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California 410 sprint car teams set for "Northwest Swing" with Medford, Cottage Grove & Dirt Cup on deck over next week

By Gary Thomas

Medford, OR – June 9, 2009…A busy week of racing is set to begin for California 410 teams as the annual trek up North kicks off with the Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series invading the Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford this Saturday night and then the Cottage Grove Speedway on Monday evening. All of it will be a lead up to the $25,000 to win 38th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup at the Skagit Speedway on June 18-20.

The event at the Southern Oregon Speedway will be the first time that the Golden State Challenge King of California Sprint Car Series competes at the 1/3 mile clay oval on a Saturday, after holding past events on Tuesday's and one on a Monday. Former winners of GSC events at the track include Brent Kaeding during the past two appearances and Tim Kaeding & Tim Shaffer with one apiece. The front gate at the Southern Oregon Speedway will open at 4pm on Saturday night June 13 with adult tickets costing $15, kids 7-12 & seniors 60 & over $12. More info can be found at http://www.sospeedway.com/

On Monday night the Golden State Challenge Series will then make its first ever appearance at the always exciting Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The quarter-mile bullring has long been one of the top dirt tracks on the West Coast and is also one of the most picturesque with it being surrounded by a number of trees and beautiful terrain. The blazing fast speedway has a track record of 9.991 set by Joey Saldana last season. The pits will open at 3pm on Monday night June 15 with the front gate opening at 4:30pm. Adult tickets will be $15, juniors & seniors $12, kids 6-11 $7 and 5 & under will be free. More info can be found at http://cottagegrovespeedway.com/

More news and info on the Golden State Challenge Series can be found at http://www.goldenstatechallengeseries.com

38th Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup-

One of the biggest 410 sprint car events on the West Coast is also fast approaching with the 38th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup at the Skagit Speedway in Alger, Washington set to go green on June 18, 19 and 20. The three-night show presented by Van's Equipment will once again hand out a solid $25,000 to the winner of Saturday's 40 lap main event and packs a whopping $150,000 purse for the overall event.

When it comes to non-World of Outlaw sanctioned winged sprint car racing, the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup is arguably the "Knoxville Nationals" of the west as it packs one of the biggest purses around and routinely attracts the best teams and drivers from up and down the left coast. The atmosphere and competition level during the event is also second to none, which just adds to the excitement.

The actual racing at the Dirt Cup doesn't kick off until Thursday night June 18, but the event will get a jump start with the annual Haggen Dirt Cup Party held on Wednesday June 17 at the Haggen Food and Pharmacy in Burlington. The party is held from 4pm to 7pm and features a live band, as well as sprint cars on display, vendor booths, driver interviews, autographs, local radio stations broadcasting live and more.

The Haggen Dirt Cup Party has become an annual treat to get the competitive juices flowing for the next three night's of no-holds-barred racing on the Skagit Speedway 3/10 mile clay oval, which is promoted by Steve Beitler. "There is a lot of excitement about Dirt Cup this season," Beitler commented. "Our pre-sale of tickets are up from last year and we have a lot of new cars that have said they are coming so it should be fun."

Two-time Dirt Cup champion Jonathan Allard sits on top of the Golden State Challenge Series standings heading into the big week of racing and will bring an 11 point lead into the Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday. The two-time & defending King of California has been a consistency machine this season having claimed eight straight podium finishes with GSC and has finished among the top three in nine of the 11 events held so far this year. Allard was victorious at the Dirt Cup in 2005 & '06 and also scored a runner-up in '07 at the helm of his Williams Motorsports, K&N Filters No. 0.

Close on Allard's heels is Los Angeles, CA's Tyler Walker, who will be looking for some redemption this year at the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup. Last season saw Walker lead a number of laps in the main event on Saturday and was locked in a heated battle for the top spot with local Jayme Barnes, until contact from a lap car took him out of contention. So far this year Walker has driven his SC Motorsports, NMI Industrial Contractors No. 24 to five wins with the Golden State Challenge Series and is just three victories away from tying the single season win mark with the club.

Three-time Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup champion Brent Kaeding of Campbell will look to put his Al's Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance No. 69 towards the front of the field this week. The 13-time King of California has picked up one victory with GSC this year and currently sits third in points, 22 digits out of the top spot. Kaeding's wins at the Dirt Cup came in 1991, '96 & '99 and is coming off a 10^th place finish last season. "BK" has also picked up victories during the past two Golden State Challenge Series visits to the Southern Oregon Speedway.

