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PACIFIC NORTHWEST FASTEST FOUR DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS ON TAP FOR NARC SPRINT CARS
(5/23/22) Sacramento, CA… The NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Cars haven’t visited the Pacific Northwest since 2012, but that will change in a big way this week as the series heads north for The Fastest Four Days in Motorsports.
The event will consist of four races in four days at three tracks in two states. The racing gets rolling Thursday, May 26th at Southern Oregon Speedway located in Central Point, Oregon. On Friday, May 27th it’ll be up to Lebanon, Oregon’s Willamette Speedway. The final two nights will both take place at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington on Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th. (Note: Monday, May 30th is a rain date if needed.)
The venture will be a lucrative one with all four Fujitsu Features awarding $5,000 to the winner. There is also a whopping $40,000 bonus on the line for any driver who can sweep the mini-speedweek, meaning they’d walk away with $60,000 total. If someone wins three of the four, they’ll earn an extra $5,000.
On Sunday in Elma before the racing there will be a Drivers BBQ Luncheon in the Borden Building followed by a parade through town featuring the NARC racers and teams. Full details on both events can be found below in the Fan & Competitor Info section.
Championship Chase
Heading into the FFDM, Dominic Scelzi extended his point lead to 27 markers courtesy of his third straight victory.
Tarlton Motorsport pilot, Mitchell Faccinto, continues to hold the runner-up spot with four top-fives through five races this season.
Eleven points behind Faccinto is Shane Golobic, and he’s got Willie Croft (two points behind) and Bud Kaeding (three points behind) pressuring him for the final spot on the points podium early in the season.
Full-time drivers Justin Sanders, Max Mittry, Billy Aton, Tim Kaeding and Joel Myers Jr. complete the top-10.
Californians Invade
Many of the NARC regulars from California have few or no starts at all at the Oregon and Washington ovals, but some of the drivers have had success in limited appearances up north and will look to bring the trophies back to the Golden State.
Colby Copeland has been one of the strongest drivers with NARC in 2022, and he’ll have a good chance to continue his impressive run. The Roseville native has won at two of the three tracks on the FFDM schedule, picking up Western Sprint Tour victories at both Oregon facilities. Copeland’s Willamette Speedway triumph came just last year.
Another driver with some impressive showings up north is Colfax’s Willie Croft. He owns a sprint car win at Grays Harbor Raceway. Back when NARC more frequently visited Oregon, Croft managed to make four series starts at Southern Oregon Speedway with a best showing of fourth and not finishing worse than seventh. He also picked up an ASCS Regional top-five at Willamette back in 2014.
Other California drivers expected to make the trip north for at least part of the trip include Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Hanford’s D.J. Netto, Benicia’s Billy Aton, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto, Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Clovis’ Corey Day, Aromas’ Justin Sanders, Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr., Yuba City’s Landon Brooks,
Protecting Home Turf
While the NARC drivers from California will be tough to beat, the Pacific Northwest natives with more laps around the tracks will look to top them in front of their home fans.
Logan Forler may be focusing primarily on NARC in California this year, but he was born in Washington and has spent a good chunk of his career racing in the Pacific Northwest and will aim for some strong runs. The former ASCS standout has wins at both Grays Harbor and Willamette, and one of his two career NARC top-fives came at Southern Oregon Speedway in 2010.
After getting his first 410 engine at the start of last year, Jacksonville, Oregon’s Tanner Holmes has made strides and is looking for success at his home tracks. Holmes has won at both Southern Oregon Speedway and Willamette. He’s also had some solid runs with the Interstate Sprint Car Series up at Grays Harbor.
Central, Point Oregon native, Garen Linder, has been competing with NARC in California early this season and will look for some good results in more familiar territory. Linder has won at both Southern Oregon Speedway and Grays Harbor. He notched his best career NARC finish with an 11th-place effort in Tulare on night one of the Peter Murphy Classic and will almost certainly crack the top-10 on home turf.
Other drivers native to the Pacific Northwest expected to compete on at least one night include Harrisburg, Oregon’s Tyler Thompson, Puyallup, Washington’s Trey Starks, Burlington, Washington’s Jason Solwold, Lake Stevens, Washington’s Austen Wheatley and more.
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire Format on all four nights will feature ARP Fast-Time Qualifying, 10-lap Heat Races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi if necessary, and the 30-lap Fujitsu Feature.
On Thursday at Southern Oregon Speedway the pit gate will open at 1:00 P.M. with the front gate opening at 5:00 P.M. Qualifying is slated for 6:00 P.M. and racing at 7:00 P.M. Teams are welcome to stay in the pits overnight, and fan camping is permitted on the grounds.
Adult GA tickets on Thursday will be $20. Seniors (62+) and veterans with a valid I.D. will be admitted for $15. Juniors’ tickets (ages 7-12) will be just $10. Family passes for two adults and four kids can be purchased for $60. Kids six and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or via the Ticket Hoss app.
Southern Oregon Speedway is located at 6900 Kershaw Rd, Central Point, Oregon 97502. For more information visit http://www.southernoregonmotorsports.com/ or call 458-220-6272.
On Friday at Willamette Speedway the pit gate will open at 1:00 P.M. with the grandstands opening at 3:30 P.M. Qualifying is set for 5:00 P.M. with racing at 6:00 P.M. Teams are welcome to stay in the pits, and fan camping is permitted on the grounds.
Adult GA tickets on Friday will be $25. Seniors, military, and kids (ages 6-12) will be admitted for $20. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or via the following link: https://www.myracepass.com/events/404532/tickets/
Willamette Speedway is located at 36606 Airport Dr, Lebanon, Oregon 97355. For more information visit http://www.trophymotorsports.com/ or send an email to willamettespeedway@hotmail.com.
On Saturday at Grays Harbor Raceway the pit gate will open at 2:00 P.M. and will open at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday to help accommodate the luncheon and parade. The remainder of the program will look the same on both nights with the drivers meeting scheduled for 4:00 P.M., wheel packing at 4:30 P.M., and racing at 6:00 P.M.
Adult GA tickets each night at Grays Harbor will be $28. Seniors, juniors (ages 7-17), and military with a valid I.D. will be admitted for $22. Children ages 2-6 will be just $5. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online in a variety of package options via the following link: https://www.myracepass.com/tracks/1942
The Drivers Luncheon on Sunday will begin at 11:00 A.M. in the Borden Building (Dog Barn). Fans are welcome to attend. Donations are encouraged with the proceeds benefitting the Elma Raceway Hall of Fame. Drivers eat free.
Cars and haulers are to head to the parade at 12:30P.M., which will begin at 1:00 P.M. in the Elma High School parking lot.
Grays Harbor Raceway is located at 30 Elma McCleary Rd, Elma, Washington 98541. For more information visit https://www.graysharborraceway.com/ or call 360-482-4374.
The Fastest Four Days in Motorsports can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car schedule.
TRIFECTA: SCELZI DOMINATES PETALUMA FOR THIRD STRAIGHT NARC WIN
(5/21/2022 – Alex Nieten) Petaluma, CA… It’s been quite the eight-day stretch for Dominic Scelzi. Last weekend, the reigning NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car champion swept the NARC portion of the Peter Murphy Classic, becoming the first driver the win the finale twice in the process.
And Saturday night at Petaluma Speedway’s Salute to First Responders, Scelzi led all 30 circuits en route to his third straight series victory. With his third consecutive triumph, he became the first person to accomplish the feat since Kyle Hirst in 2016. The win was the 18th of his career, and Petaluma Speedway became the 10th different track he’s won at in NARC competition.
As if that list of milestones wasn’t enough, Scelzi again extended his point lead as his title defense continues.
After the checkered flew, Scelzi continued to heap praise on his crew for his success.
“What can I saw about these guys?” Scelzi said of his crew. “That’s three in a row. Jimmy (Carr) has this thing on kill mode. This is not my cup of tea when we’ve got to get up on the gas like this, and we were really good tonight.”
After winning the Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, Scelzi earned the pole for the Fujitsu General Feature, lining up next to second-starting Willie Croft. With the way the Petaluma adobe clay surface was hooked up, Scelzi made potentially the winning move on the opening lap by rocketing by Croft out of turn two to take the initial lead.
“I knew the start was going to be key,” Scelzi said. “This place is known for getting wetter and wetter as the night goes and it did that tonight.”
Scelzi quickly opened a big lead in the early going in his Red Rose Transportation/Whipple Superchargers No. 41 as Croft settled into second and Chase Johnson faced a challenge from Justin Sanders for third.
The leaders entered traffic before 10 laps were complete, and just as things were tightening as they navigated slower cars, the race’s first caution flew.
Tim Kaeding, who was running inside the top-10, had trouble with a slower car and contact between the them sent Kaeding into Ryan Robinson, ending TK’s night and hampering Robinson’s.
