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2009 BANDIT SPRINT CAR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE  

**APRIL 4 - VENTURA RACEWAY (GRAND SLAM #1) 

APRIL 11 - THUNDERBOWL RACEWAY 

**APRIL 25 - BAKERSFIELDSPEEDWAY (GRAND SLAM #2) 

MAY 2 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY 

MAY 9 - BAKERSFIELDSPEEDWAY 

MAY 16 - THUNDERBOWL RACEWAY 

MAY 23 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY 

JUNE 6 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY

JUNE 20 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY 

JUNE 27 - THUNDERBOWL RACEWAY  

JULY 18 - BAKERSFIELDSPEEDWAY 

JULY 25 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY 

**AUGUST 8 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY(GRAND SLAM #3 FINALE)  

AUGUST 15 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY  

AUGUST 29 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY  

SEPTEMBER 19 -SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY  

OCTOBER 10 - SANTA MARIASPEEDWAY 2nd ANNUAL BANDIT NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE 

That's Thunderbowl Speedway you are running at?? If so that's F'N great IMO. That track is awesome IMO. It reminds me of Knoxville when you walk in after paying and going thru the concessions. Straight to the track and the noise......except for the muff's...........it's unbelievable!!

Trophy Cup......Best race of the year hands down!

It is gonna be so great...the Banditos are racing each time with the Golden State Challenge winged 410's.  That will be a fun and awesome show!  

It's great to run the Thunderbowl again!! The only thing I have a question about is the conflicting dates with Kings Speedway. It says they are Bandit shows too, or is Kings just using the Bandit name and promoting their own shows?

First off is there a difference between the Bandits and the "Banditos" as you have described on numerous occasions? And second Kings shows a total of 13 Bandit shows on its schedule. Is there a difference or scheduling conflict or what? Maybe a feud between sanctioning groups or race tracks?

Bandit dates @ Kings' are as follows:

March 14, March 28, April 11, April 18, May 16, May 23, June 20, July 11, August 1, August 8, August 22, September 12 and October 3.

Two of the above (Kings) dates April 18 and May 16 conflict with your published (Tulare) schedule above while three of the Kings' dates conflict with your dates @ Santa Maria - May 23, June 20 and August 8.

As the spokesperson for the Banits or Banditos maybe you can explain the confusion for the benefit of the fans and maybe some competitors?

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Matt & Tricrwn, there will be no Bandits at Kings in 2009. This is a very recent developement after careful deliberation and much negotiation. There was an earnest intent to work out differences and race at Kings Speedway in 2009.

There was a group of drivers led by Davey Knott, Peter Murphy and Davey Pombo (all whom have a great deal of integrety, credability and a huge interest in not "losing" Kings Speedway) met with Frank and Jon Dias over the past few months to work out the kinks in Kings. They had a great deal of input from many drivers or teams in the series since last season. They came to the conclusion that based on past performance and the prevailing climate that racing at Kings wouldn't be in the best interest of the Bandit Series despite their best efforts at working with the Kings Speedway management team.

The conclusion was that quality would be favored over quantity of dates that was a problem to be resolved. That being said, there is a distinct sadness that goes along with that extremely tough decision. There is a hope that in the future doors can open up, so on the Bandit Series part there is no anger or fewd. There is the hope that Kings can work out their issues and change the atmosphere so the Series can continue there.

This is America and Kings can schedule what they want and operate as they deem appropriate, but be clear, as of the release of the 2009 Bandit Schedule, there will not be any sanctioned races at Kings Speedway and the expectation of the Kings Speedway Schedule should get corrected ASSAP to eliminate any confusion. As with our mission and for my part, we will continue to do the best for the Bandits regardless of what others chose to do or not to do. Racers vote with their participation and fans vote with their attendance. It is a free market.

As for the Bandit Series we definately are moving forward with the fantastic opportunities in front of us to provide the best for the trifecta that make up this series, the competing teams, the venues that host our shows and for the fans whom we strive to entertain. The addition of the Thunderbowl provides an opportunity to race before a great crowd along with the Golden State Challenge Series in a very well run operation. Further, it meets a tremendous need for a great track in the Central Valley and has generated a tremendous amount of excitement. Thanks to Don Sharp, Steve Faria and Dave Swindell for working this out. This deal had no bearing on the Kings decision but it certainly eased the pain of its loss.

I use Bandits specifically and throw in Bandito's as a fond reference to these wonderful people that make up the series. I use it to break up the over use of Bandito...I hope I didn't confuse you with that.

Hopefully that clears up some questions or confusion.

Pete Curto 805-305-9884

RADROBINLB

I checked my official ebonics definitions of the wrong meaning of Pete Curto's colorfull terms-Bandito's[frito's],Grand Salami['70's porn star],Victorvillians[Batmans newest arch enemy],Perrisian's [Ossama's back-up singers].........till Hanford gets it's act together,,,,,the Bandits made the right move with it's 2009 schedule,always a good show -but Thunderbowl's a great track , so well worth the drive.....

Thanks for clearing things up in a timely manner. Best of luck in 09.

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Kings already had made some changes to the track prep personell and we are still hopeful things will improve there. A fair portion had to do with Peters season ending injury along with Davey Pombo's injuries. All of these guys did and in their hearts want to see Kings problems resolved. They took the initiative and wanted to be part of that solution. Everybody dealt with a multitude of issues all last season and these guys lost confidence that things would be adequately dealt with with a reasonable attitude. To pull the plug was definately to option of last resort and certainly and obviously was not unilateral given all of the meetings that took place since the 2008 season.

