By Gary Thomas
Hanford, CA – December 19, 2020…Following a perseverance filled 2020 the hope for all is that matters get back to normal as much as possible this coming season in California.
When it does dirt track fans and teams from the Central Valley will be in for a treat, as Keller Auto Speedway Promoter Peter Murphy and Thunderbowl Raceway Promoter Steve Faria are set to work closely together during the campaign. Among the highlights for valley supporters will be five double header weekends where each venue will host races on back-to-back nights.
“We definitely want everyone to know how much Steve Faria and I are working together this coming season,” stated Murphy. “Our hope is to continue growing the sport down here and we’re excited to partner up on some of these double header weekends, which will include my Classic and a few others. It gives race fans and teams from out of the area an opportunity to come and hit a couple nights of racing at both of our tracks. We look forward to seeing a lot of campers at these shows because we want them to be special events, not just simply standard races.”
The first of the combo weekends is scheduled to take place when the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV Motorsports Network invades the area during early-March. On Friday night March 12th the ASCS National Tour stars and many of California’s top drivers will tackle the Stone Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, before moving over to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Saturday March 13th.
After a successful debut this year, California IMCA Speedweek has expanded and will invade the Central Valley in 2021. The action-packed week of racing converges at Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday May 1st and then heads over to Keller Auto Speedway on Sunday May 2nd.
The always anticipated “Peter Murphy Classic” is geared up to be part of the double headers next season. The two-night weekend begins at Keller Auto Speedway on Friday May 14th with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour Winged 360s and Kings of Thunder Winged 410s tackling the track. The Classic will turn its attention towards Thunderbowl Raceway the next night on Saturday May 15th showcasing the King of the West-NARC 410 Sprint Cars and Kings of Thunder Winged 360s.
Wingless 360 Sprint Cars will then have the stage in early-June when they take part in a Hanford/Tulare two-step. On Friday June 11th the Kings of Thunder Bandit Sprint Cars clash at Keller Auto Speedway during the Kings County Fair, before the USAC West Coast 360 Sprinters compete at Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday June 12th in the annual “Faria Memorial.”
The season will then conclude at both tracks with the final combo weekend occurring in mid-November, headlined by the Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars. The Stone Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderbowl Raceway will cap its year on Friday November 12th with Keller Auto Speedway finishing everything off on Saturday November 13th.
Overall, this coming season will see Keller Auto Speedway play host to 12 nights of racing while Thunderbowl Raceway features 15 nights of competition, giving fans in the Central Valley plenty of motorsports entertainment to catch in 2021.
The Keller Auto Speedway is a 3/8-mile clay oval and is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds in Hanford, California. The physical address is 801 S. 10th Ave. Hanford, Ca 93230. More info can be found at www.kellerautospeedway.com or by visiting the track Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KingsSpeedwayOfficialSite
The Stone Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets at 620 South K Street Tulare, California 93274. 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.
For more info on Stone Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderbowl Raceway visit www.thunderbowlraceway.com and be sure to like the track Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tularethunderbowlraceway
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Keller Auto Speedway/ Stone Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderbowl Raceway Dual-Track Weekends
Thunderbowl Raceway Friday March 12: Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV Motorsports Network
Keller Auto Speedway Saturday March 13: Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour presented by MAVTV Motorsports Network
Thunderbowl Raceway Saturday May 1: California IMCA Speedweek
Keller Auto Speedway Sunday May 2: California IMCA Speedweek
Keller Auto Speedway Friday May 14: Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards plus Kings of Thunder Winged 410 Sprint Cars (Peter Murphy Classic Opener)
Thunderbowl Raceway Saturday May 15: King of the West-NARC Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series and Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars (Peter Murphy Classic Finale)
Keller Auto Speedway Friday June 11: Kings of Thunder Bandit Wingless 360 Sprint Cars (Kings County Fair Race)
Thunderbowl Raceway Saturday June 12: USAC West Coast Wingless 360 Sprint Cars (Faria Memorial)
Thunderbowl Raceway Friday November 12: Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars
Keller Auto Speedway Saturday November 13: Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars