 16th annual Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway fast approaching
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – October 13, 2009…Whenever late-October comes about many sprint car fans from throughout California flock to the Central Valley for one of the most exciting racing events of the season and that time is nearly here with the 16th annual Trophy Cup getting ready to go green in just over a week at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway.
A year after switching to a three-night format the Trophy Cup will be "back to tradition" this season and the prestigious 360 winged sprint car event will be held over two-nights on October 23 and 24. "With the way the economy has been we just decided that it would be best for our fans and competitors that we switch back to a two-night show this year," said Don Sharp of Thunderbowl Raceway. "We're really excited for it because the response has been all positive and we should be in for another great Trophy Cup."
A number of top drivers from all around California, Oregon, Washington and a few from the Midwest will be on hand at the Trophy Cup to fight it out for part of the $80,000 purse that is put up over the two-nights of racing. Former event champions set to be in action will be four-time winner Brent Kaeding of Campbell; two-time titlist Tim Kaeding from San Jose; as well as single-time champs Tommy Tarlton of Easton; Fresno 's Craig Stidham and Salinas, CA 's Ronnie Day.
Among the drivers looking to breakthrough for their first Trophy Cup title will be 2009 Golden State Challenge Series King of California Tyler Walker of Los Angeles; two-time and current California Sprint Car Civil War Series champion Sean Becker of Oroville; two-time King of California Jonathan Allard of Chico; Loomis' Kyle Hirst; Bixby, Oklahoma's Shane Stewart; Warsaw, Missouri's Jesse Hockett; San Jose's Randy Hannagan; Medford, Oregon's Roger Crockett; Red Lion, PA's Cody Darrah and many more.
The Trophy Cup's unique format, coupled with the always the exciting Thunderbowl Raceway 1/3 mile clay oval make the event a can not miss for sprint car fans. Points are awarded every time a driver hits the track and everything leads up to the 50-lap main event on Saturday night that inverts the entire 24-car field based on points accumulated up till that part of the event. The Tulare Microtel near Properity and Highway 99, located at 1500 Cherry Ct. is also offering a racer's rate for the nights of October 22, 23 and 24. The rate is available by mentioning Thunderbowl Raceway, Trophy Cup or Racer's Rate. The rates are, single $60, double $65, and suite $75. Call 559-685-8900 to make a reservation.
The racing program is scheduled to get underway around 6pm each night. Reserved grandstand tickets for Friday night will be $30 for adults and $15 for kids with general admission bleacher seats costing $25 for adults and $13 for kids. Saturday night reserved grandstands will be $35 for adults and $18 for kids with general admission bleacher tickets being $30 for adults and $15 for kids. To order tickets contact 559-688-0909 and for more info on the 16th annual Trophy Cup log onto http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com and http://www.trophycup.org/ |
