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Money & prestige on the line at the 26th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial this Saturday April 30 in Chico
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – April 26, 2016…If you’re an auto racing enthusiast in Northern California the place to be this Saturday is Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway when the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series invades the quarter-mile for the prestigious 26th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.
The event pays tribute to race car driver Dave Bradway Jr., who lost his life in a Sprint Car crash at Skagit Speedway’s Dirt Cup in 1987. Bradway Jr. was one of Nor Cal’s favorite drivers and the event held in his memory has become a cornerstone for the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series each season at Silver Dollar Speedway. This Saturday’s outing is the second event of the season for the series and marks the first of just two appearances this year at the famed bullring.
“Dave Bradway Jr. was a hero of mine growing up so this event always has a special place in my heart,” said Silver Dollar Speedway announcer & media relations specialist Troy Hennig. “When it comes to anticipation and build up, the Bradway is as good as we have all year. We’re looking forward to a great event here in Chico on Saturday with a lot of drivers having a shot to win. The excellent racing we’ve always come to love has been back at Silver Dollar Speedway in a big way and we can’t to see everyone this weekend.”
Campbell’s Bud Kaeding is the defending winner of the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and goes into Saturday with momentum following his victory at the King of the West opener last week in Placerville. The three-time USAC Silver Crown champion had a night to remember last year at the Bradway and walked away with an event record $8600 for his efforts. Kaeding piloted the familiar Williams Motorsports 0 to fast time, a dash win and then victory in the 40-lap finale last season.
More past winners of the Bradway set to be on hand will include five-time event champion Jonathan Allard of Chico, along with single-time winners Sean Becker of Roseville & Grass Valley’s Jason Statler. Allard will be gunning for number six aboard the famed Tri-C Manufacturing No. 3c Sprinter, which is well known as the car Dave Bradway Jr. was most associated with. Becker is the five-time & defending Silver Dollar Speedway track champion and always seems to make noise at the Bradway.
Two-time King of the West champion Kyle Hirst is always a sentimental favorite at the Bradway and will be one of the drivers to beat on Saturday. The 28-year-old Paradise, CA resident has been close in the past and would love nothing more than to finally add it to his resume. Hirst will be making his second start in the Tarlton Racing with Roth Motorsports No. 21x machine this weekend.
"The Bradway means so much to my family that I really hope to add my name to the winners list this year,” said Hirst, whose middle name is David in tribute to Junior. “It's the one race that always sticks out in my mind and one that I always have circled on my calendar. My mom & dad were such good friends with David and put so much into this race for so many years that I would love to win it for them. We’re also really close with Dave & Dianne Durica, who organize everything now, so I’ll be trying hard on Saturday to finally get this race under my belt.”
Based on performance so far in 2016 Sacramento’s Willie Croft may very well be the favorite going into Saturday. The former Trophy Cup & Mini Gold Cup winner has been one of the best performers since the start of the season and led the first 25-laps last Saturday, until getting caught up in lapped traffic. Croft earned a podium finish at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial in 2014 and will be gunning to bring home the big money this weekend.
More drivers expected on Saturday will include Hanford’s DJ Netto, who thrilled the Chico crowd during the World of Outlaws event earlier this month, along with Elk Grove’s Bobby McMahan, Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, Roseville’s Colby Copeland, Watsonville’s Justin Sanders, Penngrove’s Chase Johnson, Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox, Gilroy’s Jarrett Soares, Cobble Hill, BC’s Robbie Price, Atwater’s Sean Watts, Auburn’s Richard Brace Jr., Chico’s Brad Bumgarner, Citrus Height’s Kalib Henry and others.
Dave and Diane Durica have once again collected lap money for the 40-lap A-main and 12-lap Last Chance Qualifier on Saturday. As of press time there were still a few laps available in the LCQ for purchase. The fan group Hoserville is partnering with the heat races for the 14th consecutive season. Each heat winner will receive a right rear tire & five sleeves of tear offs. Each winner will stop on the front stretch for an interview & receive a trophy from Arnold’s for Awards to give a child in the stands.
Roth Motorsports has added $500 to the winner’s share, which brings the A-main up to a minimum of $3500-to-win.
It’s also become a tradition at the start of the night to hand out the Carwash Mike Fast Time Award at the Bradway. The winner of the award will take home a custom Jagermeister Trophy & a Coors Light Cowboy Hat, in honor of super fan Carwash Mike Avilla, who passed away in 2011. As of press time we also have $850 cash courtesy of Kyle Larson Racing, Manny & Gloria Avilla, Petersen Media and Mancamp Motorsports.
Manny & Gloria Avilla have also donated $250, which will be split up among the final five finishers in the LCQ. Mancamp Motorsports has put up $100 for the Hard Charger Award and Dan & Laurel Belton have donated $300 to a Hard Luck Award for the night. If anyone would like to add onto or donate anything for the night, please contact Dave and Dianne Durica at [email protected] or 916-988-5958.
The front gate will open at 5pm on Saturday April 30, with adult tickets $20, juniors 12-15 will be $15 and kids 6-11 are $6. All seating is general admission during the night. The Silver Dollar Speedway is a high-banked quarter-mile clay oval and is considered one of the most famous dirt track venues in the country. Camping is available for the weekend on the fairgrounds.
The Silver Dollar Speedway is located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, a half-mile west of SR 99 on Park Ave in Chico, California. For directions and a map visit http://www.silverdollarspeedway.com/location.php
The King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series is held under the management of Prentice Motorsports Group, which also operates the Civil War 360 Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster, the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, the Wingless Sprint Car Series presented by Hunt Magnetos, the All Star Modified Tour and Ocean Speedway.
Info on the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series can be found at http://www.racepmg.com
Upcoming King of the West Series events following Chico
Saturday May 7: Petaluma Speedway - Petaluma, CA
Saturday May 14: Thunderbowl Raceway - Tulare, CA (Chris & Brian Faria Memorial)
Saturday May 21: Stockton Dirt Track – Stockton, CA (Salute to LeRoy Van Conett)
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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