On the ensuing restart Scelzi again jumped out to a strong advantage. Croft and Johnson continued to pursue as heavy traffic again became a factor with just 10 circuits remaining. However, another caution for John Clark and Billy Aton colliding in turn two with nine laps to go temporarily eliminated the threat of traffic.
As the laps dwindled after the next restart, lap traffic presented Croft with one final opportunity. Scelzi struggled to get by Geoffrey Strole, swinging wide out of turn four and scraping momentum. Croft dove to his inside down the front stretch, but Scelzi hammered the top in turns one and two, clearing Croft and Strole and ultimately cruising to victory.
“I feel like Andy Forsberg right now,” Scelzi said with a laugh after the race. “It was juiced up and bouncy and all over the place.”
Croft held on to bring his Holey Smokes BBQ/Amerikote Powdercoating No. 29 home in the runner-up spot, his first podium of the year and third top-10 as he continues to chase his first series title.
“First off I’d like to thank my crew, Billy and my son, Cole,” Croft said. “Some of my guys couldn’t make it this weekend, so luckily Billy jumped in the truck and really helped us out… Things just didn’t quite go my way. I thought they were in traffic there then I just ran out of laps. The track was technical. It had slick and wet. It had moisture and a curb. It was pretty entertaining.”
The third-place spot was filled by the hometown hero, Chase Johnson in his Price-Simms/Toyota No. 24. It was his first NARC podium since July of 2019. Johnson was proud to have made some strides with his family-owned machine in front of his home fans.
“It was a good night tonight,” Johnson said. “Sure would’ve liked to be two spots better, but third with how our year’s been going so far with the 24 car is a good improvement. We’ve been struggling getting a handle on it, but we kind of got a little bit more of a handle on it now.”
Completing the top-10 was Justin Sanders, Mitchell Faccinto, Shane Golobic, Bud Kaeding, Joel Myers Jr., Landon Brooks (first series top-10), and Ryan Robinson.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Dominic Scelzi 41 2. Willie Croft 29 3. Chase Johnson 24 4. Justin Sanders 2X 5. Mitchell Faccinto 21 6. Shane Golobic 17W 7. Bud Kaeding 69 8. Joel Myers Jr. 83V 9. Landon Brooks 5V 10. Ryan Robinson 56 11. Max Mittry 2XM 12. John Clark 12J 13. Billy Aton 26 14. Geoffrey Strole 09S 15. Tim Kaeding 42X 16. Angelique Bell 551 17. Adam Kaeding 3M
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Scelzi 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Shane Golobic 12th to 6th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (17 Cars): Tim Kaeding 12.433
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Johnson, Croft, Kaeding, Mittry, Clark, Bell
KIMO’s TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 laps): B. Kaeding, Sanders, Scelzi, Myers Jr. Strole, A. Kaeding
DIRT.TRAVEL CLUB HEAT THREE (8 laps): Faccinto, Golobic, Robinson, Aton, Brooks
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Scelzi, Croft, Johnson, Kaeding, Sanders, Faccinto
NARC SPRINT CARS HEAD TO PETALUMA FOR SALUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS
(3/16/22) Sacramento, CA… The NARC Fujitsu General 410 Sprint Cars continue a busy month this Saturday, May 21st with Petaluma Speedway’s Salute to First Responders.
The event honors our many brave first responders and their efforts to ensure our safety and peace of mind. All first responders who present a valid ID at the gate will be admitted for the discounted price of just $10 to enjoy a night of racing from the West Coast’s best 410 sprint car drivers.
The race will mark the fifth of the 2022 NARC campaign and first visit to Petaluma of the year. The series will make one more trip to the adobe clay oval on July 9th.
Also on the card for Saturday are Modifieds, Super Stocks, and Mini Stocks.
After an off-season full of hard work to improve the historic racetrack that included reshaping the surface, facility improvements, and additional safety measures, promoter Rick Faeth is looking forward to welcoming NARC for the first time this year, and he’s planned some additional fan-friendly events for the Salute to First Responders, too.
“The track had become very misshapen over time,” Faeth explained. “So, we’ve gotten it shaped now with five degrees of banking on the straightaways and twelve degrees in the turns, and the shape is holding up really well. We’ve got eight races in so far this year. The feedback we’ve gotten from all of our local drivers has been amazing. It’s like a different racetrack.
“We’re looking forward to having the NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car series. We’ve been a big supporter of them over the course of the last decade,” Faeth added. “It’s First Responders Night. The local police and fire departments are going to come out, and we’re going to have a 1936 antique fire truck there on display, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Championship Chase
It’s impossible to lose points when you win, so Dominic Scelzi maintained his NARC point lead and extended it with his weekend sweep of the NARC portion of the Peter Murphy Classic.
He now leads a new second place driver as a pair of top-fives during the Peter Murphy Classic propelled Mitchell Faccinto into the runner-up spot as the Tarlton Motorsports drivers continues to hunt his first title.
Shane Golobic fell to third in points after trouble in Hanford on Saturday. Completing the top-five behind him are full-time series drivers Bud Kaeding and Willie Croft.
Who to Watch
The numbers immediately point to Bud Kaeding as a strong favorite. The Campbell native’s consistency at Petaluma is off the charts. In his last 16 series starts at the three-eighths mile, the 2017 NARC champion has collected three wins, posted a 3.8 average finish, and finished no worse than eighth.
It’s a home race for the native of nearby Benicia, Billy Aton. Wild Bill has always performed well with NARC at Petaluma, collecting four top-10s in six starts including his inaugural series podium back in July of 2019 when he finished runner-up after leading seven laps.
Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr. continues to hunt for his first series victory, and he’s taken well to the Petaluma gumbo in past appearances. Last year in just his second NARC start the Vertullo Motorsports driver finished third at the three-eighths mile. Then in July Myers Jr. appeared headed to Petaluma victory lane until an incident with lapped traffic while leading ended that bid.
Another driver that the stats favor is Fremont’s Shane Golobic. In his seven most recent NARC starts at Petaluma, Golobic has tallied a pair of wins, not missed the top-five, and owns an average finish of 2.7 over that span.
Former Petaluma NARC winners Tim Kaeding, Willie Croft, and Colby Copeland should also be in the mix.
Other drivers expected to compete include Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Hanford’s Mitchell and Michael Faccinto, Idaho’s Logan Forler, Hanford’s Geoffrey Strole, Penngrove’s Chase Johnson, and more.
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, 10-lap Heat Races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, and the Fujitsu General USA 30-lap Feature. The headliner will pay competitors $600 to start.
The pit gate will open at noon with the front gate set to open at 4:00 P.M. Hot laps are slated for 5:00 P.M. with racing scheduled to begin around 6:00 P.M.
Adult General Admission tickets are $25. Seniors ages 65+ can purchase tickets for $22. Juniors ages 6-11 tickets will be just $10. Kids 5 and under are free. First responders who present a valid ID will be admitted for just $10.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds at 100 Fairgrounds Dr. Petaluma, CA 94952. For more information call (707) 763-7223.
The Salute to First Responders can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car schedule.
2022 NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After four events in 24-race series - 5/15/22)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 462
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 441
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 431
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 429
Willie Croft, Colfax - 425
Corey Day, Salinas - 414
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 413
Michael Faccinto, Hanford - 411
Max Mittry, Redding (R) - 408
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 395
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 381
Logan Forler, Boise, ID (R) - 376
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 371
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford - 365
Colby Copeland, Roseville - 345
DJ Netto, Hanford - 323
Chase Johnson, Penngrove - 311
Garen Linder, Central Point, OR - 302
Landon Brooks, Yuba City - 300
Kerry Madsen, Sydney, AUS - 291The NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Dirt.Travel, FK Rod Ends, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, Pyrotect, Roth Motorsports, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Scelzi Enterprises, Starr Property Management, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Vortex Wings, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NARCKingoftheWest
Facebook (history page): https://www.facebook.com/NARCSprintCarHistory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
YouTube: NARC410Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
FASTEST FOUR DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS
May 26 - Southern Oregon Speedway, Central Point, OR - Fastest Four Days in Motorsprots
May 27 - Willamette Speedway, Lebanon, OR - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 28 - Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, WA - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 29 - Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, WA - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
BETTER TO BE LUCKY THAN GOOD: SCELZI SNAGS SECOND STRAIGHT PETER MURPHY CLASSIC AFTER LEADERS TANGLE
(5/14/2022 – Alex Nieten) Hanford, CA… Dominic Scelzi summed up his 2022 Peter Murphy Classic victory at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway with just six words.
“Better to be lucky than good,” Scelzi said to open his victory lane interview.
The reigning NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car champion found himself in the right place at the right time with just nine laps to go when Justin Sanders and Corey Day collided in turn four while battling for the lead, taking each other out of contention.
