|
GSC Sprint Cars move to Ocean Speedway this Friday night
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – March 11, 2008…After a very successful opening weekend at the Mini Gold Cup, the Golden State Challenge King of California 410 Sprint Car Series will now head to Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway this Friday night March 14. A number of strong cars are expected to be in attendance in what will mark the third round of action for the traveling winged sprint car series.
Now in its third year of being promoted by John Prentice, the Ocean Speedway has seen a revival over the last few years. Prentice has put new life back into the ¼ mile clay oval and has brought it up leaps and bounds compared to where it was before he took over. He has helped mold it into one of the premier sprint car venues in Northern California.
The Ocean Speedway will see the Golden State Challenge Series four times during the ’08 season and will also feature 10 nights of winged 360 sprint car action, including a California Civil War Series date on September 20. The track will also hold a World of Outlaw Series date on October 17 showing just how committed the speedway is to winged sprint car racing.
Clovis, CA racer Jason Meyers will look to make it two in a row this Friday following his big win last Saturday night at the Mini Gold Cup. The driver of the GLR Investments No. 14 has been on fire this season winning a pair of World of Outlaw main events in addition to his Mini Gold Cup victory and he also sits second in WOO points, just two digits out of the lead. Meyers has been one of the hottest sprint car drivers in the country since the end of last season when he won the Trophy Cup, the Short Track Nationals and the opening night of the WOO World Finals in Charlotte.
The man who dominated much of the action at Ocean Speedway last season is defending Golden State Challenge King of California Brent Kaeding of Campbell. BK will look to rebound this Friday after failing to qualify for the Mini Gold Cup main event and finishing 20th on opening night. The driver of the Al’s Roofing Supply No. 69 won the Ocean Speedway track championship last season and won the GSC event at the track last June.
San Jose’s Tim Kaeding put on a pair of charges to score top five’s last weekend in Chico and will to pick up season win number one at Ocean Speedway. The former King of California was his usual exciting self at the Mini Gold Cup and kept the fans on the edge of their seats all weekend long aboard the Tom Rolfe Racing No. 10. Last season he picked up the GSC win at Ocean in July and has won a number of times at the ¼ mile speedway in his career.
Former King of California Jonathan Allard of Chico finished third during the opening night of the Mini Gold Cup and currently ranks fifth in points, the highest of the drivers that are expected to run the series for the majority of the season. Allard won with GSC at Ocean Speedway in May of 2006 and had a best finish of second last season. The driver of the Morrie Williams No. 0 set fast time during the Saturday portion of the Mini Gold Cup last weekend.
Los Angeles driver Tyler Walker had a successful return to the Golden State Challenge Series last weekend and will look to put the SC Motorsports No. 24 into victory lane for the first time this Friday. Walker tallied a top five finish and a fast time effort during last Friday’s season opener and showed the excitement level that he’s known for.
Nearby resident Evan Suggs of Scotts Valley will be chasing his first career GSC victory this Friday at his home track aboard the GLR Investments sponsored Suggs Racing No. 33e. For the next couple weeks Suggs will be running with an older motor as the teams best engine dropped a valve last weekend and was sent back to the builder.
Two-time and defending USAC Silver Crown champ Bud Kaeding of San Jose will look for better things this weekend aboard the BK Racing No. 29. The third generation driver won a GSC event at the Ocean Speedway in June of 2006 while subbing for father Brent. Also looking for an improvement this weekend will be Los Gatos’ Jason Statler. The former King of California won the Johnny Key Classic last September at Ocean Speedway aboard his DF Rios Construction No. 00.
Sacramento’s Mike Henry showed speed in his new ride last weekend at the Mini Gold Cup. The former two-time Civil War Series champ scored a fine sixth place finish last Saturday during just his second night behind the wheel of the HMH Motorsports No. 93. Henry is expected to run full time this season with the Golden State Challenge Series for the first time in his career.
Other possible entrants this Friday night will be Bixby, OK’s Shane Stewart, Loomis’ Kyle Hirst, Fairmount, IN’s Brandon Wimmer, Discover Bay’s Jim Skinner, Fresno’s Mark Workentine, Tracy’s Jason Botsford and more.
The front gate at the Ocean Speedway will open at 4:30 pm on Friday with adult tickets costing $20, children 6 to 12 $10, seniors 65 and older $15 and kids five and under will be free. The Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California. For more info on the track visit http://www.oceanspeedway.com
Up Next: After the event on Friday night in Watsonville the Golden State Challenge Series will be dark the next night before resuming action at Placerville Speedway on March 22. For the current point standings and more log onto http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
