This message was edited on
September 03, 2009 at
07:04:57 AM by t_cup
Taken From The Grandstand
by Ron Rodda
Lincoln, CA…It is only September 2nd, a full 44 days before hot laps at the 16th annual Trophy Cup, and no further entries will be accepted. The plan was to only accept 65 cars, but the determining factor was postmark. When August 29 became the date that a dozen entries were mailed, all of them had to be accepted by the rules. They were all mailed the same day so they were all eligible to race in the October 23rd and 24th event.
As a result of the final flurry of winged 360 sprint teams, there are 72 entries. All that will do is add one additional heat race on Friday of the two day show. No further entries will be accepted, either by mail or at the back gate in Tulare.
Limiting the size of the field was necessary so the $80,000 Trophy Cup would not create its own curfew problems with too large of a field. Previous years teams were notified by mail if they had not yet entered as the field reached the half way point. The word was spread using multiple avenues so all would be aware of the entry maximum.
Last year drew 59 cars when there was no cap on entries, but the show was the first ever three day schedule. That made things much less time intensive as opening night, or the additional night, took pressure off of the 2nd night as to how much had to be done. The plan was to make this year another three day show, but situations caused that to be changed.
Foremost in the return to a two day show was the state of the economy. Although the 3 day purse is substantially higher, the apparent extra day’s expenses associated with bringing a team to Tulare was leading to a very slow entry flow. On July 16th the number of entered teams was so low that the move back to a two day show was made to lower expenses for the racers.
Taking away the third day means doing more on the two days that will now comprise the 16th year of the Cup. Friday is particularly busy but an early start will get things off of the right foot. With the pit gates opening at 10 am and a 3:30 pm driver meeting, that will allow hot laps to start at 4 pm with qualifying to follow at 5:15 pm.
Cars that qualify 49th fast and higher will be split into heats that will run before the National Anthem and shortly before 7 pm the heats for the fastest 48 will hit the track. A pair of D mains follow the six heats for the top 48 with a C, B, and A main to complete the busy evening.
Saturday’s driver meeting is at 4 pm with the first race at 6 pm. A pair of D mains, six heats, then the C, B, and A again fill the 2nd night. The same unique format will be used, one that completely inverts the 24 car field for the Saturday A main by points.
Having the field set six weeks ahead of the event will make preparations easier for officials and others who are involved in pre race efforts. Just think, if this was a draw show, heat lineups could be announced tomorrow!
The 72 entries in order received:
Kyle Hirst 6
Brett Miller 1X
Tommy Tarlton 21
Chad Groves 25C
Brent Kaeding 69
Mike Stallings 83M
Bud Kaeding 29
Jonathan Allard 0
Pat Harvey 15
Scott Kinney 25K
Craig Stidham 3
Cory Eliason 00
Andy Forsberg 92
Kyle Larson 83V
Chad Compton 69C
Tyler Walker 24
Ronnie Day 20
Brent Bjork 7B
Brock Lemley 40
Andy Ferris 4J
Colby Solomon 9S
Jim Richardson 8
Andy Gregg 53
Matt Barber 58
Geoff Ensign 5
Brad Sweet 83
Justyn Cox 5H
Tyler Spath KR14
Jason Statler 00
Randy Hannagan 1X
Roger Crockett 11
Shane Golobic 121
Myles Bishop 7
Zach Zimmerly 94
Steve Dyer 9A
Shane Stewart 57
TBA 83 (Dennis Roth Owner)
Bradley Terrell 43
Mason Moore X1
TBA 35A(Harold Main Owner)
TBA 35B(Harold Main Owner)
TBA 83JR(Dennis Roth Owner)
Steve Jaquith 82J
Ricky Wright 35
Matt Sargent 14
Brad Bumgarner 88
Shain Matthews 67
Davey Pomba 3P
Greg DeCaires 39
Kurt Nelson 72W
Craig Smith 39
Mark Dobmeier 18
Danny Faria Jr. 17V
Ricky Eberhardt 4
Peter Murphy 13
Koen Shaw 4S
Cameron Mendez 29X
Sean Becker 2SB
Cody Darrah 29
Roberto Kirby 10X
Anthony Simone 10
Garrett Ishii 71G
TBA 3X(Southwest Const. Owner)
TBA 35(John Taylor Owner)
Stephen Allard 4
Stan Yockey 7
Wes Gutierrez 7
Jonathan Logan 32
Burt Foland Jr. 4
Steven Tiner 94
Eric Rossi 68
Eric Humphries 15
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