The incident gifted the lead to the Red Rose Transportation/Whipple Superchargers No. 41 piloted by Scelzi, who started the race from 12th, and he went on to sweep the NARC portion of the Peter Murphy Classic after claiming the opener at Tulare on Friday and Saturday’s finale in Hanford. The victory was Scelzi’s fourth NARC triumph at Keller Auto Speedway, making the three-eighths mile the winningest track on his NARC resumé.
And perhaps the most meaningful statistic to Scelzi is that he became the first driver in the Peter Murphy Classic’s eight year history to win the $11,000 NARC finale twice after he claimed last year’s edition, too.
“I would not be here if it wasn’t for Peter,” Scelzi said. “He dug me out of the darkest spot of my career as a young kid. He made me keep going, and I will forever be thankful for that.”
The race was brought to green by Justin Sanders and Kerry Madsen. Sanders darted ahead as Max Mittry ripped the topside around Madsen into the runner-up spot.
Sanders opened up a commanding lead early on as Corey Day began to charge toward the front. First Day and Colby Copeland nearly got together dueling for fourth with Day coming out on top. Then Day made quick work of Madsen and Mittry and set his sights on a distant Sanders who navigated traffic.
The race’s first yellow flew on lap 11 when Madsen spun in turn one. D.J. Netto inherited the fifth spot that Madsen had held as a result.
On the restart with 20 laps remaining Day got an excellent jump and squeezed to Sanders’ inside entering turn one. The two drifted high exiting turn two with Day completing the slider and immediately setting sail.
Behind them, Scelzi made a couple moves to power into fourth after restarting in sixth. The No. 41 machine prepared by Jimmy Carr made Scelzi’s life easier as he charged from row six throughout the race’s opening half.
“When we pushed out onto the racetrack before the feature, I saw Jimmy walk past my car and he was wearing my shirt, so I knew we were going to be pretty good,” Scelzi joked.
“It’s been amazing,” Scelzi added. It’s been incredible. He’s changed my entire life… He made a driver out of me. He taught me how to win races and how to race.”
Scelzi climbed onto the podium by passing Colby Copeland on lap 14, and shortly after disaster struck for the leaders.
Day, who had built a considerable lead, drifted high out of turn two and off track down the backstretch on lap 21. As a result, Sanders had a huge run into turn three and threw a slider, clearing Day but drifting slightly above the rubber that was starting to develop in turn four. Day stayed in the rubber and dove under Sanders, but Day’s right rear hit Sanders’ left front, sending Day on a wild slide down the front stretch and breaking Sanders’ front end. Both of their nights were done.
Their troubles were Scelzi’s good fortune as he took over the top spot.
“I felt like we were, honestly, as good as the 14 (Day) and 57 (Sanders) and we closed in on both,” Scelzi explained. “But as it started getting abrasive I felt like there was no way. I wasn’t really paying attention to how Sanders slid Corey, but I was probably half a straightaway back trying to conserve tire, hoping maybe they’d get too antsy and lose a tire. When I saw them start racing I just said ‘okay I’ve got one or two laps to get right there and hope something happens.’ And when it did I was just far enough away to miss it.”
After Scelzi inherited the lead, he drove away unchallenged on the ensuing restart to claim his 17th career NARC win with a 1.3 second advantage over Copeland.
“We got lucky tonight, but nobody’s going to give a crap in two days,” Scelzi said. “Whether we got lucky or not, we won. We got the check. We got the trophy. We got the wine. We got everything.”
Copeland’s runner-up in Larry Anaya’s Fire Protection Management No. 16A kept his perfect top-two streak alive. He’s raced in three of the four NARC races this year with finishes of first, second, and second.
“Second is obviously great with this kind of competition,” Copeland said. “Larry (Antaya) and Jim (Vanlare) gave me a great car, just need to do a little fine tuning to keep up with Dominic.”
Completing the podium was the 2019 champion D.J. Netto in his Netto Ag/Penny Newman Grain No. 88N.
The balance of the top-10 included Mitchell Faccinto, Kalib Henry, Max Mittry, Craig Stidham Willie Croft, Bud Kaeding, and Chase Johnson
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Dominic Scelzi 41 2. Colby Copeland 16A 3. D.J. Netto 88N 4. Mitchell Faccinto 21 5. Kalib Henry 17 6. Max Mittry 2X 7. Craig Stidham 36 8. Willie Croft 29 9. Bud Kaeding 69 10. Chase Johnson 24 11. Mitchel Moles 01 12. Robbie Price 21P 13. Michael Faccinto 56 14. Garen Linder 22 15. Dylan Bloomfield 11 16. Nick Parker 115 17. Corey Day 14 18. Justin Sanders 57 19. Joel Myers Jr. 83V 20. Shane Golobic 17W 21. Kerry Madsen 83JR 22. Landon Brooks 5V 23. Kaleb Montgomery 3 24. Tim Kaeding 42X
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Sanders 1-11, Day 12-21, Scelzi 22-30
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (31 Cars): Kerry Madsen 13.623
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Faccinto, Myers Jr., Brooks, Madsen, Henry, Bloomfield, Forler, Faria
KIMO’s TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 laps): Netto, Stidham, Day, Kaeding, Johnson, Moles, Kent, Shaw
DIRT.TRAVEL CLUB HEAT THREE (8 laps): Copeland, Sanders, Croft, Scelzi, Golobic, Linder, Aton, Foland
KAEDING PERFORMANCE HEAT FOUR (8 laps): Faccinto, Mittry, Montgomery, Kaeding, Price, Parker, Strole
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” POLE SHUFFLE: Mittry/Brooks: Mittry, Mittry/Netto: Mittry, Mittry/Madsen: Madsen, Madsen/Day: Madsen, Madsen/Sanders: Sanders
STARR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SEMI (12 laps): Bloomfield, Parker, Moles, Linder, Faria, Aton, Forler, Shaw, Kent, Foland Jr., Strole
BRINGING OUT HIS BEST: SCELZI CLAIMS PETER MURPHY CLASSIC OPENER
(5/13/2022 – Alex Nieten) Tulare, CA… The Peter Murphy Classic continues to bring out absolute best out in Dominic Scelzi.
It’s the race named after his friend who encouraged him to keep trying through the days he wanted to quit racing. It’s the race that same friend has worked so hard to grow into one of California’s premier events. And it’s the race where Scelzi continues to make his way into victory lane to honor his friend.
The Fresno native slid past Shane Golobic with seven laps to go and held off a hard charging Colby Copeland to win the NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car Feature at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway on the opening night of the Peter Murphy Classic and take home a $3500 check. The triumph marked some impressive milestones.
It was Scelzi’s fifth straight sprint car victory in the Peter Murphy Classic after sweeping all four in 2021, his 16th career NARC Fujitsu Feature victory and first of 2022, and he joined Brent Kaeding, Jason Meyers, and Kyle Hirst as the only drivers to win three consecutive NARC races at the Thunderbowl.
“Last year we had an amazing year,” Scelzi said. “Now everyone’s gotten better. Everyone’s worked their butt off. Nobody wants to come in here and run second or third, us included. We’ve been doing a lot of second and thirds this year. I felt like that was a hell of a race. Last year it was pretty great to get the eleven grand here, and it’s great to start off one-for-one so far.”
The field was led to green by Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash winner, Bud Kaeding, with Golobic on his outside.
The opening lap of the race was halted by a pair of yellows as Michael Faccinto spun in turn four, and then on the next attempt a pileup on the backstretch including Justin Sanders, D.J. Netto, Robbie Price, and Nick Parker brought out the caution. All drivers were okay.
On the next complete restart Golobic rolled his NOS Energy Drink/Elk Grove Ford No. 17W under Kaeding to lead lap one. Behind Golobic, Kaeding, and the fourth-starting Scelzi battled for the runner-up spot until the race’s first red flag flew for a flipping Burt Foland Jr. Foland was unharmed. The length of the early cautions necessitated an open red for teams to refuel.
A quick yellow for Corey Day again slowed the pace on the restart attempt.
Once the race resumed again Kerry Madsen and a charging Mitchell Faccinto passed Kaeding to take the third and fourth spots, but then Madsen slowed with an issue on lap eight to bring out another caution.
The race finally got into an undisturbed rhythm with less than 20 laps to go. Golobic distanced himself as Scelzi had to fend off challenges from Faccinto and Kaeding. Behind them 13th-starting Colby Copeland clawed his way into fourth in the Antaya Motorsports/Fire Management Protection No. 16A.
“The racetrack turned out great,” Scelzi said of his mid-race battles. “I was really bummed early with how wet it was and the ruts, but it actually turned out really good. There was a top and a bottom.”
Scelzi managed to get away from Faccinto and began to track down Golobic as traffic thickened inside 10 laps to go. In one set of corners a move on a slower car cost Golobic momentum, and Scelzi pounced.
