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Thunderbowl Raceway hosts Pombo/Sargent Classic this Saturday

By Gary Thomas

Tulare, CA - April 23, 2007... The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is proud to present the annual Pombo/Sargent Classic this Saturday night April 28. This will be the second consecutive year in which the Pombo/Sargent Classic is being contested at the Thunderbowl and everyone involved with the track couldn’t be happier to have it back in Tulare. The evening of action will be highlighted by the 410 winged sprint cars of the Golden State Challenge King of California Series who will be making their second trip of the season to the Thunderbowl. Also in competition during the night will be the Western States Modifieds, which will also mark their second start of the season at the wide and racy 1/3 mile clay oval.

The Pombo/Sargent Classic has been going on for over 20 years and it honors California racing legends Al Pombo and Marshall Sargent. It originally started at nearby Kings Speedway in Hanford and last season moved to the Thunderbowl. The traditional July date for the event was changed this season after crowd support dropped off in recent years due to the scorching Central Valley Summer heat. This year the event also has become a one day show, as opposed to a two day event like it had been in the past.

An interesting facet about the Pombo/Sargent Classic is the fact that the event was created while both legends were still alive. Marshall Sargent has since passed, but Al Pombo is still going strong and is seen at the majority of the Thunderbowl races at his booth below the main grandstands. The Golden State Challenge Series comes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic on the heels of two consecutive rain outs. The series hasn’t competed since April 7 and this weekend’s Tulare date will be the eighth night of action for the traveling 410 sprint car group.

Leading the Golden State Challenge Series points coming into the Pombo/Sargent Classic is former King of California Sean Becker of Oroville. The 26 year-old driver finished third in the GSC event at the Thunderbowl in March and has scored four consecutive podiums in GSC competition. The driver known as the "Shark" has finished among the top five in all but one of the GSC events this season as he pilots the Fisher/Main Motorsports, Cherry St. Mini Storage No. 35m. He holds an eight point lead in the series standings and will look to pick up his first GSC win of the year, as well as his first career Thunderbowl victory this Saturday.

Defending Pombo/Sargent Classic champion Brent Kaeding of Campbell comes into this year’s Classic sitting second in the Golden State Challenge Series point standings, just eight points back of Becker. Kaeding picked up his 71^st career GSC victory in March at the Thunderbowl and also won the series’ most recent event in Antioch on April 7. Last year BK scored a clean sweep of the Pombo/Sargent Classic as he drove his Al’s Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance No. 69 to feature victories both night’s.

Chico’s Jonathan Allard comes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic sitting third in points, 12 behind Becker for the lead. Last season Allard won his first Golden State Challenge King of California Series championship and picked up one win at the Thunderbowl along the way. The 30 year-old driver navigated the Williams Motorsports, GT Trends No. 0 to a sixth place finish in the GSC event at the Thunderbowl in March. Allard had a dramatic opening night at last year’s Pombo/Sargent Classic as he jumped out to a huge lead in the feature before spinning a 360 and falling back to fourth where he went on to finish. He has one win with GSC this season, which came on opening night in Chico.

San Jose’s Jason Statler currently ranks fourth in the Golden State Challenge Series point standings coming into the Thunderbowl. "The Big Guy" finished 10^th at the Thunderbowl in March, which was also his first time in Tulare driving the Tom Rolfe Trucking, DF Rios Construction No. 10 machine. The former King of California scored a pair of fifth place finishes at last year’s Pombo/Sargent Classic.

Rounding out the top five in the Golden State Challenge Series point standings is first year full-timer Willie Croft of Sacramento. Croft scored an impressive second place finish at the Thunderbowl last month in what was just his third night of ever racing at the 1/3 mile clay oval. He also won the dash that night and led 26 laps in the feature before Kaeding was able to get around him up high in turn one. The driver of the Holey Smokes BBQ, LRB Manufacturing No. 29 has tallied two quick times this season and has finished in the top 10 five times.

Other Golden State Challenge travelers expected at the Pombo/Sargent Classic will include: Chico’s Brett Miller, Salinas’ Ronnie Day, Tracy’s Jason Botsford, Campbells’ Bud Kaeding, Grass Valley’s Brad Sweet, Fairmont, Indiana’s Brandon Wimmer, Gilroy’s Jon Maiwald, Discovery Bay’s Jim Skinner, Scott’s Valley’s Evan Suggs, Fresno’s Mark Workentine, Redding’s Ric McCormick and more.

The Central, CA contingent will be made up of two-time Pombo/Sargent Classic champ Tommy Tarlton of Fresno, Visalia’s Ricci Faria, Tipton’s Mike Faria, Fresno’s Craig Stidham, Tipton’s Danny Faria Jr, Caruthers’ Garrett Ishii and Fresno’s Mike Stallings. D. Faria Jr. is expected to debut a new, beautifully hand painted scheme on his Stinger Chassis No. 17v machine this weekend

Many of the old time cars from the Pombo/Sargent era will be on hand during the night to turn some exhibition laps. This always brings back some great memories for many of the long time race fans so it should be a can’t miss night.

The front gate at the Thunderbowl Raceway will open at 5 pm this Saturday with Reserved Grandstand tickets costing $18 and General Admission bleacher tickets costing $15. To purchase tickets call 559-688-0909. First race is scheduled for approximately 7pm. For a seating chart, directions, a list of hotels and more, log onto http://www.tularethunderbowl.com

For the full Golden State Challenge Series point standings visit http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com

The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and J Streets in Tulare.

