Stock car divisions excited to be part of bonus funds on Cold Springs Church Night at Placerville
By Bill Sullivan
PLACERVILLE, CA – This Saturday night the extra winnings continue to be handed out at Alan Padjen’s Placerville Speedway as Cold Springs Community Church of Placerville will sponsor the evening of family entertainment at the El Dorado County Fairground. Winged 360 Sprint Cars will race for $2000 to win on this special night. The Pro Stocks and Pure Stocks will each be racing for a $200 bonus, courtesy of the local church that has been a strong supporter of Placerville Speedway for the last five years.
It all started five years ago when track promoter John Padjen received a phone call from a gentleman by the name of Don Wilson. Wilson has had a lifelong love of motor sports and previously competed in the annual Placerville Police Officers Association Destruction Derby when he was employed as a peace officer in the early days of his career. These days, Wilson is the Associate Pastor of ColdSpringsCommunityChurch and in 2004 he found a way to bring his passion together with his favorite pastime when he called Padjen and offered his services as the chaplain of Placerville Speedway.
“I am so blessed that the people in our church support my ministry here at the track and with JPM. They know how much I love the sport of auto racing and how much I love being out here every Saturday night,” said Wilson. “We will have over 250 people from the church here on Saturday and I know they will have a great night of family entertainment. I also appreciate the support from the Padjen’s, the driver’s and crew’s and all the fans each week.”
Since its beginning in 1965, Placerville Speedway has been one of the most successful Saturday night auto racing programs in California. Today, the quarter-mile clay oval continues to draw huge crowds despite a challenging economy. While many businesses are seeing significant declines in revenue and interest, the small action packed dirt track nestled in the small gold rush town of Placerville continues to fair well and much of that is attributed to its commitment to quality, family entertainment and as Wilson notes, strong relationships where deep traditions and family values run deep.
“The relationships I’ve built over the last four years have allowed me to help at least four families that have suffered the loss of a family member. I feel like I have a whole other family out here at the track and we all have one thing in common – racing. This track and the people here have become a big part of my life and I pray for them daily.”
As competitors return to Placerville Speedway for the third of several community sponsor nights this Saturday, they look forward to the added incentive as well as the added new faces in the grandstands, many of which will be attending a racing event for the first time.
“This is what it is all about, getting new people in the stands to watch these great drivers,” said Steve Tuccelli, co-owner of the FnF Racing #x1 driven by David Robinson Jr. who picked up last weeks locally sponsored Tribute to Al Hinds victory. “Programs like this is what we need to keep this sport strong, its all about promotion and Placerville is really working hard at it this year. Times are hard and we appreciate any extra winnings we can run for.”
Historically, the winged sprint cars are the division that draws the extra winnings week after week. However, on this night the ColdSpringsCommunityChurch agreed to participate in the “New Faces to the Races” Program on the terms that each of the three weekly divisions will have an extra incentive to win. The Pure Stocks and the Pro Stocks will each be racing for a $200 bonus to win.
“I think this is a great deal,” said Tom Tilford of Citrus Heights, the 2006 Pure Stock champion who comes from a family of successful drivers. “Anytime you can come out and race for an extra $200 in this division it’s a good thing. We really appreciate Don for everything he does for us out here, he’s is a very special friend to all of us drivers.”
The gates to Placerville Speedway will open at on Saturday night. Qualifying will be at followed by heat races for all divisions. The three track regulars are being joined by the midget lites of the Bay Cities Racing Association.
The ColdSpringsCommunityChurch is one of several community “new faces to the races” sponsors this season. Additional sponsors in the upcoming weeks include Golden One Credit Union of Placerville and El Dorado Hills, NMI Industrial Contractors,Specialized Parts Planet, A&A Stepping Stone, Morrison Concrete.and Performance Plus Carpet Care. A limited number of nightly sponsorships are still available and further information can be obtained by contacting Bill Sullivan at Placerville Speedway at: [email protected].
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