Scelzi looked to Golobic’s inside down the front stretch as they crossed the line with seven circuits to go. Golobic protected, and the two nearly touched. Golobic drifted high in turn two, but Scelzi kept his Whipple Superchargers/Red Rose Transportations No. 41 glued to the bottom and caught the moisture out of turn two, launching him down the backstretch. Then in turn three Scelzi threw a slider, making slight contact with Golobic’s left front as they exited turn four.
“I don’t think we were better than Shane. I think we were equal,” Scelzi noted. “He just got to a lapped car at the wrong time.”
Scelzi drove away after making the move. A late yellow and red bunched the field back together, but Scelzi went unchallenged as he cruised to a 1.285 second victory over Copeland who passed Faccinto and Golobic on a late restart.
“We got him (Golobic) in lapped traffic,” Scelzi said of what ultimately made the difference. “He didn’t do anything wrong. Sometimes it’s just better to be running second.”
Copeland’s runner-up result marked his second straight top-two finish with NARC after winning the season opener last month.
“That yellow there definitely saved me,” Copeland said. “It let me gather my marbles a little bit and it worked out good for us. Dominic was just in his own league tonight.”
Golobic’s third-place run was his seventh consecutive top-five finish at Tulare with NARC. While it was a strong effort, he couldn’t help but be a little disappointed after leading laps and the contact with Scelzi.
“Yeah I think there was a little contact on the left-front,” Golobic commented. “He kind of put me in a spot where I had to make a decision to try and circle around him and hope for the best. And it wasn’t going to happen so I lifted. Had I made a decision sooner to maybe diamond it might’ve been better.”
Completing the top-10 was Mitchell Faccinto (from 15th), Craig Stidham (from 19th), D.J. Netto, Bud Kaeding, Chase Johnson, Michael Faccinto, and Mitchel Moles
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Dominic Scelzi 41 2. Colby Copeland 16A 3. Shane Golobic 17W 4. Mitchell Faccinto 21 5. Craig Stidham 36 6. D.J. Netto 88N 7. Bud Kaeding 69 8. Chase Johnson 24 9. Michael Faccinto 56 10. Mitchel Moles 11. Garen Linder 22 12. Willie Croft 29 13. Landon Brooks 5V 14. Robbie Price 21P 15. Billy Aton 26 16. Max Mittry 2X 17. Nick Parker 115 18. Logan Forler 2L 19. Geoffrey Strole 09S 20. Tim Kaeding 42X 21. Kaleb Montgomery 3 22. Steven Kent 37 23. Kerry Madsen 83JR 24. Corey Day 14 25. Burt Foland Jr. 4 26. Justin Sanders 57
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Golobic 1-23, Scelzi 24-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Craig Stidham 19th to 5th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (28 Cars): Justin Sanders 12.612
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Scelzi, Croft, Sanders, Madsen, Mittry, Aton, Kent
KIMO’s TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 laps): Netto, Price, Faccinto, Copeland, Kaeding, Foland Jr., Myers Jr.
DIRT.TRAVEL CLUB HEAT THREE (8 laps): Moles, Montgomery, Golobic, Faccinto, Stidham, Forler, Strole
KAEDING PERFORMANCE HEAT FOUR (8 laps): Johnson, Day, Brooks, Kaeding, Parker, Linder
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Kaeding, Golobic, Moles, Scelzi, Sanders, Faccinto
TULARE AND HANFORD WELCOME NARC FOR PETER MURPHY CLASSIC
(5/9/22) Sacramento, CA … This weekend will bring a double dose of the NARC Fujitsu General 410 Sprint Cars as the series will compete on both nights of the highly anticipated Peter Murphy Classic, Friday, May 13th at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway and the $11,000 to win finale at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway on Saturday, May 14th.
This year marks the eighth edition of the popular staple of the California sprint car circuit. The two races are promoted by Murphy himself and are his way of giving back to the racing community that helped him following his career-ending crash in 2013.
Murphy’s efforts always lead to a lucrative purse, especially the Saturday portion which not only awards $11,000 to the winner, but also $1,000 to start the Fujitsu General feature event. Saturday night will be the second highest purse of the 2022 NARC season, behind only Skagit Speedway’s Super Dirt Cup. The race also helps raise money for the NARC Benevolent Fund, the not-for-profit that helps injured racer’s families in times of need.
The weekend will have no shortage of sprint car action as the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 Sprint Cars will join NARC in both Tulare and Hanford.
Friday and Saturday will mark races three and four of the 2022 NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car campaign. (The April 10th race has yet to be rescheduled.)
Championship Chase
It only took two races for last year’s NARC titlist, Dominic Scelzi, to take over the 2022 point lead. Back-to-back podium finishes to kick off the campaign have given the Fresno driver the top spot with a current tally of 228 points.
Four points behind Scelzi holding the runner-up position is Aromas’ Justin Sanders, and a mere five points separate the drivers in spots two through five. Sanders (224 points) leads the way with Corey Day (223), Shane Golobic (222), and Tanner Carrick (219) just behind him.
Not much farther back are four full-time drivers in positions six through nine. Mitchell Faccinto is sixth with 217 points, and Willie Croft (213), Bud Kaeding (213), and Tim Kaeding (207) fill out the three spaces behind him.
Who to Watch
The point leader, Dominic Scelzi, stands out as a strong favorite for both nights. Last year “The Dominator” swept all four features of the Peter Murphy Classic. Scelzi also went on to claim the Chris and Brian Faria Memorial at Tulare in July last year and the opening feature of the Morrie Williams Memorial in Hanford. If Scelzi can win the opening night at Tulare, he’ll join Brent Kaeding, Jason Meyers, and Kyle Hirst as the only drivers to win three consecutive NARC events at the Thunderbowl.
“I know we’ve got points on the line both nights with NARC,” Scelzi said. “But in reality, we’re more worried about rolling in there and trying to win races… We want to hang it all out, put it on the line, and do the best job we can to, hopefully, win all four of them.”
Another former champion, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, promises to be a threat especially at the Thunderbowl. In his last 13 NARC starts in Tulare, Kaeding has amassed two wins, eight podiums, eleven top-fives and twelve top-10s. His lone finish outside the top-10 during that stretch likely would’ve been a win if it weren’t for a final lap accident in the 2019 Peter Murphy Classic. Kaeding is also a four-time series feature winner in Hanford.
Keeping with the pattern of past champions who own impressive records at the pair of central valley tracks, 2019 titlist D.J. Netto may pick up his first win since last year’s season opener this weekend. The Thunderbowl is the site of the Hanford native’s inaugural series victory back in 2015, and he’s carrying a streak of 13 consecutive NARC top-10s at Tulare with a 5.5 average finish over that span. Netto is yet to win a NARC race at Keller Auto Speedway, but he’s been strong at his home track with his best series finishes there being a pair of runner-ups.
Former NARC winners at one or both tracks who will be aiming for more success this weekend include San Jose’s Tim Kaeding, Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto, Colivs’ Corey Day, and Colfax’s Willie Croft.
Other drivers expected to compete include Hanford’s Michael Faccinto, Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr., Benicia’s Billy Aton, Roseville’s Colby Copeland, Idaho’s Logan Forler, Oregon’s Tanner Holmes, Yuba City’s Landon Brooks, Sacramento’s Angelique Bell and more.
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire format for Friday and Saturday will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, 8-lap Heat Races, a Sunnyvalley Bacon Pole Shuffle, a Kaeding Performance Semi and the Fujitsu General USA 30-lap Feature.
On Friday the Thunderbowl pit gate will open at 1:00 P.M. while the front gate will open at 4:00 P.M. Hot laps are scheduled for 5:00 P.M. with qualifying and racing to follow.
On Saturday in Hanford the pit gate will open at 1:00 P.M. and the front gate at 4:00 P.M. The drivers meeting is scheduled for 4:30 with cars on track for wheel pack, hot laps, and qualifying after the pit meeting.
Tickets for the main grandstands on Friday at the Thunderbowl will cost $30 while the bleachers will be $25. Seniors can purchase tickets for the grandstands for $28 and bleacher seats for $23. Kids ages 6-12 can access the grandstands for just $15 and the bleachers for $13. Kids 5 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.
Saturday’s tickets in Hanford will cost $25 for Adult General Admission. Seniors ages 62+, military with valid ID, and juniors ages 7-17 will all be admitted for the discounted price of $20.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online via the following link: https://www.myracepass.com/events/394395/tickets/.
The Thunderbowl Raceway is located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds at 620 S K St, Tulare, CA 93274. For more information call (559) 688-0909.
Keller Auto Speedway is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue Hanford, CA 93230. For more information visit racekingsspeedway.com or email kellerautospeedway@yahoo.com.