Golden State Challenge Series rookie driver Kyle Larson will make his first career Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup start at the helm of the Vertullo Racing, Starr Property Management No. 83v. The 16 year-old from Elk Grove won his first career 410 sprint car main event on May 8 at Silver Dollar Speedway and backed it up two Friday's ago at the Ocean Speedway with his first ever GSC victory. Larson ranks fourth in the GSC point standings going into the Southern Oregon Speedway on Saturday.

Completing the top five in points is Scotts Valley's Evan Suggs, who will be in competition at both Medford and Cottage Grove, but won't be planning to make the trip to Skagit for the first time in a couple years. The 22 year-old finished 10^th in his only career appearance at the Southern Oregon Speedway during the '07 season and will be looking to break into GSC victory lane for the first time on Saturday aboard his Suggs Racing, Lucas Oil Products No. 33e.

San Jose's Tim Kaeding will be searching for his first career Dirt Cup title after charging from deep in the field to score a third place finish last season at the event. The former King of California will be a heavy favorite behind the wheel of the always potent Roth Motorsports, DTR Transport No. 83 and looks to have possibly his best chance yet at scoring the $25,000 grand prize. "TK" picked up a career best second place finish at the Dirt Cup in 2006 and has also scored a victory with the World of Outlaws this season, with that coming in late April at West Memphis, Arkansas.

Three-time World of Outlaw champion Sammy Swindell will certainly be a favorite during the week. The Germantown, TN driver spent much of the early season with the World of Outlaws and has been very strong right from the beginning of the year when he claimed victory at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Swindell will be aboard the always fast Tom Rolfe Trucking No. 10 sprinter, which finished third at the Dirt Cup last season with T.Kaeding at the helm. The living legend is also scheduled to take part in Monday night's action at Cottage Grove with the Golden State Challenge Series.

Knoxville, Iowa's Wayne Johnson is routinely a strong driver at "major events" and will bring the Main Motorsports, H.A.M. Construction No. 35a into the week looking to rebound from a tough outing in the car at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial in May. Since that event however, the team has reportedly switched to a Maxim Chassis and will also be competing in the Oregon events with the Golden State Challenge Series looking to tune-up for the Dirt Cup. Johnson has long been one of the top drivers in the Mid-west and has made the A-main at the Knoxville Nationals on six straight occasions.

Another top driver during the week will be Loomis, CA's Kyle Hirst, who has had a strong season thus far in the Gary Perkins Motorsports, A.R.T. Enterprise No. 6 machine. The 21 year-old driver has won four times this season with various organizations as he's run a true Outlaw schedule, not chasing points with any particular series. Last year saw Hirst win the b-main on Saturday night of Dirt Cup and carve his way through the field in the A-main for a seventh place finish.

Medford, Oregon’s Roger Crockett has been on the podium the past two seasons at the Dirt Cup and will look to break into victory lane for the first time at the event this year aboard the SKS Motorsports, Omlid & Swinney No. 11. The veteran driver brought home a third place finish in 2007 and backed it up with a second place effort last season, with both of those coming aboard the Roger Henderson Jr. owned 7n. Crockett is also very fast at Southern Oregon & Cottage Grove Speedway’s and will be a strong contender at both.

Other drivers expected to do battle at the Dirt Cup will include defending champion Jayme Barnes of Everett, Wash; Bixby, OK's Shane Stewart; Mount Vernon, Wash's Jason Solwold; Campbell, CA's Bud Kaeding; Langley, BC's Travis Rutz; Clovis, CA's Peter Murphy; Easton’s Tommy Tarlton, as well as top Washington competitors Jessie Whitney, Barry Martinez, Chad Hillier, Brock Lemley, Mitch Olson, Rick Fauver, Colton Heath, Steve Kilcup, Eric Fisher and many more.

Three-night advance reserved tickets are on sale for only $70 and can be acquired by calling (360) 724-3567 or at the ticket window during race days. The front gate will open at 5:30 each night with racing getting underway at approximately 7. More info on the 38th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by Van's Equipment can be found at http://www.skagitspeedway.com and http://www.nwracetalk.com

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

All photo's courtesy Steve Lamothe. Check out all of Steve's great work at http://www.stevesracingphotos.com

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Chico's Jonathan Allard and Los Angeles, CA's Tyler Walker will resume their fight for the King of California title this week in Oregon following a rainout last Saturday. Allard has scored eight straight Golden State Challenge Series podium finishes aboard his Williams Motorsports, K&N Filters No. 0 while Walker has driven his SC Motorsports, NMI Industrial Contractors No. 24 to five victories overall.

