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Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway season opens in a big way next weekend with World of Outlaws double-header March 14 & 15
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – March 4, 2014…The euphoric sound of racing engines will return to the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway next weekend, as the 2014 season kicks-off in style with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series on Friday & Saturday March 14 & 15. Along with the World of Outlaws, Friday night will also showcase the USAC West Coast Wingless 360 Sprint Cars, while Saturday finds the IMCA Modifieds taking to the one-third mile clay oval.
To purchase your tickets for the “Greatest Show on Dirt” at Steve Faria’s Thunderbowl Raceway on March 14 & 15 contact (559) 688-0909. The front gate will open at 4pm both nights with racing scheduled to fire off around 7pm. All seating is reserved during the double-header weekend with Bleacher tickets costing $40 and Grandstands seats $45 each night. A seating chart is available online at www.thunderbowlraceway.com
California fan favorite and driver of the locally based Roth Motorsports No. 83 entry, Tim Kaeding of San Jose will be looking to keep up his recent trend of success with the World of Outlaws at the track, having won two of the last three main events in Tulare. The two-time Golden State/ King of the West Series champion is always worth the price of admission at the Thunderbowl and goes into the two-night outing this year as a full-time competitor with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.
“Tulare is just one of those tracks I always seem to excel at and we’re looking forward to the Outlaw weekend,” said Kaeding, who captured nine wins with the series last year. “For fans and drivers it doesn’t get much better than the Thunderbowl because there’s always a number of lines to use, but to win races there you typically have to go to the high-side and that’s how I like it. Racing in Dennis & Teresa Roth’s backyard always makes it more special and I really hope to give them a win next week.”
One of the more accomplished World of Outlaw drivers at the Thunderbowl Raceway happens to be Brownsburg, Indiana’s Joey Saldana, who will return to the track aboard his Motter Motorsports No. 71m Sprint Car. The veteran competitor has claimed four World of Outlaws features at the Tulare based facility, which ranks as the most of any driver. Over the final half of last season Saldana was one of the top point earners with the series and will be gunning for more success at the Thunderbowl next week.
With three races down in the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season California native Paul McMahan holds a share of the point lead along with defending champion Daryn Pittman. McMahan cut his teeth racing on the California bullrings, finishing runner up in the Northern Auto Racing Club standings in 1994 & '95, as well as runner up in the Golden State 410 Series points in '95, while driving for Clyde & Marion Lamar. McMahan is also fresh off one of the best season’s of his career, having finished third in the final 2013 WOO standings with four wins and 17 fast-time efforts.
More World of Outlaws competitors set to invade the Thunderbowl next weekend will include 20-time series champion Steve Kinser, five-time titlist Donny Schatz, three-time champ Sammy Swindell, Grass Valley, CA native Brad Sweet, Australian Kerry Madsen, Pennsylvanian Cody Darrah, Jason Sides, Kraig Kinser, Logan Schuchart, Jacob Allen and Bill Rose. Other traveling drivers expected include Grain Valley, Missouri’s Brian Brown; Watertown, Connecticut’s David Gravel; Altoona, Iowa’s Terry McCarl and more.
The California contingent looking to keep the money at home will include reigning King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series champion Kyle Hirst, three-time KWS champ Jonathan Allard, three-time USAC Silver Crown titlist Bud Kaeding, Rutherford’s Rico Abreu, Fresno’s Craig Stidham, Central Valley youngsters Dominic Scelzi, DJ Netto and Carson Macedo, Visalia’s Cory Eliason and more.
This coming season is the 12th overall year of the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway hosting the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series. The inaugural event occurred in September of 2003 when 20-time series champion Steve Kinser of Bloomington, Indiana scored the victory over Aliquippa, Pennsylvania's Tim Shaffer and local favorite Jason Meyers from Clovis, CA.
The Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California. From the junction of SR 99 and SR 137, go west on SR 137. At South K go south one-half mile to the Fairgrounds. Camping is also available at the fairgrounds located off turns three and four. Be sure & like the track on Facebook by searching Thunderbowl Raceway.
Past World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series main event winners at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, CA
2013- Tim Kaeding on March 15, Craig Dollansky on March 16
2012 - Tim Kaeding on March 16
2011 - Joey Saldana on March 19
2010 - Jason Meyers on March 5, Joey Saldana on March 6
2009 - Randy Hannagan on March 20, Joey Saldana on March 21
2008 - Jac Haudenschild on Oct. 18
2007 - Joey Saldana on Feb. 23, Tim Kaeding on Feb. 24, Donny Schatz on Oct. 13
2005 - Tim Shaffer on Feb. 25, Donny Schatz on October 14, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 15
2004 - Erin Crocker on October 29, Terry McCarl on October 30
2003 - Steve Kinser on September 3
Following the World of Outlaws weekend the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway will be dark until Saturday April 12 when the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series invades the track for the “Spring Thunder Nationals” presented by KRC Safety Company. The evening of competition marks the season-opener for California’s premier Winged 410 Sprint Car tour and a big night is expected. More information on the event can be found in the coming weeks at www.kwssprints.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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