Peter Murphy Classic Winners
2014: Jonathan Allard 2015: Aaron Reutzel 2016: Kyle Hirst 2017: Bud Kaeding 2018: Shane Golobic 2019: Rico Abreu 2020: canceled due to COVID-19 2021: Dominic Scelzi
2022 NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After two events in 25-race series)
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 228 Justin Sanders, Aromas - 224 Corey Day, Salinas - 223 Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 222 Tanner Carrick, Lincoln - 219 Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 217 Willie Croft, Colfax - 213 Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 213 Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 207 Blake Carrick, Lincoln -204 Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR - 202 Michael Faccinto, Hanford - 201 Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 199 Max Mittry, Redding (R) - 197 Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 193 Logan Forler, Boise, ID (R) - 188 Geoffrey Strole, Hanford - 183 Angelica Bell, Sacramento (R) - 179 Colby Copeland, Roseville - 117 Sean Becker, Roseville - 112
The NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Dirt.Travel, FK Rod Ends, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, Pyrotect, Roth Motorsports, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Scelzi Enterprises, Starr Property Management, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Vortex Wings, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NARCKingoftheWest Facebook (history page): https://www.facebook.com/NARCSprintCarHistory Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410 Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410 YouTube: NARC410
Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS: May 21 - Petaluma Speedway, Salute to First Responders FASTEST FOUR DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS May 26 - Southern Oregon Speedway, Central Point, OR - Fastest Four Days in Motorsprots May 27 - Willamette Speedway, Lebanon, OR - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports May 28 - Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, WA - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports May 29 - Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, WA - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
GOLDEN DRIVE AT SILVER DOLLAR: DAY CRUISES TO DOMINANT CHICO WIN IN DAVID TARTER MEMORIAL
(4/30/2022 – Alex Nieten) Chico, CA… The legend of Corey Day continues to grow.
The second generation driver crushed the field in Saturday’s David Tarter Memorial at Silver Dollar Speedway to pick up his third career NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car victory in just his 15th series start at just 16 years of age. Day led all 35-laps of the Fujitsu Feature en route to what amounted to a $5250 payday factoring in the lap money he earned for pacing every circuit.
With the victory Day put his name next to the likes of Brad Sweet and Gio Scelzi on the all-time series win list, and he was quick to credit his crew for preparing a perfect race car and allowing him to do so.
“I’ve got to credit my dad again,” Day said in victory lane. “This thing basically drove itself tonight. I also can’t thank HP and Eddy enough. They made the five hour trip up here this weekend to help us.”
Day led the field to green in the Four CCCC’s Construction No. 41 with Blake Carrick alongside him. On the first circuit Landon Brooks, making just his third series start, drove around Carrick to secure second. Day distanced himself early on and just as he neared traffic the race’s first yellow flew as Tim Kaeding spun in turn two.
On the restart Justin Sanders jumped onto the podium in the Mittry Racing/Farmers Brewing Co. No. 2X by passing Carrick, but another yellow flew just two laps later as Max Mittry and Austin Wheatley tangled.
When racing resumed Sanders snatched second from Brooks, and a hard charging Sean Becker climbed to fourth after starting 13th. On lap 15 Day faced his only real challenge when, stuck in traffic, Sanders cleared him with a turn three slider, but a yellow for none other than Sanders’ teammate stopping negated the pass.
“I saw his (Sanders) teammate, Max Mittry, go off the edge and slow down,” Day recalled. “I was thankful for that because I knew that if he would’ve gotten the lead he would’ve probably left me. That yellow definitely saved our race there.”
On the restart Brooks stole second back from Sanders while Day drove away. As Day negotiated traffic Brooks began to fade as Sanders, Becker and a surging Dominic Scelzi went by him. Day’s lead continued to grow and grow in traffic as Scelzi began to battle with Sanders for second.
“The track was great,” Day said of what helped him in traffic. “Hats off to Colby (Copeland) and the whole track crew. It was really racy. There was a good bottom, a good top, and you could even roll through the middle there. It made getting through lap traffic a little easier with multiple lanes there.”
Ultimately Day crossed the line with a commanding margin of victory, his lead at the checkered flag a whopping 6.6 seconds, or roughly half the time it takes to circle Silver Dollar Speedway in a sprint car. Day’s David Tarter Memorial victory netted him $5250, and the wise teenager has prudent plans for the prize.
“Put it in the bank,” Day said of where the winnings will go.
Sanders held on to the runner-up spot.
Scelzi completed a solid charge from 10th to third in the Red Rose Transportation/Whipple Superchargers No. 41, his second consecutive podium to start the year in his bid for back to back titles.
“We were really good all feature long,” Scelzi said. “We just got a bad really bad start. We started on the outside, and I didn’t think that was a problem. I just got into (turn) one, and everybody sort of checked up and I kind of played it safe… To come from 10th after my crappy start I’m happy with that, another podium. We’ve got the speed. Guys like Corey and Justin, they’ve done their homework and got better, and it’s made it a lot of fun to race.”
A notable name could be found 15th in the rundown. Making his final Silver Dollar Speedway start in Clyde Lamar’s TRI-C Machine, Paul McMahan drove from 22nd to secure a solid 15th place result in his first Chico appearance since 2017.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (35 laps): 1. Corey Day 41X 2. Justin Sanders 2X 3. Dominic Scelzi 41 4. Sean Becker 16A 5. Tanner Carrick 83T 6. Shane Golobic 17W 7. Ryan Bernal 17WX 8. Kalib Henry 17 9. Blake Carrick 38B 10. Bud Kaeding 69 11. Joel Myers Jr. 83V 12. Mitchell Faccinto 21 13. Landon Brooks 5V 14. Willie Croft 29 15. Paul McMahan 3C 16. John Clark 12J 17. Tanner Holmes 18T 18. Tim Kaeding 42X 19. Chase Johnson 24 20. Michael Faccinto 56 21. Garen Linder 22 22. Billy Aron 26 23. Austin Wheatley 44W 24. Max Mittry 2XM
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Corey Day 1-35
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Sean Becker 13th to 4th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (30 cars): Max Mittry 12.525
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (10 laps): Golobic, Wheatley, Brooks, Faccinto, Kaeding, Mittry, Johnson, McMahan
KIMO’s TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (10 laps): Scelzi, Carrick, Sanders, Faccinto, Holmes, Linder, Foland Jr.
DIRT.TRAVEL CLUB HEAT THREE (10 laps): Becker, Henry, Croft, Clark, Aton, Fielding, Strole
KAEDING PERFORMANCE HEAT FOUR (10 laps): Bernal, Day, Carrick, Myers Jr., Kaesong, Kent, Bell
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Day, Carrick, Brooks, Henry, Sanders, Croft
STARR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SEMI (12 laps): Mittry, McMahan, Johnson, Kent, Linder, Forler, Strole, Foland Jr., Bell, Fielding
NARC SPRINT CARS HEAD TO CHICO FOR DAVID TARTER MEMORIAL
(4/25/22) Sacramento, CA … The NARC Fujitsu General 410 Sprint Cars will travel to the historic Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California this Saturday, April 30th for the tenth annual David Tarter Memorial.
The event honors the late driver who tragically passed in 2012, less than a year after he claimed Silver Dollar Speedway’s Rookie of the Year honors. On top of being a promising talent behind the wheel, the Chico native was admired in the community, and his home track has hosted a night of racing in his honor since 2013. Saturday’s Fujitsu General USA Feature will award $3500 to the winner as a tribute to Tarter’s car number.
Proceeds and donations raised at the event will go to the David Tarter 35 Foundation which benefits the pediatric ward of Chico’s Enloe Medical Center. The foundation has already helped raise more than $20,000 for Enloe.
Saturday will mark the second race of the 2022 NARC campaign. The West Coast’s premier 410 sprint car series has made more than 200 trips to Silver Dollar Speedway since the first visit back in 1968, but this will be the first since the promising new promotional group, SLC Promotions, took the reigns.
The trio that composes the group, Brad Sweet, Kyle Larson, and Colby Copeland, are excited to welcome NARC for the special event as they continue to usher in a new era at the quarter mile dirt oval.
“Tarter was a great guy on and off the track because he would do anything for anyone to help them out,” Copeland said. “He didn’t have a very big budget at all but would give his shirt off his back if a guy needed it.
“It’s cool to help the David Tarter Memorial race keep going because he was loved by so many people,” Copeland added. “It’s awesome to see how many friends and family come out to support the Tarter race. Hopefully we can do a good job and live up to the hype the Tarter Memorial brings.”
Championship Chase
After high winds forced the cancellation of the Anthony Simone Classic, the NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car standings look the same as they did after the season opener at Stockton early this month.
Colby Copeland leads the way courtesy of his dominant win at the NARC opener. However, with his promoting obligations this weekend Copeland will have to exit the cockpit and relinquish the points lead.
