Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
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Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway 2008 schedule announced

By Gary Thomas

Tulare, CA - December 10, 2007...After another successful year of racing competition, the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is pleased to announce the 2008 schedule of events for the 1/3 mile clay oval located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds. The racing calender at the Thunderbowl will once again see 13 nights of competition that will include action from February to late October featuring some of the premier sanctioning bodies in sprint car racing.

The season will open with a two night event featuring the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaw Sprint Series on February 22 and 23. This date is one week earlier than had previously been announced due to a scheduling conflict at the fairgrounds. The World of Outlaws will then return in the Fall for a single night show on Saturday October 18. Winners from this past season's Outlaw events at the Thunderbowl Raceway include two-time defending series champion Donny Schatz, series runner-up Joey Saldana and California fan favorite Tim Kaeding.

The Golden State Challenge King of California 410 Sprint Series will once again compete in four individual nights of competition at the Thunderbowl. The dates will all be on Saturdays and they are March 29, April 26, May 10 and June 28. The May 10 event will be the Chris & Brian Faria Memorial and the June 28 GSC stop will be the Pombo/Sargent Classic. This past season saw the Pombo/Sargent Classic held in April, but next year it will be a return back to normal as it’s held during the warmer Summer months like it had been for so many years. The Western States Modifieds will run alongside the Golden State Challenge Series during all events.

Returning for the second straight season will be the Salute to Indy featuring the USAC/CRA Wingless 410 Sprint Car Series on Sunday night May 25. This past season’s event held on Memorial Day weekend was very successful as it saw a good crowd witness a great night of racing. Also in competition during the night will be the Western States Modifieds. The defending champion of the Salute to Indy is Ventura, CA’s Cory Kruseman who picked up the win during the inaugural USAC/CRA Series event in Tulare last May.

Also returning to the Thunderbowl will be the 2^nd annual U.S. Western Modified Nationals and the event will once again feature three night’s of action being held on September 25, 26 and 27. The first ever U.S. Western Modified Nationals this past season saw over 110 dirt mods compete for the $25,000 top prize. It was an event that showed huge potential and with a few tweaks in the program this is expected to be a can’t miss show come late September.

The Tulare Thunderbowl will close out the season by hosting the popular Trophy Cup on October 24 and 25, making it the fourth consecutive year that the event for 360 winged sprint cars has been contested at the 1/3 mile clay oval. The purse for the 15^th annual Trophy Cup will also see an increase to $100,000 and it is expected to substantially bump up the amount of money to start Saturday night’s 40 lap main event. Since coming to the Thunderbowl in 2005, the Trophy Cup has see outstanding racing and has grown into one of the top sprint car events on the West Coast.

The ‘08 season looks to be another good one for Thunderbowl Raceway and it offers a little something for everyone. Everybody involved with the track would like to wish everyone a happy holidays and we’ll see you all in February. Keep posted to http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com for news and information as we go through the Winter.

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2008 Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway schedule

February 22 and 23- Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series

March 29- Golden State Challenge Series & Western States Modifieds

April 26- Golden State Challenge Series & Western States Modifieds

May 10- Chris & Brian Faria Memorial: Golden State Challenge Series & Western States Modifieds

May 25- Salute to Indy: USAC/CRA Series & Western States Modifieds

June 28- Pombo/Sargent Classic: Golden State Challenge Series & Western States Modifieds

September 25, 26 and 27- U.S. Western Modified Nationals: Western States Modifieds

October 18- Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaw Sprint Series

October 24 and 25- 15^th annual Trophy Cup: Winged 360 Sprint Cars

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Outlaw website says: Feb 29 & March 1.

Right that's what it was originally scheduled for, but the Fairgrounds has the Great Western Livestock Show that weekend, so as of now the event will be Feb 22 and 23.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

It is disappointing that Pombo/Sargent is no longer a two day race. I know that budget is a big factor, but I sure do miss the not-so-old days. Only eight years ago, the NARC and GSC schedule had all of the teams racing nearly every Friday and Saturday night.

There is something about a two-day show in the summer. Telling the boss whatever in order to get part of the day off on Friday, speeding down the 99 to the race track, racing all night, getting up early on Saturday morning to get the car ready, planning on where to go to lunch, racing all night, heading home, and...depending on how your weekend went...being in a good (or not so good) mood all day Sunday.

Anyone know when Feb. WOO tickets go on sale?