Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
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PRESS RELEASE, PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY, PLACERVILLE, CA

FROM THE OFFICE OF JOHN PADJEN MOTORSPORTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2008

MEDIA CONTACT: BILL SULLIVAN: [email protected]

Civil War Series is Napa Valley bound to compete on California’s big one; the half mile Calistoga Speedway

By Bill Sullivan

CALISTOGA, CA – For sprint car drivers it’s a special place, it’s an intimidating place and it’s a dangerous place. Its the famed half mile Calistoga Speedway on the Napa County Fairgrounds and this Saturday it will host the fire breathing sprint cars of the Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Series for the annual “”Calistoga Cup.”

The Civil War Series is a 15 race campaign that competes on six different dirt tracks in Northern California between the months of March and October. The facilities in which this campaign competes vary in size and nature, from the tight bullring quarter mile track at Placerville Speedway to Calistoga the frightening fast flat half mile that is undoubtedly the most intimidating track on the series campaign.

“Calistoga is one my favorite tracks to race on, I have always done pretty well there,” said Elk Grove’s Greg DeCaires. DeCaires is a former Civil War champion and was the winner of the inaugural Calistoga Cup back in 2003 when he led every lap of the feature event. “But at the same time Calistoga scares me, she is a beautiful track but at the same time she is very intimidating and not very forgiving so you have to respect her and be a little bit scared, anyone who isn’t has no business being there.”

DeCaires has had many years of success at Calistoga, from his days when he drove for the Bumgarner team in the Northern Auto Racing Club until the present, when he competes behind the wheel of both Mark Remunds #39 and the Breshears family #10x sprint cars. DeCaires is often the driver many of the new faces turn to when they come to Calistoga, seeking advice and insight as they learn the characteristics of the track that’s tough to tame.

“I never mind when one of the younger drivers asks me about Calistoga,” said DeCaires. “When we race at a place like this we all must work together to make sure we have a nice safe race. If you don’t work together you get hurt.”

Entering Saturday’s event, Foresthill resident David Robinson Jr. is tied for the series point lead with Sacramento’s Sean Becker Both drivers are one time feature winners in the series this season and both are seeking their first career wins at Calistoga Speedway.

For Robinson, Calistoga has always been a special place in his life, as a youngster his family would go to the races there, where he would sit in the stands and watch his heroes such like Jan Opperman wheel their way around the monster oval. Like every driver a win at Calistoga would top Robinson’s resume.

“Winning at Calistoga would be a dream come true,” said Robinson, who according to his sister, once played with his wooden sprint cars in the dirt campground just outside of the track. “From the time I was a little kid I have always wanted to win a race at this place. To win at Stoga for this team would really be special for all of us and I am going to do my best the get the job done.”

Four time series champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn is third in the point standings. Forsberg too will be seeking his first career victory at the track he spent many Saturday nights watching his father Richard turn laps at Calistoga where he was a two time career winner with victories in 1981 and 1984. For Forsberg, the ultimate Father’s Day gift would be a win at the track he remembers watching his dad race the most.

“I went to many tracks as a kid, and my dad didn’t win here that often,” said Forsberg. “But this place is so special, out of all the places I watched my dad race I remember this one the most. Winning this race would be high on my list of victories that’s for sure.”

Last year Forsberg finished in second place in the Calistoga Cup. The bridemaid finish was bittersweet as he followed his brother in law, Mike Benson across the finish line. A resident of Calistoga, Benson’s lifelong dream of winning on the track where he grew up came true last June and the capacity crowd in the grandstands flooded victory lane when he climbed from his car. There were so many individuals surrounding the local favorite, the remote microphone would not function but for Benson that was ok, because he was pretty much speechless.

Benson will return Saturday night and try to back his memorable win but he will be joined by a number of drivers that are sure to be looking towards the front as well. Among them will be Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson, who is fourth in the series point standings and recently won a Civil War event in Chico. Sacramento’s Willie Croft is sixth in the standings followed by Herman Klein of Sacramento, Andy Gregg of Placerville and Colby Wiesz of Colfax. Benson is 10^th in standings ahead of Penngrove’s Alissa Geving who will be making her second Calistoga appearance of her career with the likes of Myles Bishop of Escalon, Kyle Hirst and more of the Civil War contenders.

With the competing Golden State Challenge Series off for the weekend, several GSC teams are also expected to compete, possible bringing the car count near the 40 mark for this memorable night of racing. Teams that have confirmed entries include former GSC Champion Jason Statler of Los Gatos, Stephen Allard of Chico, Bud Kaeding of Indianapolis, Indiana and Tyler Walker of Los Angeles.

The pit area of Calistoga Speedway will open at 3:30 on Saturday with the grandstands opening at 5 p.m. and qualifying starting at 6:30. Drivers are advised to utilize sun visors for preliminary competition and the evening is expected to conclude by 10 p.m. For additional information on this event visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.