Full-time series drivers Dominic Scelzi (2nd in points), Mitchell Faccinto (3rd), and Willie Croft (5th) are primed to take over the point lead early in their championship hunts. A host of others chasing the title are also hoping to make leaps in the standings this weekend.
Who to Watch
A driver everyone will be keeping their eyes on is Elk Grove native Paul McMahan. The 1994 & 1995 NARC runner-up is flying in from his home in Tennessee and is climbing back in Clyde Lamar’s iconic TRI-C Machine with hopes to wheel it to Silver Dollar Speedway victory lane one more time as the ultimate tribute to the late car owner. Before he became a star on the World of Outlaws tour, McMahan cut his teeth in California and picked up his fair share of checkered flags in the No. 3C. McMahan is a four-time NARC feature winner at Silver Dollar Speedway with a trio of those coming in the TRI-C Machine. Also helping to honor Clyde Lamar will be a celebration of life at the track at 12:30 P.M. on Saturday.
“I’m semi-retired,” McMahan said. “But I couldn’t retire without driving Clyde Lamar’s car in Chico one last time.”
There is no track more synonymous with success on Tim Kaeding’s NARC resumé than Silver Dollar Speedway. Of TK’s 71 series victories, 18 of them have come in Chico. During one stretch of the San Jose driver’s career from 2003 to 2008, Kaeding put together a run of 20 consecutive NARC top-fives at Silver Dollar Speedway including 11 of his 18 total wins.
Aromas’ Justin Sanders has developed a reputation as one of the best on the bullrings, and he’ll look to add to that this weekend. Sanders has won in two of his last three series starts at Silver Dollar Speedway including NARC’s most recent trip for last year’s Louie Vermeil Classic finale.
A driver hungry to get to victory lane with a good shot Saturday is Colfax’s Willie Croft. Croft hasn’t snagged a NARC checkered flag since a 2018 triumph at none other than Silver Dollar Speedway. The track is also home to his inaugural series win back in 2004.
Also expected to compete this Saturday are Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, Hanford brothers Mitchell and Michael Faccinto, Benicia’s Billy Aton, Hanford’s D.J. Netto, Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr., Australian Kerry Madsen, Clovis’ Corey Day, Roseville's Sean Becker, Hollister’s Ryan Bernal, Idaho’s Logan Forler, the brothers from Lincoln Tanner and Blake Carrick, Angelique Bell from Sacramento, and more.
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, four 10-lap Heat Races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi and the Fujitsu General USA Feature.
The pit gates will open at 2:00 P.M. with the front gates following at 4:00 P.M. The drivers meeting will take place at 4:45, and cars will hit the track for wheel pack at 5:15 with hot laps and qualifying set to follow.
Adult General Admission tickets are $25. Seniors ages 60+ and juniors ages 12-15 will be admitted for $20. Kids ages 11 and under will be admitted for just $5. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance via the following link: https://www.eventsprout.com/event/silver-dollar-speedway-2022.
Silver Dollar Speedway is located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds at 2343 Fair St, Chico, CA 95928. For more information visit silverdollarspeedway.com or call (530) 891-6535.
The David Tarter Memorial will be broadcast live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car schedule.
NARC RACE TEAMS: Flowmaster or Spintech mufflers are required at Silver Dollar Speedway.
David Tarter Memorial Winners
2013 – Sean Becker
2014 – Kyle Hirst
2015 – Craig Stidham
2016 – Kyle Hirst
2017 – Kyle Hirst
2018 – Kyle Hirst
2019 – Kyle Hirst
2020 – cancelled due to COVID-192021 – Justin Sanders
2022 NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After one event in 25-race series)Colby Copeland, Roseville - 117
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 115
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 113
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 112
Willie Croft, Colfax - 111
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 110
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 109
Tanner Carrick, Lincoln - 108
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 107
Corey Day, Salinas - 106
Michael Faccinto, Hanford - 105
Max Mittry, Redding (R) - 104
Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR - 103
Kerry Madsen - Sydney, AUST - 102
Colby Thornhill, Emuclaw, WA - 101
DJ Netto, Hanford - 100
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 99
Logan Forler, Boise, ID (R) - 98
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 97
Dylan Bloomfield, Discovery Bay (R) - 96
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 95
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 94
Josh Weisz, Colfax (R) - 93
Angelica Bell, Sacramento (R) - 92
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 91The NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Dirt.Travel, FK Rod Ends, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, Pyrotect, Roth Motorsports, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Scelzi Enterprises, Starr Property Management, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Vortex Wings, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NARCKingoftheWest
Facebook (history page): https://www.facebook.com/NARCSprintCarHistory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
YouTube: NARC410Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
May 13 - Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare - Peter Murphy Classic (Night One)
May 14 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford - $11,000 to win Peter Murphy Classic
May 21 - Petaluma Speedway, Salute to First Responders
May 26 - Southern Oregon Speedway, Central Point, OR - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 27 - Willamette Speedway, Lebanon, OR - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 28 - Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, WA - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 29 - Grays Harbor Raceway, Elma, WA - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
A NEW ERA: COPELAND’S ROLE IN REVITALIZING SILVER DOLLAR SPEEDWAY
(4/22/2022 – Alex Nieten)… When the NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Cars arrive at Chico, California’s Silver Dollar Speedway for the David Tarter Memorial next Saturday, it won’t be just another race for the series and racetrack.
While the sanctioning body has made more than 200 trips to the historic facility, April 30th will mark NARC’s first visit since SLC Promotions took command of the bullring. Last November when it was announced that the group composed of California-born racers Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, and Colby Copeland would collectively handle promotional duties, a palpable excitement swept across the Nor-Cal sprint car scene.
The trio have set high expectations for themselves with ushering in a promising new era at Silver Dollar Speedway and helping the racing landscape in its entirety. With their racing schedules taking Larson and Sweet across the country throughout the year, Copeland has been spearheading the hands-on efforts over the past few months and looks to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.
For the Roseville native, an important role at the Butte County facility that has close ties to his family and helped shape him as a racer is a special opportunity.
“It’s been cool. My dad was actually real close with Alan Handy and John Padjen,” Copeland explained. “So, I actually started racing in the outlaw kart there in the pavilion at Silver Dollar Speedway… Justin Grant and I would race there every weekend, and I’d go back and forth with him.
“The outlaw kart deal kind of moved out of there,” Copeland continued. “And then when I started racing sprint cars that was where my first race was when they did 410 Friday nights at Chico. That’s where we mostly ran.”
As he progressed through his early racing career Copeland developed lasting friendships with both Larson and Sweet. The three grew an interest in promoting as an avenue to get more involved in the racing scene of their home region. Copeland dabbled in promotion on a smaller level, and the desire to try more intensified.
“I’ve actually done a couple of outlaw kart races up there at Red Bluff,” Copeland said. “It turned out really well. There were great car counts. The events were cool, I thought. It’s cool to try your different ideas and see them come to life.”
When it comes to ideas for Silver Dollar Speedway, SLC Promotions has wasted no time in making some of their visions a reality. After the deal became official, the new crew surveyed the facility and immediately got to work.
“It was a lot of clean up at first, trying to organize and just really see what we had bought and what we had. Those are the kind of upgrades a lot of people don’t see but we see, just cleaning and organizing,” Copeland commented. “And then we got the new fencing going and brought in some new dirt. In the concession stand we bought new equipment and brought our guy Julio in to try and make the food better. Those are definitely a few upgrades, I think, that have helped and made that area more inviting.”
Copeland and company have no intentions of slowing down on improving the Butte County bullring. They’ve prioritized hearing out feedback from both racers and fans and acting accordingly. Copeland says they’re already focused another major project.
“One that we’re trying to work on, but it’s just so expensive is getting a new sound system in there,” Copeland said. “The whole place is just hurting badly on sound. In the grandstands the amp gets too hot, and then the volume loses. It’s got no bass. The pit speakers, we hear from everybody, are horrible. You can’t hear anything in the pits to call races up or anything, so the sound system is another upgrade we’re trying to work on. It’s just super expensive, but hopefully one of these days soon we can get something new in there.”
Another potentially beneficial element of Copeland’s promotional style is his approach to race day. At the John Padjen Classic Silver Cup back in March, Copeland showed his intentions to be a diligent promoter that helps wherever he can.
On the first night of the Silver Cup rain pummeled Chico for about an hour in the afternoon. Once the skies cleared Copeland climbed aboard a tractor to help roll the surface in with the rest of his track crew. Over the course of the night, he jumped around wherever he was needed in the pit area and helped check on drivers following crashes and assisted in the ensuing clean up. Copeland takes inspiration from the better promoters he’s studied.
“People that see a promoter that puts effort into it, they want to support them,” Copeland said. “If you get a promoter out there that’s working hard, wanting a good track surface, wants the show to run great, smooth, and all that kind of stuff that’s a guy that I want to go support.”
