Media Release from Handy Racing Promotions
PETALUMA, CA - One of the most thrilling racing campaigns in the region is set to take the long awaited green flag this week .The war is on at the famed Petaluma Speedway this Saturday, April 9 as the 2011 Hoosier Racing Tires campaign for 360 cubic inch powered sprint cars.
Following Mother Nature’s postponement of the series opener last month in Placerville, Saturday’s event will mark the first of 14 races in the exciting series that competes at some of the best tracks in Northern California. This event will also mark the opening round of racing at the Petaluma Speedway in grand fashion as the Civil War Warriors go up against the hard charging Petaluma Posse to ignite a brand new championship campaign.
When it comes to speed thrills, the Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Series will never let an avid open wheel race fan down and is sure to bring a new fan back to the track once they witness the spectacle. The latest version of California's premier series for 360 cubic inch powered winged sprint cars is sure to produce a stellar chase for the coveted statewide championship title and it all starts on the Placerville clay Saturday night.
This year, the Hoosier Tires sponsored series will compete for more than $250,000 over the year and an outstanding championship fund of $40,000 in championship funds is in place with $10,000 of that amount going to the 2011 Civil War Series Champion alone. This is the highest payday for a series champion in the history of the Civil War tour and one of the most lucrative among similar racing campaigns in the region. Additional contingency awards throughout the year are expected to exceed the $30,000 mark in various products as well.
Saturday's event is the first of 14 events at six of California's best known race tracks that have all experienced the thrill of Civil War Sprint Car Racing in year's past. The hosts of this tour span Northern California from the Sierra Foothills to the Wine Country and the Coastal Region. Every regular Civil War Series event will pay $2000 to the winner and $300 to start the 22 car A-feature.
In 2010, more than 125 different teams competed in various events in the traveling Civil War Series. The campaign consisted of 13 total events at six different California race tracks. Eight different drivers hoisted feature event trophies during the past season and one driver repeated in the form of a championship in grand fashion.
Starting this Saturday night, the rivalry is expected to pick up right where it left off at the checkered flag last September. In fact, the front lines of this newest version of the war is anticipated to be one of the most competitive campaigns yet since this series began back in 1991 as a small, impromptu campaign between a trio of tracks.
Returning to pursue his sixth possible championship in this series will be veteran racer Andy Forsberg of Auburn. Last season, Forsberg forced an upset in the Civil War Championship. Entering the final race of the year the driver known as "Mr. Excitement" was poised for a bridesmaid finish in the season ending point standings behind his arch rival Sean "The Shark" Becker of Oroville. Becker had dominated the top positions of the point standings all season long and was considered a shoe in for the title once the green flag flew on the final 30-lap feature event.
As the field took to the track for their final line up that night the unexpected became reality for Becker and his successful Scott Miller owned race team. As he was pushed onto the track the #2sb sprint car failed to start on several attempts and forced them to watch what would have been a historical championship run as the first team to ever win three consecutive titles. Forsberg went on to steal the title while Becker dropped to fourth in the ranks.
This year, Forsberg will get plenty of chances to go shark hunting once again. In doing so, he will be aboard a brand new weapon as he has teamed up to drive the well known F&F Racing Team #X1 sprint car. This team, owned by former drivers Alan Bradway and Steve Tucceli of Roseville is no slouch when it comes to wins and championships. They have 22 wins as a team along with championship titles in the Civil War Series and Placerville Speedway and their list of former drivers include names like David Robinson Jr., Colby Wiesz and Mason Moore.
As much as Forsberg is locked and loaded for a sixth title, Becker will be returning for redemption this year as well. Not only is The Shark expected to prey on Forsberg throughout the Civil War campaign, the former Golden State Challenge, Civil War and Silver Dollar Speedway champion has announced he will also run the weekly championship tour at Placerville Speedway in 2011.
Another driver that is expected to return this Saturday will be Sacramento's Herman Klein. Last season, Klein remained within striking distance of the championship title all the way to the final night. In the end the second generation hot shoe finished second in the standings ahead of former Civil War champion Mike Henry of Sacramento who also remained in the hunt for the gold down to the wire.
Moore finished fifth last year ahead of Chico's Stephen Allard, Cody Lamar of Sacramento who was the series Rookie of the Year. The top ten was rounded out by Nicole Miller of Elk Grove, Jeremy Burt of Grass Valley and Roseville's Trent Canales.
Among the drivers expected to join the series fulltime this year will be Fremont's Shane Golobic who will return to the seat of the John Taylor Motorsports #35. The 2008 series Rookie of the Year Alissa Geving of Penngrove has announced she will return to the tour fulltime again after a two year absence, Geving is a driver to watch this Saturday as she is a two time Petaluma Speedway track champion. Another young gun to watch is defending track champion Bradley Terrell of Sebastopol, the 2010 Petaluma Speedway champion is returning to the series along with fellow Sebastopol driver Geoff Ensign who will team with Vertullo Motorsports for the tour.
The front gates to Petaluma Speedway are set to open at 5 pm on Saturday. For additional information on ticket prices and event times visit the track website at www.petaluma-speedway.com. Further information can also be found on the Civil War website at www.civilwarsprints.com.
- Bill Sullivan on Apr 05, 2011
- Article Date: 4/5/2011