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Marysville CA. Pull the belts tight. It’s time to
go “Drifting at 100 MPH”. With the pre-season in the books, it’s time to
get serious at the New Marysville Raceway Park. Point racing begins on Saturday
April 7th for the big track and Friday April 6th will be the send-off for the
much anticipated Outlaw Karts. Point racing on Saturday will feature the two
primary Sprint Car divisions. Sprint Car racing at MRP is a wickedly fast, and
dangerous enterprise. Cars rocket along side by side with open wheels spinning
in a blur at 100 MPH. MRP Championship Auto racing is Yuba-Sutter’s only
professional sporting event paying in excess of $250,000 in prize money this
season.
The fire breathing winged MRP Pacific Sprint Cars and the Wingless Warriors, The
MRP Wingless Sprint Car Series, will share top billing on April 7th. The winged
Pacific Sprint Car Series will have a fast, competitive mix of cars and stars.
The odds-on favorites may well be Nevada’s Mike Monahan (2004 champion) and
young charger Brandon Dozier of Marysville (2005 Rookie of the Year).
Monahan’s relentless hammer-down style is ideally suited to MRP’s commitment
to a smooth, hooked up surface. Dozier is just plain thrilling to watch, period.
It may well be the year of youth, bravery and exuberance versus maturity,
experience and treachery. It’ll be a fabulous show.
Another serious challenge may come from Grass Valley’s Jeremy Burt. Burt
cracked into the winner’s circle late last season and has momentum on his
side. Oroville’s Shaun Amos popped into the cockpit of his dad’s hot rod mid
way through the season last year. He was quick right out of the box and will be
a strong contender if he, too makes the commitment to seek the championship.
Three-time champion, Colby Wiesz is as quick as ever. He will be a factor if the
first few races go well for him. He won the recent Open Competition event
leading nearly wire-to-wire.
In the MRP Wingless Sprint Car Series, a couple of names jump out as potential
championship contenders. Two lightning-fast lions of the sport will have a real
chance to showcase their collective talents. Yuba City’s Mark Hill has shown
he has what it takes to be at the head of the pack. Right in there with Hill is
Marysville’s Jeremy Hawes. Both Hill and Hawes are graduates of MRP’s
MiniStock series and have slugged it out with the best of them and prevailed.
Hill’s entry into the wars is long expected and long overdue. A bizarre and
painful hand injury (not racing related) kept Hill on the sidelines for much of
last season. Kevin Sprague of Yuba City hopped into Hill’s sleek #8 and
powered his way to Rookie of the Year in last season’s point hunt.
Hawes had a memorable 2006. While he didn’t compete in all of the MRP races,
he won; and he won big. His most memorable victory was the closest margin of
victory in MRP’s long and storied history. Hawes made a desperate charge in
last year’s final open competition event that still has people talking. Hawes
beat six-time feature winner, Tony Richards to the stripe by .021 of a second.
Hawes has a real shot at it.
If Richards decides to compete weekly, he’ll be a major factor. But, his plans
are unknown at this time. Last year’s runner-up, Rick Eversult may also make
the grade to championship status. Eversult has made his plans and will compete
for the title.
The two sprint car classes will be joined by the ever popular Nor Cal dwarf Cars
and the SORA Sprint 100s for a four-division open wheel extravaganza on Saturday
April 7th.
On Friday April 6th the first MRP Outlaw Kart race will be held. Multiple
divisions of racing will inaugurate the new d-shaped track carved into the
infield of the venerable facility. Everything from youngsters running Box Stock
racers to wheelie pulling, monster slide-job 500 Karts will be offered.
This is a show that deserves attention.
This will be the first year that the track will be under the guidance of new
promoters Paul and Kathy Hawes. Entering it’s 39th consecutive season of
operation, Marysville Raceway Park has undergone a wealth of changes between
seasons as Hawes’ able crews went to work to immediately change and improve
the raceway. The big track is wider and the banking is more gradual. The higher
speeds will be complimented by a much wider track that will allow more passing
and less single groove racing. The backstretch has been bowed to create more of
a “D” shape from the turn one entry to the turn four exit. Three and four
are wider and faster. Turns one and two will require finesse and courage.
The pit area grandstands have been relocated and raised onto a new, handicapped
accessible ramp and concrete promenade offering an excellent view of the entire
track for all owners and pit crewmembers. Newly planted flowers will welcome the
teams to the pit grandstand area. A brand-new women’s restroom facility and a
pit only concession stand is now offered. Construction and improvements continue
at a feverish pace to make this the most racer friendly pit area in California.
The pits have been greatly expanded in area allowing for plenty of room for the
competing teams. Improvements ongoing include a completely lighted pit area with
each pit having water and electric available. The most recent photos of MRP’s
improvements are at blackflagracephotos.com.
Make our website one of your “favorites” on you computer.
marysvilleracewaypark.com is the address. Watch this site for press releases and
updates.
Pit gates open at 3PM Friday and Saturday. Mandatory Pit meeting and pill pull
is at 5PM on Saturday. Spectator Gates Open at 5PM both nights with racing
getting underway at 7PM. Contact the promoters at 1.530.743.1327 or email as
indicated on the home page at marysvilleracewaypark.com.
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