(MARYSVILLE, CA – MAY 21,
2007) --- This Friday night the Hoosier Racing Tires California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series returns to action with the much-anticipated third round of competition at the new Marysville Raceway Park, formerly known at Twin Cities Speedway in Marysville, California. This event is the first of two Civil War segments taking place over the upcoming holiday weekend and will mark the first appearance at the newly improved quarter-mile dirt track after a rain out earlier in the season.
Last year, the north state dirt track was not the desired destination for the Civil War contenders, which is assembled of the most talented sprint car drivers in California. However, with new management and many improvements at the facility the majority of the winged warriors in the traveling series that competes for nearly $300,000 in winnings over its 15-race campaign are geared up and ready to test the new track that is now under the promotion of local contractors Paul and Kathy Hawes.
Saturday’s event will mark the first of two visits to MRP during the 2007 racing season. Entering it’s third event of the campaign, former World of Outlaws racer Brandon Wimmer of Fairmount, Indiana leads the series point standings. Although Wimmer and the Redi-Green Motorsports #1k team hadn’t intended on running the series, early season motor woes redirected their schedule and now with one feature win to their name in the series and two top ten finishes they will lead the roster on this special Friday night.
“We want to remain in first place so we’re going to Marysville this Friday night,” said Wimmer in a Redi-Green Motorsports press release. “We aren’t planning on running every race in the series though and are looking forward to going to Calistoga on Saturday and Sunday.” Wimmer currently sits three points ahead of defending three time series champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn. In round two Forsberg finished second in the feature event, garnering enough points to overtake second place in the standings from Rohnert Park’s Brett Rollag.
Rollag, who now drives for veteran car owner Rick Williams, now sits in the third position entering Friday’s event, just six points out of the lead. Scott Kinney of Citrus Heights maintains the fourth place position in the point standings. Kinney, a former midget lite racer in just his second year of sprint car racing, sits 15-points out of the lead and will enter Friday’s event with the momentum of his first career victory at Placerville Speedway last Saturday night.
Colby Wiesz, of Colfax has muscled up to round out the top five in the point standings. The former three time Marysville track champion is 16-points behind the leader aboard the competitive FnF Racing #X1 and is sure to be a contender at the track he use to call home for many seasons.
Rounding out the top ten is Dan Menne of Fort Jones, Mike Benson of Calistoga, Carl Droivold of Grass Valley and 2005 series champion Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove all of whom are expected in Friday’s event.
Many locals are also expected to compete on their home track of Marysville Raceway Park. Promoter Paul Hawes has encouraged his track regulars to compete with California’s “big dogs” by posting a $1000 bonus that will be divided up accordingly among drivers that have competed in a total of three point races this season so far.
Topping the list track regulars that are expected will be former Placerville Speedway Rookie of the Year Jeremy Burt of Grass Valley. Those expected to join Burt include the brother team of Cortney and Brandon Dozier, Jim Marsh, Tom Baker, Lee Armstrong, Brandon Dozier, David Derr Jr., former track champion Mike Monahan and recent feature winner Shawn Amos.
The front gates of Twin Cities Speedway will open at 5 p.m. on Friday. The event will be officiated by personell from the Civil War Series and qualifying will begin at 6:30 followed by heat races and semi-main events that will all lead up to the big 30-lap feature event worth $2,000 to the winner.
Following the Marysville event, the Civil War Series will then travel to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico for the fourth round of competition on Sunday, May 27th. Many drivers will also compete Saturday night on the Silver Dollar clay for a non-points invitational event taking place in conjunction with the Silver Dollar Fair.
For further information on the Civil War Series, including point standings please visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com. Information regarding Marysville Raceway Park can be found at
www.marysvilleracewaypark.com.
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