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Non-wing Speedway Sprint Cars to debut at TCS |
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Marysville
CA. The long awaited wingless warriors of the Speedway Sprint Car Series
will take to the Twin Cities Speedway ¼ mile for a full season of championship
non-winged sprint car racing. The
two closest finishes and some of the best wheel to wheel action of 2003 prompted
promoter Clyde Tipton to add a non-wing, closely regulated, specified sprint car
class to the weekly card at Twin Cities Speedway. The “Speedway Sprint Cars”
will be the fourth division in an association that includes the winged Pacific
Sprint Cars, The TCS Stock Car Series and the TCS Mini Stock Series. 2003
CSRA Sprint Car Champion Tim Sherman, of Sacramento, will join the association
and is very optimistic about the new division. Recently Sherman was interviewed
during a practice session at the speedway. “This
will be great.” Sherman remarked, “Non wing cars on the new surface will be
awesome. We’ll really be able to back ‘em in here. This place is perfect for
the non-wing cars.” Sherman then strapped himself into his car and cut some
impressive laps. Sherman
was referring to the new configuration of the speedway. During the winter some
80 loads of bottom clay was added to the quick ¼ mile. Sections of the
crashwall on the front straightaway were replaced and the track is now much
smoother and wider. Sherman has raced at Twin Cities for 15 years and has won
here in winged cars. Sherman recently took top honors at a season opening
non-wing show at the Bakersfield Speedway in Oildale. The
results on the new track surface have been dazzling. The winged Pacific Sprint
Cars of the California Sprint Car Civil War Series debuted on March 20 and the
track was in “qualifying condition at the END of the night”. This
observation by sprint car champion Pat Hughes echoed the thoughts of the
participants and fans alike. The new moist clay gave the track the look and feel
of tracks like Ascot or West Capital Raceway. No dust and hooked up. “It’s
fast, but it’s always been fast; now it’s really smooth and wide, no ruts in
one or three… with a nice cushion.” Hughes noted.
“I walked the track and it tried to suck my boots off AFTER the races
were over. Drivers were carrying so much more speed at the end of the
straightaways that the old shut-off points were no good anymore. Some of these
guys went in way too hot, way too often.” laughed Hughes. Hughes’
lively description was punctuated by his assessment that driver error was the
only reason for any crashes during the event. “No
excuses now, this track is wide enough to make the pass… high or low,”
concluded Hughes. Padjen
Motorsports publicity man Bill Sullivan remarked, “This is the first time
I’ve ever seen three cars come out of turn 4 together. I’ve seen them go in
before, but they’ve never come out in one piece before.” Sullivan
was referring to the new width of the track, the new clay and it’s racer
friendly characteristics. The
wingless warriors of the Speedway Sprint Cars will be able to take full
advantage of the new track. The multi groove character of the new track will be
perfect for the participants. BCRA
Midget champion Gary Koster, of Woodland, has signed on for the season. Koster
has won some 200 main events in his illustrious open wheel career. Koster has
most recently competed and won in CSRA competition. He is the many time champion
of the SORA as well. Koster was in his typical good humor on the recent practice
day and was ready to get with the program. If a positive attitude has anything
to do with championships Koster could be the choice. Smart
money could be on Koster for the championship. Koster’s equipment is
maintained to perfection and his experience in championship battles will be a
big weapon in his arsenal. Koster is as fast as anyone and makes precious few
mistakes. Chico
hot shoe Tony Richards will be in the seat of his potent, mirror-finish black
sprinter on opening night. Richards established himself as one of the favorites
with a convincing win in the open competition wingless event staged here last
August. Richards came out on top after a titanic duel with Sacramento’s Rick
Eversault. There were three lead changes in the last two laps. Richards and
Eversault came across the line nearly side by side at the finish. The
unique quality of this finish was that Eversault was in mid-air after launching
over Richards’ right rear while trying to pass on the outside for the win.
Veteran Starter Robin Davies was pummeled by the flying clay that Eversault’s
rear nerf bar shaved from the front stretch surface like a razor. Davies quickly
recovered, got up and continued to wave the flag to the balance of the field and
the fans went wild. Like
Richards, Eversault will be one to watch in this new division. Two years ago
Eversault won a winged spec-sprint open at Twin Cities. Eversault is a colorful
charger that will warrant close attention. His “win it-or wear it” attitude
makes him a fan favorite. Eversault will be fun to watch with his wild, tail-out
style. Two
local drivers will be doing double duty at Twin Cities this year. Both will
field cars in the new class. 3-time
Twin Cities Speedway Stock Car Series Champion Jerry Bartlett of Yuba City will
be in the field when the Speedway Sprinters take the first flag of 2004.
Bartlett will not only compete in the Speedway Sprint car class, but will run
for points in the TCS Stock Car Series as well. Bartlett’s rim-riding style
should provide some real thrills for the fans. Stock Car veteran Guy Bean, also
of Yuba City, will bring along a pair of cars each week as well. Bean is one of
the area’s best-known racecar fabricators. This year he’s going to get in
the seat. SORA
veteran Kenny Bair of Woodland has prepared a sparkling red and white sprinter
for the new class and will compete weekly for the championship. Bair can get it
done. Bair has won at Twin Cities before and his aggressive, calculated driving
style could land him in the top spot at season’s end. The
groundswell of interest in the Speedway Sprint Car Series is encouraging as the
list of quality owner/driver combinations signing on continues to grow. Steve
Nelson, Jake Servin, Bob Johnson, Ted Pearson, Bill Hopkins, Blain Varner and
Steve Fletcher are all owners with quality racecars in their shops that have
joined the association. At
the recent practice day, Fletcher’s #31 was one of the most striking cars in
the pits. The car was glistening in the sun and a number of the railbirds
couldn’t stop talking about the attention to detail in it’s finish, which
was first rate all the way. Local
owner Paul Hawes has acquired and entered a Ford powered sprinter that was
driven recently by Outlaw Champion and NASCAR driver Dave Blaney. Hawes, a
veteran of modified stock car competition has always fielded Ford powered cars.
It was unclear who would be in the seat of the unique yellow racer on opening
night. The
1st Annual Valley Pump Labor Day Classic will be the high water mark
for the non-wing Speedway Sprinters this season. Twin Cities Speedway has
announced that a special Speedway Sprint Car extravaganza will be staged on
Saturday night September 4th. This inaugural event will draw 50 or more entrants
from all over the northwest. An expanded payoff and purse will lure the best of
the non-wing chauffeurs to Twin Cities on Labor Day weekend. The
Speedway Sprint Cars, the Pacific Sprint Cars, The TCS Stock Cars and Mini
Stocks will bring up the curtain on 2004 in a star-studded four-division show
April 3rd. Twin Cities Speedway will have sprint car racing every
Saturday night this season. Gates open at 5. Qualifying at 6:15. First race
starts promptly at 7. Take
HWY 20 to Marysville CA. Turn south on Ramirez Road 1 mile to the track.. Please
visit the website at www.twincitiesspeedway.net
or call 1.916.985-2089 or 1.530.673.3547 for more information. |
