Western States Modifieds champ to be crowned at Pombo/Sargent Classic with $1,500 to win featureBy Gary ThomasTulare, CA – June 25, 2008…This Saturday’s Pombo/Sargent Classic at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway will not only feature great racing action, but it will also be a night where the second Western States Modifieds champion will be crowned. It will also be the final tune-up at the 1/3 mile clay oval prior to big U.S. Western Modified Nationals, which is coming up at the end of September. Making the night even more special is the fact that Eric and Davene Oldes of Little Darlins Child Care have stepped up once again and the WSM main event will pay a solid $1,500 to win and $100 to start. So far this season it has been a battle between Brian Cass and Paul Stone. Cass has won twice at the Thunderbowl this season and his other finish has been a third, which came on May 10. In fact during the previous event at the Thunderbowl it looked early on that Cass might make it three-for-three, until visitors Kenny Nott and Bobby Hogge IV were both able to get by. The racing during the main event was outstanding as Hogge came from dead last on the grid to lose out on the win by about a few inches. Cass remained composed and was able to cross the stripe in third to maintain his point lead. Stone was last year’s runner-up in points and he goes into championship night at the Pombo/Sargent Classic once again sitting second in the WSM standings. Last season he was the driver that had the most wins at the Thunderbowl, but this season Stone has done it with consistency as he’s tallied finishes of second, third and fourth. During the previous event he was collected in an incident early in the feature while running up front, but was able to carve his way back up to fourth, keeping him alive in the point chase. Other Western States Modifieds drivers expected at the Pombo/Sargent Classic will include Vance Beltran, Mike Villanueva, Garret Steitz, Tommy Laliberte, Alex Stanford, and Greg Mancebo, as well a number of travelers who will be looking to get some laps in prior to the $20,000 to win U.S. Western Modified Nationals to be held on September 25, 26 and 27. Also in competition this Saturday night will be the 850 hp winged sprints of the Golden State Challenge Series. The Pombo/Sargent Classic has been going on for over 20 years and it honors the California racing icons Al Pombo and Marshall Sargent. It originally started at nearby Kings Speedway in Hanford, before moving to the Thunderbowl in 2006. 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 Raceway events at his booth below the main grandstands. The front gate at the Pombo/Sargent Classic will open up at 5 pm this Saturday June 28 with reserved grandstand tickets costing only $18 and general admission bleacher tickets just $15. Log onto http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com to view a seating chart and then call (559) 688-0909 to get the seats you want. The Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare. -------------------Brian Cass and Paul Stone will decide who will be the 2008 WSM champ at the Pombo/Sargent Classic this Saturday. Photos by Paul Trevino Racing Photos
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