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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ORANGE SHOW STADIUM RETURNS TO DIRT TRACK RACING WITH "DOC" GRIFFIN MEMORIAL
(San Bernardino, CA, April 17th 2013)
Dirt Entertainment is pleased to announce the Grand Re-Opening of the
Orange Show Stadium in downtown San Bernardino, California on Saturday,
April 27 2013 with the First-Annual Robert "Doc" Griffin Memorial.
This historic event will not only return Orange Show Stadium back to
its clay roots, but also kick off the 66th continuous OSS racing
season!
The Orange Show Stadium was opened as a clay oval on
May 1, 1947 and has since become the longest running speedway in
California history. The track was paved in 1964 and has played host to
some of the most legendary racers and races over the years. Names like
A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Bill Vukovich, Roger Ward, Jimmy Bryan, Bobby
Unser, Rick Mears, Ivan Baldwin and Troy Ruttman have all circled the
famous quarter-mile raceway doing battle in open wheel race cars. In
2012, the track was dormant for nearly an entire calendar year, until
Dirt Entertainment took over promotion of the facility and provided one
final race on pavement on December 15th to keep the racing streak
alive. As soon as the final checkered flag fell on that night, several
loads of clay were delivered to the fairgrounds to transform the popular
family raceway into a mud-slinging thrill factory. The 2013 racing
schedule will complete the 66th consecutive season at OSS.
"Doc" Griffin was the father of Richard "The Gas Man" Griffin of Silver
City, New Mexico. "The Gas Man" was a dominate force in CRA and SCRA
competition during the 1990's and early 2000's driving the potent "Lil
Red Sucker" #50 Madera Produce car owned by Ron Chaffin and wrenched by
the legendary team of Bruce Bromme Senior and Bruce Bromme Junior.
Richard took home 5 SCRA Championships during his career and became one
of the most popular drivers in the series history.
At an early
age, Richard convinced his father, Robert "Doc" Griffin to let him
race. His career started in flat track motorcycles, later progressed to
stock cars and finally matured into slinging fire-breathing sprint
cars. During his racing career, Richard was the Fleet Manager for Doc's
oil, gas, and propane distribution company, Griffin's Propane, Inc. It
was selling gas products that actually gave him his nickname "The Gas
Man".
Known for his sense of humor and genuine personality,
Robert "Doc" Griffin was also very popular amongst fellow racers and
within the racing community. Doc passed away on March 25, 2013. In his
honor, the season opener to be held at the newly re-opened Orange Show
Stadium on Saturday, April 27th will be known as the Inaugural "Doc
Griffin Memorial", and will feature URA Unlimited Sprint Cars and
California Lightning Sprints, along with the Young Guns, Senior Sprints,
Limited Midgets and an exhibition by the WRA Nostalgia cars from the
'50s and '60s.
The URA Unlimited Sprint Cars will race for a
special purse, which was increased by Chaffin Motorsports, Madera
Produce and the friends and family of Robert "Doc" Griffin. The winner
of this year's Unlimited Sprint Car Main Event will take home $4,000.00,
and Main Event qualifiers are guaranteed $400 to start. A full purse
breakdown will be posted at www.dirtentertainment.com . The purse will be paid in cash the night of the event!
A
practice session will be held on Friday, April 26, 2012. For more
details, please visit the website listed above. Racing haulers will be
allowed to park overnight at the fairgrounds.
RACE NIGHT
Adult Admission: $15.00.
Mil/Seniors/Students: $10.00
Youth 6-12: $5.00
5 and under FREE with a full paid adult admission.
Parking is always FREE!
For more information, please email Doug Bushey at [email protected].
To
keep up with all of the latest news, results and photos related to Dirt
Entertainment, the United Racing Association, Orange Show Stadium and
Route 66 Motorplex, please visit our website at www.dirtentertainment.com
You may also check us out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dirt-Entertainment/220939814588063?ref=ts&fref=ts
Dirt Entertainment and the United Racing Association would like to
thank its corporate sponsors for the 2013 season, which include Neff Rental, Avi Casino & Resort, VP Race Fuel, Pick-A-Part Auto Recyclers, Macro Air Technologies, Rock Auto.com
as well as our supporting sponsors, Chaffin Motorsports, Madera
Produce, OneDirt.com, Sprint Car Driving Experience, Circle Track
Performance, Trackside Parts, Speedway Fire & Safety, and our
advisory supporters Walt Boyd, Paul Colston, Roy Cline, and Rick McCray.
Video
and DVD productions of the racing events at Orange Show Stadium and
Route 66 Motorplex are available from Raceway Video. For more
information on these productions you can contact them via their website
at: http://www.racewayvideo.com/ .
Orange
Show Stadium is located on the National Orange Show Fairgrounds at 689 S
E St, San Bernardino, California 92408, in downtown San Bernardino (home of the NEW Route 66 Rendezvous in September),
approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one and a half hours
North of San Diego. From the 215 freeway, take the Orange Show Road
exit and head East, then turn left (North) onto South E Street.
URA 2013 Remaining Race Schedule:
April 27OSS Robert "Doc" Griffin Memorial
May 11RT66
June 1OSS National Orange Show Festival
June 29OSS
July 27RT66
Aug. 24SMS
Oct. 19OSS
Nov. 9OSS
Nov. 29 RT66 Turkey Classic
Nov. 30RT66Turkey Classic
URA...THE FUTURE IS UNLIMITED!
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