On the actual racing side, SLC Promotions is shooting for the stars as well. One way they hope to help both the racing events at Silver Dollar Speedway and across the West Coast is add to the ongoing effort to build momentum for 410 sprint cars in the region. While all three of them have made plenty of 360 starts, the 410 division is what most helped their driving development, and it’s seen as the premier class of sprint cars in the country.
They’ve already announced plans to revive the Gold Cup Race of Champions featuring the World of Outlaws into the hugely prestigious event it once was. On a more local note, they hope to heighten NARC’s car count by offering more lucrative events that make running a 410 more worthwhile.
“We want to pay a respectable purse,” Copeland said. “We want people to think, ‘man, I’m going to move from the 360 up to the 410 to the next level.’ That’s the biggest thing is to try and get the car count up. I know the NARC series has seen some struggles but also the strides they’ve made getting more cars. So, hopefully at the show at the end of the month we can get a bunch of cars to celebrate the Brownell and Herseth Classic on Friday, and then obviously the David Tarter Memorial is usually pretty big for Saturday.”
With all these new responsibilities and major aspirations for Silver Dollar Speedway, it begs a big question – when will Copeland have time to race? The 30-year-old proved just two weeks ago that he’s got plenty of quality laps left in him by winning the NARC season opener. Unfortunately, there will be times where he’s forced to miss an occasional race. Obligations in Chico would’ve kept Copeland away from Hanford two weeks ago even if dangerous winds hadn’t forced the cancellation of the Anthony Simone Classic.
“I guess with Hanford being canceled I was probably the only one to be happy about that,” Copeland said with a laugh.
Fear not, though, Colby Copeland fans. Even though he’ll be busy with the process of revitalizing Silver Dollar Speedway, Copeland plans to strap into a sprint car any chance he gets with his sights on more checkered flags.
“I’m just going to try and race as much as I can,” Copeland said. “I just want to support all the other tracks as much as I can.”
SECOND ANNUAL $10,000 TO WIN ANTHONY SIMONE CLASSIC ON DECK FOR NARC
(4/4/22) Sacramento, CA ... The NARC Fujitsu General 410 Sprint Cars roll right into round two this weekend with the second edition of the Anthony Simone Classic this Saturday, April 9th at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway.
The event honors the late Anthony “Mr. Excitement” Simone who sadly passed last year and awards a whopping $10,000 to the winner. As a tip of the cap to the versatile driver, a special NARC non-wing race will take place immediately after the Fujitsu Feature concludes. The wingless event will consist only of drivers who competed in the winged portion, and like last year the teams will remove the wings and make adjustments in the work area on the front stretch.
A unique format also awaits the drivers with an emphasis on the number 10, Simone’s car number. There will be five Brown and Miller Racing Solutions five-lap Heat Races lined up straight up based on ARP Qualifying times and will take the top-two finishers to the Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, equaling 10 cars. Those 10 cars will take part in a pill draw with the options of four, six, or eight to set the lineup for the Dash. Then, they’ll duke it out open wheel-style for 10 laps to determine the first five rows of the 30-lap Fujitsu Feature.
Keller Auto Speedway underwent a minor reconfiguration in the off-season which may throw a curve ball to the entire pit area as promoter Peter Murphy continues to improve the facility. Saturday will mark the first of three NARC visits to Hanford in 2022.
The Championship Chase
Following this past weekend’s NARC opener, a part-time driver leads the standings in the form of Roseville’s Colby Copeland courtesy of his Stockton win. Copeland doesn’t plan to race this Saturday, so he’ll relinquish the top spot.
Looking to take his place will be current runner-up and reigning series titlist Dominic Scelzi. The Fresno native opened his championship defense with a second-place run at Stockton, his sixth career podium at the facility and 11th in his last 15 series starts dating back to 2021.
Just two markers behind Scelzi is Tarlton Motorsports pilot Mitchell Faccinto. He picked up his 12th career series podium in his maiden NARC voyage aboard the No. 21 as he began the pursuit of his first championship.
Among other confirmed full-time drivers toward the front Colfax’s Willie Croft sits fifth in points (-6 behind Copeland), Tim Kaeding is seventh (-8), and Bud Kaeding is ninth (-10).
Who to Watch
This weekend is a home game for brothers Mitchell and Michael Faccinto who hail from Hanford. Two of Mitchell’s three career NARC wins have come at Keller Auto Speedway. Michael picked up a USAC Western States Midget victory at Hanford last year, and his first two career NARC feature starts came at the three-eighths mile, including his debut in his current ride, the Mike Phulps No. 56, last season.
“Getting an early season win at Hanford for the Simone would be huge for this team (Tarlton Motorsports),” Mitchell Faccinto said heading into the weekend. “With the different track layout, we were able to at least get one night on it before we start points racing which will help. Even though we struggled a little during the World of Outlaws (California) swing, I have full confidence that we should be contending for wins the rest of the year.”
“We got the notes from last year, and we have a couple races under our belts now,” Michael Faccinto said. “A top-five run with the stout NARC field that is following the series this year would be a good run for our team.”
Entering the event as the defending Anthony Simone Classic winner is Fremont’s Shane Golobic after taking home the $10,000 check last year. The Matt Wood Racing pilot has also podiumed in five of his last six NARC feature starts at Hanford.
Keller Auto Speedway is tied for the second winningest track on Tim Kaeding’s extensive NARC resumé. Nine of TK’s 71 career feature wins have come in Hanford. While the San Jose driver hasn’t visited victory lane there since 2013, he has finished fourth or better in seven of his last nine series starts.
Dominic Scelzi has won a NARC feature event at Keller Auto Speedway in each of the last two years. Last year during Scelzi’s 22 overall feature win season, six of those came at Hanford.
Campbell native Bud Kaeding has chalked up four series victories in Hanford. In fact, three of his first four NARC wins came at Keller Auto Speedway. Kaeding hasn’t visited NARC victory lane there since 2012 but does own a steady record as of late with six top-10s in his last eight starts.
A driver still seeking his first Keller Auto Speedway triumph is 11-time NARC feature winner Justin Sanders. Though the Aromas racer is still in search of that inaugural victory, he’s been remarkably consistent in Hanford with three top-fives in four series starts last year, two of those being podium runs.
One of Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr.’s two NARC top-fives from 2021 came at Keller Auto Speedway in the Simone, and he’s hoping for a similarly strong effort to bounce back from a tough opening outing at Stockton with Vertullo Motorsports.
Also expected to compete are Hanford’s D.J. Netto, Benicia’s Billy Aton, Idaho’s Logan Forler, Lincoln’s Tanner and Blake Carrick, Oregon’s Tanner Holmes, Washington’s Colby Thornhill, and more!
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions 5-lap Heat Races, an eight-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi, the 30-lap Fujitsu Feature and the special 20-lap wingless Fujitsu Feature
The pit gate will open at 1:00 P.M. with the front gate following at 4:00 P.M. The driver’s meeting will take place at 4:30 P.M. Cars will be on track for wheel pack/hot laps at 5:00 P.M., and racing will begin around 6:00 P.M. The new and already popular Pete’s Pub will be from 4:30-5:30 P.M. and allow fans without pit passes the opportunity to enjoy a small section of the pit area with food and drinks being sold..
Adult General Admission tickets will be $20. Kids ages 6-17, seniors ages 62 and up, and military (ID required) will be admitted for the discounted price of $15. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or via the following link https://www.myracepass.com/events/401628/tickets/. The MyRacePass app can also be used to buy tickets.
Keller Auto Speedway is located on the Kings County Fairgrounds at 801 South 10th Avenue Hanford, CA 93230. For more information visit racekingsspeedway.com or email kellerautospeedway@yahoo.com.
The Anthony Simone Classic will be broadcast live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car schedule.
2022 NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After one event in 25-race series)Colby Copeland, Roseville - 117
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 115
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 113
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 112
Willie Croft, Colfax - 111
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 110
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 109
Tanner Carrick, Lincoln - 108
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 107
Corey Day, Salinas - 106
Michael Faccinto, Hanford - 105
Max Mittry, Redding (R) - 104
Tanner Holmes, Jacksonville, OR - 103
Kerry Madsen - Sydney, AUST - 102
Colby Thornhill, Emuclaw, WA - 101
DJ Netto, Hanford - 100
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 99
Logan Forler, Boise, ID (R) - 98
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 97
Dylan Bloomfield, Discovery Bay (R) - 96
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 95
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 94
Josh Weisz, Colfax (R) - 93
Angelica Bell, Sacramento (R) - 92
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 91The NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Dirt.Travel, FK Rod Ends, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, Pyrotect, Roth Motorsports, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Scelzi Enterprises, Starr Property Management, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Vortex Wings, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NARCKingoftheWest
Facebook (history page): https://www.facebook.com/NARCSprintCarHistory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
YouTube: NARC410
Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 30 - Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico - Tenth Annual David Tarter Memorial
May 13 - Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare - Peter Murphy Classic (Night One)
May 14 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford - $11,000 to win Peter Murphy Classic
May 21 - Petaluma Speedway, Salute to First Responders
“HOLD YOUR BREATH, CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND HAMMER IT”: COPELAND ACES TRAFFIC IN DOMINANT NARC OPENER WIN
(4/2/2022 – Alex Nieten) Stockton, CA… Colby Copeland may not be pursuing a NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car championship this year, but he made a statement on opening night at Stockton Dirt Track that he’ll be a force anytime he shows up to compete.