Both drivers will also be favorites at the 38^th annual Dirt Cup next weekend in Washington. Allard has won the event twice previously and Walker was fighting for the lead last year when contact from a lapped car took him out of contention in turn four. Going into Saturday's event at the Southern Oregon Speedway Allard holds an 11 point lead in the GSC standings over Walker.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Three-time Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup champion Brent Kaeding of Campbell will look to put his Al's Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance No. 69 towards the front of the field this week. The 13-time King of California has picked up one victory with GSC this year and currently sits third in points, 22 digits out of the top spot. Kaeding last year finished 10^th at the Dirt Cup on Saturday night. "BK" has also been rumored to be utilizing a different Maxim Chassis to try and get the best possible performance with the big week ahead.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Golden State Challenge Series rookie driver Kyle Larson will make his first career Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup start at the helm of the Vertullo Racing, Starr Property Management No. 83v. The 16 year-old from Elk Grove won his first career 410 sprint car main event on May 8 at Silver Dollar Speedway and backed it up two Friday's ago at the Ocean Speedway with his first ever GSC main event victory. Larson ranks fourth in the GSC point standings going into the Oregon events.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Loomis, CA's Kyle Hirst has been one of the strongest drivers in California sprint car racing this season and will make his fifth career appearance at the Dirt Cup next week. The 21 year-old driver of the GP Development, ART Enterprise No. 6 has captured four main event victories this year and had number five in his sights last Wednesday in Placerville, until a spun lapped car ended his hopes of that while sitting out front. Hirst recently picked up his first career win at the Calistoga Speedway over Memorial Day weekend.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Other California connected cars expected to be in action at the Dirt Cup with drivers who have run nationally for much of the season will include the Roth Motorsports No. 83 of San Jose's Tim Kaeding, the Tom Rolfe Racing No. 10 of Germantown, TN's Sammy Swindell and the Main Motorsports No. 35a of Knoxville, Iowa's Wayne Johnson.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Medford, Oregon’s Roger Crockett has been on the podium the past two seasons at the Dirt Cup and will look to break into victory lane for the first time at the event this year aboard the SKS Motorsports, Omlid & Swinney No. 11. Crockett is also very tough at the Southern Oregon Speedway and is also arguably the master of the Cottage Grove Speedway.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

From Skagit Speedway media-

The 38th running of the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by Van's Equipment is just two weeks away and promoter Steve Beitler has added a couple new events to the star studded line up. New this year will be the Industrial Resources / Follman Agency Qualifying Challenge and the Midget Madness event featuring the Ford Focus Midgets.

The Qualifying Challenge will be held on Saturday Night and will square off the fastest qualifier from Thursday night against the Fastest qualifier from Friday night. Each car will take two laps on the time clock and then get a two minute break to adjust the cars and then each car will get another two laps and the driver with the fastest overall time will be rewarded with a check for $1,000.00 courtesy of Industrial Resources and the Follman Agency.

Also added to the Saturday night finals will be the Midget Madness Event featuring a full field of the Ford Focus Midgets. Among the top midget drivers from the Northwest will be Jonathan Jorgenson, Seth Hespe, Gaylon Stewart, Jeff Bell and a host of other talent.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

love the top view shot of Walker!

...

Hey guys, I'm excited!

George is going to haul me along that week. We won't make Medford but will be at Cottage Grove

and the Dirt Cup. I'll bring my gear because I don't know how to watch except thru a view finder!

Looking forward to seeing everybody again.

Looking forward to seeing you guys in Oregon and Dirt Cup Grove.

I got word that Brent Bjork will also be making the tow up to the Dirt Cup so that gives us another California car.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Good to here you going Grove. I too look forward to seeing everyone at the Dirt Cup. Next week can not get here soon enough.

Hope everyone who is going has fun! I wanted to go up to OR, WA this year but things change so I am just hoping the weather improves! It seems like it is always raining in the OR, WA area...

Looking forward to the new Golden State King of the 
West series schedule! 

Winged sprintcars = the fastest and most exciting 
racecars on dirt! 

Looks like from the list we've gathered Randy Hannagan will be making the Dirt Cup, but it'll be in the 39 car that Jason Solwold drove for much of last season.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com