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Leading the Golden State Challenge Series points into the Pombo/Sargent Classic is the hottest driver right now in California, Oroville's Sean Becker. The '05 King of California has scored four straight podiums in GSC competition and comes into Tulare on the strength of two consecutive wins at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway in Friday night point race action. Becker and the Fisher-Main 35m team are clicking extremely well right now.

Photo's by Johns Racing Photos "The Big Picture." Visit www.johnsracingphotos.com for more info on the Big Picture. Additional photos also taken by Davy Thomas.

Defending Pombo/Sargent Classic champion Brent Kaeding comes into Tulare after winning the past two GSC races. BK is a multiple time winner of the Pombo/Sargent Classic in his career.

Defending King of California Jonathan Allard comes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic 12 points back of Becker for the lead in the GSC standings

'04 King of California Jason Statler ranks fourth in the Golden State Challenge point standings. Statler has one career Thunderbowl victory which came at the Chris Faria Memorial in 2005

Willie Croft turned in an impressive second place finish when GSC visited Tulare in March. The driver known as "Double Down" comes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic rounding out the top five in the points.

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17 year-old Brett Miller is the youngest GSC full timer this year and he currently sits sixth in the points

The last time Ronnie Day visited victory lane in a sprint car race was at the 2005 Pombo/Sargent Classic. Day goes into this year's event sitting seventh in GSC points

Jason Botsford is in his second year running with GSC and respected California crew chief Randy V has tuned him to eighth place in points

"The Worm" Brad Sweet has picked up one GSC win this year and goes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic ninth in points. Sweet set fast time with GSC at the Thunderbowl in March.

1997 & 1998 Pombo/Sargent Classic champion Bud Kaeding rounds out the top 10 in the current Golden State Challenge Series standings. (Edited to show Bud as the '97 winner as well. He won the Pombo/Sargent Classic in his rookie season with NARC/GSC and followed it up the next year with another win)

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Gary, is Tom Henry bringing The #7 Car, or Pombo's old Car ? Amazing Pictures, John really stepped up His Photos a notch, new equipment?So Clear, keep up the good work John

When I spoke to him at the World of Outlaw race at Tulare, Tom said he would have the #7 out for the Pombo/Sargent race.

Yep last week Tom said that he would have the car at the race.

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Thanks for the props Bruce. Ironically although it is new equipment this year it is essentially the same as I was using last year. Just wore a shutter out on one of the camera bodies so I replaced it and the lens.

Wish I was going to Tulare this weekend. I would really like to see Danny Faria Jr. new ride. I think there will be a Faria in the top 3 this weekend also. Sean Becker for the win though. Second pick Brad Sweet.

And now some of the top Central, CA talent:

After a rather quiet '06 season, Visalia's Ricci Faria has come back this year and has looked good in limited outings. He has scored finishes of 5th, 7th and 9th in three GSC starts this season. Photos by Davy Thomas

Fresno's Tommy Tarlton is a 2 time Pombo/Sargent Classic champ as well as a 2 time Thunderbowl Raceway champ. Tarlton won back to back Pombo/Sargent titles in 2002 & 2003, but hasn't won a GSC race since his '03 triumph in the Classic. In his career however, Tarlton has won five GSC races putting him in a tie for 11th on the all-time win list. Photos by Johns Racing Photos

"Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr.'s lone GSC win came in 2005 during prelim night at the Pombo/Sargent Classic. Faria Jr. was part of one of the best duels all last season when he battled wheel to wheel, and nose to tail with eventual GSC champ Jonathan Allard over the last 12 laps of the feature during the GSC stop at the Thunderbowl in June. "Hollywood" gave the Chico driver all he could handle, but came up about two car lengths short of recording his second career victory. Faria Jr. is expected to debut a new paint scheme at this Saturday's Pombo/Sargent Classic. Photos by Johns Racing Photos

Tipton's Mike Faria had his closest shot at winning a GSC race during the Pombo/Sargent Classic in 2000. Faria led 29 3/4 laps only to have Brent Kaeding blow by for the win on the top side in the final corner of the last lap. Faria always runs well at the Thunderbowl and in 2005 he finished runner-up in the Trophy Cup to Brent Kaeding after having a fantastic race long duel with the 12 time King of California. In the GSC event at the Thunderbowl last month Faria qualified second quick and brought home an eighth place finish in the feature. Photos by Davy Thomas and Johns Racing Photos

Fresno's Craig Stidham is a Central, CA gasser that has picked up a pair of top 10's with GSC this year. Stidham scored a 10th place finish after starting 17th during opening night of the Mini Gold Cup in Chico and also bagged a 9th place finish at Kings Speedway the following weekend. Stidham's career highlight came in 2001 when he won the Trophy Cup and the Rebel Cup championship in the same season. Photos by Davy Thomas

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
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ok ok im ready to go now!!! the rain is gone so lets go play in the dirt..

my picks are

fast time.. Sweet

top 5 pics

JA

Becker

Bud Kaeding

Hollywood

Sweet

see you guys there im riding down with Chuck...

(LOSER)

Can't help but think JA is due..but i think Becker has the best looking car so i'm picking him.... BK's car has too many stickers, it's gotta slow him down....right?

Sharks start at noon. Hockey or racing? Tough choice but I'll be heading to Tulare as soon as I get off work. 1pm ish

Go Sharks and go to Tulare, he he! You can watch the Sharks highlights on ESPN, something you can't do with sprint car racing, lol.

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

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