivers on hand will be Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, who secured his eighth Civil War Series title with a dominating performance at the Stockton Dirt Track last November. The always thrilling driver set the all-time 360 track record to begin the evening and capped it by easily winning the 30-lap feature. He also started this year in victorious fashion by winning the Sherm & Loree Toller Memorial in Marysville. Forsberg will be gunning for the double down bonus this weekend, but will have to contend with multiple other drivers looking to do the same.
The driver that finished runner up to Forsberg last November at the Tribute to Gary Patterson, Justyn Cox, will also be in action this weekend. The Clarksburg, CA wheel-man is set to chase points with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series in 2016, along with a healthy schedule of additional events. Last year’s Ocean Sprints & Marysville Raceway track champion Justin Sanders will also be searching for his first Stockton Dirt Track victory this weekend. The Watsonville based competitor raced to an impressive 20 main event victories last season.
Roseville’s Colby Copeland scored his first career Sprint Car win at the Stockton Dirt Track in June of 2014 and will be hoping for more of the same this weekend. Copeland finished third in November during the Civil War Series portion of the Tribute to GP and tallied seven overall victories last season. Fellow Roseville racer Sean Becker will be another top driver looking to take home the big money. Becker, a three-time Civil War Series champion, five-time Silver Dollar Speedway champ & the 2005 King of the West Series titlist will be gunning for his first ever triumph at the track.
More drivers expected will include Fresno’s Cory Eliason, Wilton’s Matt Petersen, Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign, Fresno’s Koen Shaw, Rio Linda’s Scott Hall, Sacramento’s DJ Freitas, Princeton’s Mason Moore, Gilroy’s Jarrett Soares, Hollister’s Tony Gualda Jr., Marysville’s Jeremy Hawes, Santa Rosa’s Klint Simpson and others.
Drivers meeting will be at 4pm and we will be utilizing Civil War Series rules & format, with the exception being there is no muffler rule.
Two-night adult General Admission ticket packages for the FVP Western Spring Shootout weekend at the Stockton Dirt Track are available for a great value at just $59 & two-night Reserved Grandstand ticket packages cost only $69. Single-night tickets & box seats are also available. Children 10 & under are free in G.A. only. To reserve your seats simply visit https://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=195 or call (844) 347-8849.
The pit gate opens at noon both days, with the front gate opening at 4pm each day. Will call & the ticket booth opens at 3pm on Friday & 1pm on Saturday. Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin around 7pm both days. Friday night following the races there will be a party on the VIP deck of the main grandstand. Drinks & food will be available for purchase and everyone is encouraged to attend. There will also be a Saturday morning breakfast held on the fairgrounds from 8am to 11am.
During the afternoon on Saturday radio personality DJ Walker and Kat Country 103 will be doing a live radio remote in the midway behind the grandstands. As always a car show will also take place during the day.
The Stockton Dirt Track is a lightning fast 3/8 mile clay oval located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California. The physical address is 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For information on the speedway visit www.stocktondirttrack.com
Weekend Schedule at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds-
Thursday March 17: Delta Speedway – Super 600, Non-Wing, Restricted, Jr. Sprints, Outlaw Karts (Open division 500’s)
Friday March 18: Stockton Dirt Track – World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series & Winged 360 Sprint Cars
Saturday March 19: Stockton Dirt Track – World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series & Winged 360 Sprint Cars