[b California team will open season with World of Outlaws event in Vegas]
[i By Bill Sullivan]
[b WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (1-25-10)-] Steve Harris Racing and the championship caliber Racing for the Troops sprint car team have announced their itinerary for the 2010 racing season. No matter where they search, one will not find an inked schedule of when and where the successful organization plans to compete in the year to come, but one of the team's four drivers are sure to be visiting a track near you in the months to come.
After winning the Silver Dollar Speedway Track Championship last season, lead driver Bobby McMahan along with his teammates Kyle Harris and Sean Becker, are calling themselves "California Outlaws" for the 2010 racing season. The West Sacramento based multi-car team plans to compete at multiple venues throughout the year with just one set of things in mind; consistent finishes, winning races and supporting our military service members, both present and past.
"It's pretty simple, we are planning a California Outlaw schedule and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a lot of fun for everyone," said McMahan, the 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway track champion. "We're planning on racing everywhere we can throughout the year. We really want to set our sights on the bigger shows and work our weekly schedule around those races."
Last season, McMahan returned to full time racing after a several year layoff to spend time with his family and his kids as they grew into their teen years. After jumping back behind the wheel part time in late 2008, the former Northern Auto Racing Club and USAC top runner agreed to make it a fulltime effort in 2009, racing the #26 Maxim Sprint Car out of the impressive Racing for the Troops stable.
Last season the original plan was much like this year for McMahan and the team. While visiting multiple venues they wouldn't necessarily focus on a points championship. However, early in the season the team found themselves in an precarious position when they took the point lead in the weekly 410 sprint car series at Silver Dollar Speedway and went on to win the season title.
"That wasn't what we originally planned at all," said McMahan, who became a mentor for his teammate Harris, 19, as he advanced from micro sprints into full sized sprint cars. Harris is the son of team owner Steve Harris, founder of the Racing for the Troops organization.
"Kyle was originally going to just race the entire series at Chico and his plan changed a bit for school, then it changed back. Steve decided we would run the entire season with both cars since it was going so well. It was kind of unplanned but in the end I was glad we veered off the plan and won the title, it was a great way to honor the men and women of our Armed Forces with a title."
After veering off their planned road for the season, McMahan won the championship in the Silver Dollar while Harris finished the season eighth in the standings and was runner up for the rookie of the year title for his impressive efforts in his first full season behind the wheel of a powerful winged sprint car. Additionally, Harris was presented with the Silver Dollar Speedway Humanitarian Award for his contributions to the sport and the support of American Troops and their families.
In 2010 both McMahan and Harris will return to the team along with Oroville native Sean Becker. Becker is a two time Civil War Series champion with titles in the Golden State Challenge Series and Silver Dollar Speedway. Becker will pilot the team's #51 car fielded by team member Brian Sperry at various events during the year. Becker will also continue to driver for his longtime car owner Scott Miller in the Civil War series.
"When Sean isn't in Scott Miller's car he will be in the 51 car with us," said Sperry. "We will likely run most of the Friday night races at Chico and select Golden State Challenge races as his schedule permits."
As the new racing season rapidly approaches Steve Harris Racing and Racing for the Troops is setting their sights on several major events, mixed with a variety of area weekly programs to make a full schedule spanning from February until November. The team will begin their 2010 run on February 26th in Las Vegas with the nationally recognized World of Outlaws Sprint Car tour. McMahan is certain to be in competition in the city that never sleeps and additional team members may join the race card as the date nears and funding becomes available.
Following their high octane opener, the team plans on competing at the Mini-Gold Cup in Chico and will then begin traveling the state for their zigzag style campaign. Some of the larger races they plan to commit to include the annual Mark Forni Classic at Placerville Speedway and the Louie Vermeil USAC event at Calistoga Speedway in August. They plan weekly appearances throughout the year at Silver Dollar, Marysville, Placerville, Ocean Speedway, Petaluma, Antioch, Quincy and more.
"We're going to plan our destination each week," added McMahan. "Sometimes we might not know where we will be racing until late in the week. I like it that way. Sean Becker will be a pretty regular face in Chico while Kyle and myself will travel and mix it up a bit."
This season the Racing for the Troops will add a fourth name to their roster during the season, Sean McMahan, Bobby and Linda's 16 year old son. The younger McMahan is expected to strap into a team car during the year to make his sprint car racing debut. The second generation driver has over 100 victories and four titles in quarter-midgets and micro sprints combined as he follows in his father's footsteps. Notably both father and son began their winning ways with duel titles in the Pacific Coast Quarter-Midget Nationals.
"Sean is ready, there is no doubt in my mind, " added McMahan. "We don't have an exact date just yet but this year he will be behind the wheel and I'm confident he will learn well. Who knows he might even teach me some new things once he gets going."
Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team has a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises and Redline Oil.
The team is proud to continue it's support of military veterans and active duty service members, educating the public on the needs of those returning from war and supporting activities which provide resources to America's active military, veterans and their families. Learn more about the team's mission by visiting their website at www.racingforthetroops.com.
[i This press release is a production of Sullivan Images Media for Racing for the Troops 2010 www.sullivanimages.net.]
- Bill Sullivan on Jan 25, 2010
- Article Date: 1/25/2010