PRESS RELEASE, HOOSIER RACING TIRES CIVIL WAR SPRINT CAR SERIES

FROM THE OFFICE OF JOHN PADJEN MOTORSPORTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008

MEDIA CONTACT: BILL SULLIVAN: [email protected]          

Tighten the belts Placerville race fans, former champion Mike Henry will be in the house

By Bill Sullivan

PLACERVILLE, CA – When the Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Race Series returns to Placerville Speedway this Saturday night the action is sure to be the best any open wheel race fan could ask for with the following attributes being just a few of the factors; A veteran favorite leading the standings by a narrow margin, a sixteen year old talented kid from Elk Grove looking to make history by taking that lead away, a four time champion looking for his first series win on the night which his car owner is sponsoring and a young lady racer looking to continue her campaign toward the series Rookie Title and possibly the championship.

Now, area race fans can add in one more factor into Saturday’s highly anticipated hot August night at the Placerville bullring, former two time Civil War Champion Mike Henry will return to the track in which he began racing sprint cars at. The one thing missing from Henry’s stellar career, a Civil War Series victory at Placerville Speedway.

“I’ve won main events there, I’ve won Civil War races at other tracks,” said Henry, in a previous interview. “But I have never managed to win a Civil War feature at Placerville and it’s the one thing I really want to do, not only for myself but for my team and my sponsors.”

Henry is a former two-time champion of the Civil War Series, a former Placerville Speedway weekly champion and a former rookie of the year.  Last week the Sacramento resident that is known for his win it or wear it driving style completed his first full season of racing with the Golden State Challenge Series. Henry finished his year with a fourth place finish in the standings of California’s series for 410 sprint cars behind top drivers Jonathan Allard, Tyler Walker and Bud Kaeding.

While the Golden State Series finish was a highlight of Henry’s career, this Saturday he looks to complete unfinished business at the track he still calls home aboard the Steve Harris owned #93 sprint car.  The team won the season opening Golden State Challenge race at Placerville Speedway and has acquired a 360 engine to compete with this Saturday night with hopes that Henry can get the monkey off his back with a Civil War win on Northern California’s action bullring.

While Henry will surely be charging to the front, he will have his share of competition Saturday night. Point leader Sean Becker of Sacramento is just four points ahead of Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson and both drivers will be gunning for the front. Four time champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn is looking for his first win of the series and the track is being sponsored by his car owner, A&A Stepping Stone for the evening adding even more incentive to the driver that rarely needs an extra push.  Veteran drivers Herman Klein of Sacramento and Mike Benson of Calistoga will be looking to hold off the charges of Penngrove’s Alissa Geving as she eyes moving into the top five standings along with fast man Myles Bishop of Escalon. Both drivers are in a heated battle for the series rookie award.

Nearly 40 of California’s best drivers are expected at Placerville Speedway Saturday night for an action packed night of all open wheel racing. The evening is “A&A Stepping Stone Night” and the local company will be adding their share of fun to the evening with free prizes to many fans, candy for the kids and much more.

“A&A Stepping Stone has been a big part of sprint car racing here, with sponsorship and the ownership of Andy Forsberg’s team,” said track promoter John Padjen. “They do a lot for racing and we’re glad they are a part of this night, it should be a good one.”

The gates to Placerville Speedway will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday with qualifying starting at 6:30 followed by an action packed racing program including four ten lap heat races, a C-feature, B-feature and the high dollar 30-lap A-feature which packs a total of 22 winged sprint cars on Placerville tight bullring Adult tickets will be $15, Juniors will be $10, children $5 and under six is admitted for free.

            For further information on John Padjen Motorsports or the Civil War Sprint Car Series visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.