Drivers and teams set for Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series opener in Antioch on Saturday
By Gary Thomas
Antioch, CA – April 6, 2011…With the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series season-opener set for this Saturday night at the Antioch Speedway drivers and teams are geared up to begin what is expected be a huge year for Northern California 410 sprint car racing.
This Saturday’s Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series opener will be the 15th winged 410 sprint car event at the Antioch Speedway since the Golden State Series returned to the track in 2003. Prior to the ‘09 season the Antioch Speedway was revamped, with additional banking added and the track surface lengthened to what is now a one-third mile dirt oval.
Arguably two of the biggest KWS championship contenders judging by wins last season are sure to include Tim Kaeding and Jonathan Allard, who combined for nearly half of the main event victories last year with the Golden State Series. Last season “TK” led the tour with six triumphs and “JA” was just behind that mark scoring five victories throughout the campaign.
Kaeding is coming off a runner up finish with the World of Outlaws last Friday in Merced and will look to kick off the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series season in grand fashion aboard the famed Roth Motorsports No. 83 mount. The 32-year-old won the Golden State Series title in ’02 and is expected to be back full time with the series for the first time in nearly eight years. “TK” has claimed a pair of 410 victories in his career at the Antioch Speedway and will be searching to make it number three on Saturday.
Last season Allard led the Golden State 410 Series standings for much of the year, before taking off for the Midwest. However, in 2011 he is set to stay in California full-time to compete for the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series title at the helm of the Williams Motorsports No. 0 sprinter. The Chico veteran scored his first ever Antioch Speedway Golden State Series victory last April and will be gunning to duplicate that performance on Saturday night.
Since his return to the Antioch Speedway in ’03, Campbell’s Brent Kaeding has won a series high four main events at the track and always seems to be a factor when signing in at the back gate. This Saturday “BK” will be looking to break an uncharacteristically long winless drought with the Golden State 410 Series that dates back to 2009 aboard the Al’s Roofing Supply No. 69 machine.
Despite not running full-time this season reigning Golden State champion Kyle Larson will be in the field at Antioch Speedway on Saturday and will be searching for back-to-back wins, after racing to victory last July at the track. The 18-year-old is also fresh off a fantastic weekend with the World of Outlaws, where he earned the hard-charger award on consecutive nights behind the wheel of his Stadelhofer Construction No. 99. The Saturday event in Calistoga saw Larson earn a strong podium finish after starting 21st.
Former Golden State 410 Series champion Jason Statler of Grass Valley captured the 410 return to Antioch Speedway in 2003 and will be looking to put his name at the front of the field this year with the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series. “The Big Guy” came close to victory last July in Marysville and ended the 410 year in consistent fashion while driving the DF Rios No. 00.
After putting together a strong year in 2010 Vancouver, Washington’s Zach Zimmerly will be back at it with the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series this season in the McMillen Motorsports No. 94. The 16-year-old became the youngest winner in series history last June when he claimed the annual Tribute to Gary Patterson in Chico.
Former Golden State Rookie of the Year Andy Gregg of Placerville has thrown his name into the mix this season with the King of the West Sprint Car Series. The driver of the Bret Ervin Racing No. 53 nearly scored his first career Golden State 410 victory in Santa Maria last season, only to finish third after a tremendous duel with Sean Becker on the final lap.
Returning to full-time 410 sprint car competition this year with the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series will be Stockton’s Brad Furr, who has spent the last few seasons running primarily at Ocean Speedway on Friday nights. Despite not getting into victory lane the former World of Outlaws regular had a number of strong runs last season in the Brad Furr Racing No. 2 mount.
Also making a return to the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series this year will be Clovis resident and Australian native Peter Murphy, who ran full-time with the tour from 1998-2002. This likable driver has experienced much success in the wingless 360 ranks over the past few years and will be a welcomed addition back to the traveling 410 roster.
Veteran Bobby McMahan is sure to be a contender this year with the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series while driving his own No. 25 sprinter. The former NARC Speedweek champion had a hiatus from racing from 2003-’08 before returning to full-time competition in ’09 and capturing the Silver Dollar Speedway track title.
The Hosheads.com/Grant’s Fine Art Rookie of the Year Award is expected to see a number of drivers in the running this season. Those scheduled to start out in Antioch this weekend that are considered rookies will include Chico’s Kenny Allen, Puyallup, Washington’s Trey Starks, Elk Grove’s Sean McMahan, Rhode Island’s Eli Deshaies and Canadian Noah Ennis.
Other competitors expected to compete at the Antioch Speedway on Saturday will include Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs, Sacramento’s Willie Croft, Fremont’s Shane Golobic and Brent Bjork, Prunedale’s Justin Sanders, Elk Grove’s Billy Strange Jr., San Martin’s Craig Smith, Oakhurst’s Doug Gandy, Grass Valley’s Pat Harvey, Cupertino’s Steve Osbourne, Elk Grove’s Geoff Duppman, Rio Vista’s Dan and Danielle Simpson and more.
The front grandstand gate will open at 5pm this Saturday April 9 with hot laps around 6, qualifying at 6:30 and racing to follow. Adult tickets cost $20.
The Antioch Speedway is located at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds on the corner of 10th & L Streets in Antioch, California. Take SR-4 East (Highway 4) to the Somersville Road North Exit. Follow Somersville Road to 10thStreet. Turn Right on 10th Street. The address for the track is 1201 W. 10th Street Antioch, CA 94509.
Coming events-
After this weekend’s season opener, the Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series will be back in action on Saturday April 16 at the Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare for the annual Chris & Brian Faria Memorial. Tickets are on sale for the event and can be acquired by contacting (559) 688-0909.
The Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series will then head to the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville on Saturday April 23, before finishing off the month of April with an event at the Marysville Raceway Park on April 30. For more information on these shows and to view the entire schedule of events go to http://www.kwssprints.com
You can also follow KWS on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KWS410s#!/pages/Golden-State-King-of-the-West-Series/150145691703907 and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/KWS410s
San Jose's Tim Kaeding led the Golden State 410 Series last year in wins by scoring six triumphs during the season. When the King of the West Sprints open up on Saturday in Antioch he'll be looking to pick back up where he left off last year. Photo by Steve Lafond of http://www.tohf.com
- Gary Thomas on Apr 07, 2011
- Article Date: 4/7/2011