Thanks for the kind words and exposing my half witted humor. Look forward to you making the long trek to watch a premium sprint car show! I am saddened by the Kings outcome but heartened by the Thunderbowlian opportunity.

I know you took my comment in the light hearted manner I ment.....Thunderbowlian... I'll have to think a little on that one....

Bandits at the Thunderbowl! And you throw in GSC with it? Man, things couldn't get any better. The Thunderbowl folks really know how to run a show.

If Diaz wouldn't listen to guys like Murphy and Pombo ther's no hope. I understand they have i year left on their deal with the Fair Board. I wouldn't be buying advance tickets on that CRA date.

I do not understand all of the diplomacy describing the attempts to work things out with Kings. It is a poorly run rat hole where the focus is sucking the last $ from the pockets of the remaining few fans and competitors. The Bandit racers deserve more, as do their fans. Tulare is the answer.

I LOOK AT THIS BOARD AND I SEE PEOPLE DO NOTHING BUT PUT KINGS SPEEDWAY DOWN , WE RAN THE WHOLE SEASON LAST YEAR IN THE ' BANDITS' , AT THE END OF THE YEAR , AWARDS HAPPENED NO BODY FROM THE BANDITS CAME FOWARD TO GIVE BACK TO THE DRIVERS , WE SUPPORTED THE BANDITS ALL YEAR LONG AND NOTHING FROM THE BANDIT PEOPLE , SORRY I DID ALMOST FORGET THAT KINGS SPEEDWAY TOOK IT APON THEMSELVES TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE DRIVERS THAT SUPPORTED THE "BANDIT SERIES" ALL YEAR LONG......... I AM NOT STICKING UP FOR KINGS , BUT NOW YOU ARE HURTING BOTH PLACES BY MAKING PEOPLE PICK ON WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO RACE THIS YEAR , SO INSTEAD OF HAVING 18 TO 24 CARS TO RACE WITH JUST SPLIT THAT IN HALF "THAT WILL BE FUN" . I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE DRIVERS WHERE CALLED ABOUT THIS SEASON , I NEVER ONCE GOT A PHONE CALL ON THIS MATTER OF NOT RUNNING AT KINGS THIS YEAR . WHATEVER DIFFERENCES THE PROMOTERS HAVE NEED TO GET TAKEN CARE OF .

Bushhater, there is sentiment for what you are saying. They seem to be working to improve things but it was felt to be insufficient by these racers.

However, we do hope things get better. It deminishes the whole sport (in my opinion) when tracks close and fail. There are so many racers who want Kings to succeed because they need a local track. As neat as the Tulare deal is, at this point they are not running a weekly show, they run fairly regular special events.

I use the term hope a great deal, but there is hope. There is hope that things can work out and I could not be more sincere when I say I am hopeful that they have a great deal of success this year with the changes they have put into place. Word of mouth will spread and hopefully fans will return to the stands, sponsors will find advertising advantageous and the pits will be filled. Love to see that again.

At this point there is justified skeptisicm. Therefore, against their heart, the decision was made on what was best for the bandito's. Nobody here is a "hater". I understand their disappointment, but that doesn't change the decision at this point. We will remain hopefull that things will change.

RADROBINLB

IT'S PRETTY AMAZING THAT SANTA MARIA HAS TULARE ON THE BANDITS SCHEDULE 3 TIMES AND TULARE ONLY HAS THEM ONCE THAT REALLY LOOKS GOOD , LOOKS LIKE SANTA MARIA DOES'NT HAVE EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF ON THERE END EITHER.

I am not putting Kings down, but those that have axes to grind are doing so based on pat performance and lack of responce and lack of a positive attitude.  And you don't need to yell (All Caps) 37.

Kings tried to do some good things, but Kings management in many, many ways was uncooperative with the "Bandits" and then said some negative things along with anti productive actions.  To a degree, that is why there were a drivers (with a great deal of integrity and group that has credibility) was determined to work with Kings and make things work.  They had a mind set to make it work.  They were not satisfied that the work to be done, both in attitude and performance would be made.  Kings does have to bear the bulk of this outcome.  That has to come from the top.  Given the negotiation and the result we have to look at attitude. 

Some of that attitude includes Kings scheduling over aggreed upon dates, including a Grand Slam date.  Some of that includes releasing a schedule before discussions were ended.  Some of that includes calling Bandit meetings arbitrairilly.  Some of that is reflected in already repeating some of the difficulties experienced last year.  And a significant portion includes running 5-6 divisions a night when there was a past performance issue last season there were 3 divisions on the card, only the Bandits had a double digit car count and the races went well past cerfew.  There was a significant apprehension over getting laps cut down. 

Were you a Bandit racer last season or were you a fan?  Either way, you wouldn't have witnessed the fights that took place on a weekly basis with Kings management/officials with regards to racing the bandits alone.  Much of it dealt with safety. Much of it was why Murphy (restand healing) and Pombo (surgery and a prolonged recovery) had off season back recoveries. Given all of that, these guys wanted with all their racing hearts to make it work. 

Drivers can make their own choices, this is America.  We feel this deal would be stronger together than scheduled over each other however, this could never be at the expense of safety and proper management. 

Bandit management is willing to work with Kings in the future and will remain open. But, in the minds of the teams that were the imputus of this decision these things need to be cleared up.  When and only when there is a demand by the teams to return to Kings, and if and only if Kings cleans up their issues and WANTS the bandits back, they will return.  There will be dates at Santa Maria, Tulare, Bakersfield, Ventura and possibly another track or two in the future to work with and consider.  Bandit Teams do demand quality venues, variety and in return provide a cost effective program and a great show for the paying customer. 

Our Bandit success is attitude driven and we work to do the best for the venues, the teams and the fans. 

RADROBINLB