The pilot of Larry Antaya’s Fire Protection Management No. 16A led all 25 laps of the third annual Asparagus Cup en route to his third career Fujitsu Feature victory. The triumph marked his first with the series since June of 2019. Copeland’s trio of NARC victories have all come aboard Antaya’s machine, this latest win coming with a $6,000 check.
Dominic Scelzi led the field to green courtesy of his win in the Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash with Copeland to his outside. The reigning series champion led through turns one and two, but in the next set of corners Copeland made what ultimately proved to be the winning move.
Running a lane above Scelzi in turns three and four, Copeland ripped around Scelzi’s outside to take command and lead the opening circuit.
“It’s one of those things you’ve just got to try to go for it,” Copeland said of the pass. “It was pretty fast and hard to pass, so I knew the start was going to be crucial.”
A flurry of yellows for stopped and spun cars slowed the pace early on. During the race’s second restart Scelzi threw a slider at Copeland entering the first turn but came up a little short and had to regroup. As Scelzi pursued Copeland, Shane Golobic, Mitchell Faccinto, Willie Croft, Kerry Madsen, and Justin Sanders all jockeyed for spots behind the lead duo in the top-five.
After the early yellows, the feature event barreled toward its conclusion with a long green flag run that forced the front runners to navigate heavy traffic.
On the hooked up Stockton surface, Copeland sliced his way through slower cars as Scelzi struggled to keep pace, and a new contender climbed onto the podium. Making his first NARC start in the Tarlton Motorsports machine, Mitchell Faccinto drove around Golobic for third as the laps dwindled.
Ultimately, Copeland held on to win by a comfortable margin, but the Roseville, CA native made sure to never take his foot off the gas through the swarm of lapped cars until the checkered flag flew.
“It might not have seemed like a lot of trouble,” Copeland said of negotiating slower cars. “But when you get behind those guys, the air gets off your wing and you’re just bucking and you get tight. And you know Dominic, obviously he was the champion last year so you know he’s breathing down your neck the whole time. You’re just trying to run as hard as you can, hold your breath, close your eyes, and hammer it.”
Scelzi held on to claim second in his Red Rose Transportation No. 41, marking his 32nd career NARC podium and 11th in his last 15 Fujitsu Feature starts dating back to last year.
“Hats off to the 16A guys,” Scelzi said. “They’ve been fast. It’s good to see that there’s so many cars out here.”
Making his first NARC start in the Tarlton machine, Mitchell Faccinto completed the podium with a third place run.
“Going from fifth to third it was a good first points night out for us,” Faccinto said. “I’m excited. Obviously Tom and Tommy (Tarlton) give us great equipment to come out here and compete.”
Rounding out the top-10 was Golobic, Croft, Sanders, Tim Kaeding, Tanner Carrick, Bud Kaeding (from 16th, Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger) and Corey Day.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (25 laps): 1. Colby Copeland 16A 2. Dominic Scelzi 41 3. Mitchell Faccinto 21 4. Shane Golobic 17W 5. Willie Croft 29 6. Justin Sanders 57 7. Tim Kaeding 42X 8. Tanner Carrick 83T 9. Bud Kaeding 69 10. Corey Day 14 11. Michael Faccinto 56 12. Max Mittry 2X 13. Tanner Holmes 18 14. Kerry Madsen 83JR 15. Colby Thornhill 19 16. 88N D.J. Netto 17. Billy Aton 26 18. Logan Forler 2L 19. Blake Carrick 38B 20. Dylan Bloomfield 11 21. Geoffrey Strole 09S 22. Joel Myers Jr. 83V 23. Josh Wiesz 21W 24. Angelique Bell 55I 25. Austin McCarl 88
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Copeland 1-25
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Bud Kaeding 16th to 9th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (25 cars): Dominic Scelzi 14.432
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Golobic, Scelzi, Faccinto, Day, Netto, Aton, Carrick, Bell, Myers Jr.
KIMO’S TROPICAL CAR WASH HEAT TWO (8 laps): Copeland, Carrick, Croft, Mittry, Forler, Bloomfield, Strole, Kaeding
DIRT.TRAVEL CLUB HEAT THREE (8 laps): Kaeding, Sanders, Madsen, Faccinto, McCarl, Holmes, Thornhill, Wiesz
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Scelzi, Copeland, Croft, Golobic, Faccinto, Madsen
NARC SPRINT CARS OPEN 2022 SEASON AT STOCKTON SATURDAY
(3/28/22) Sacramento, CA ... The high-powered NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Cars will embark on their 63rd season this Saturday, April 2nd at Stockton Dirt Track’s $6,000 to win Asparagus Cup.
It will mark NARC’s 21st visit to Stockton since the central valley facility opened in 2013. The three-eighths mile will be the busiest track on the 2022 calendar with the Third Annual Asparagus Cup slated to be the first of four trips this year.
Joining the West Coast’s premier 410 sprint car series will be the Legends of Kearney Bowl and the NorCal Dwarf Cars.
Who to Watch
The title defense will begin this weekend for 2021 series champion Dominic Scelzi of Fresno, and the venue may be the ideal location for the "Dominator." With three victories, Scelzi is the winningest series driver through 20 races at Stockton and also owns top-fives in his five of his last seven starts.
2019 titlist, D.J. Netto of Hanford, has a wildly consistent recent record at Stockton. In his last nine series races, he’s finished no worse than fourth leading to a 2.8 average finish over that span. Netto also claimed the 2021 season opener at Stockton.
San Jose's Tim Kaeding will begin his hunt for a third series championship at a track that’s been very kind to him. In nine NARC starts at Stockton, Kaeding owns a pair of wins and six podium finishes.
Although Shane Golobic of Elk Grove has only scored a pair of NARC wins at Stockton, he is always contending for the top spot.
Now teamed with Roth Motorsports, Australian Kerry Madsen plans to be at the season opener and should be an immediate contender. While he hasn’t made a NARC start at Stockton, he’s contested half a dozen World of Outlaws feature events and come away with five top-10s and a victory. He has 28 World of Outlaw national wins to his credit.
Eight-time NARC feature winner, Willie Croft, would love to open his 2022 campaign with a momentum-building win as he pursues his first title. He’s yet to earn a NARC win at Stockton, but Croft has been strong with four runner-ups to his credit at the central valley facility.
Though he doesn’t own a NARC victory at Stockton, Hanford's Mitchell Faccinto has shown consistency in his 13 NARC appearances at the track with 11 top-10s and a best finish of second in June of 2016. He is driving the 2022 campaign for the potent Fresno-based Tarlton Motorsports team.
Also expected to compete are Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr., Benicia’s Billy Aton, Hanford’s Michael Faccinto, Clovis’ Sean Watts, Aromas’ Justin Sanders, Iowa’s Austin McCarl, Idaho’s Logan Forler, Tanner Holmes from Oregon, and more.
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 8-lap Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi if necessary and the Fujitsu General USA 30-lap Feature.
The pit gates will open at 1:00 P.M. with the main gate set to follow at 4:00 P.M. The driver’s meeting will also begin at 4:00 P.M. followed by wheel pack at 4:30 P.M. Qualifying is scheduled to start at 5:00 P.M.
Pit passes are priced at $40. Adult GA tickets are $25. Kids ages 5-12, seniors ages 65+ and military (valid ID required) will be admitted for the discounted price of $20. Kids 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased on race day at the gate or in advance via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/narc-kws-410-sprint-car-series-legends-of-kearney-bowl-norcal-dwarf-cars-tickets-289266884037.
The Stockton Dirt Track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds at 1658 S Airport Way Stockton, CA 95206. For more information call 209-466-9999 or visit stocktondirttrack.com.
The Asparagus Cup can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car schedule.
FINAL 2021 NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points StandingsDominic Scelzi, Fresno - 2229
DJ Netto, Hanford - 2164
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 2163
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 2145
Sean Becker, Roseville - 2115
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 2078
Sean Watts, Clovis - 2026
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 1936
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 1758
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 1548
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 1445
Corey Day, Salinas (R) - 1350
Austin McCarl, Altoona, Iowa - 1250
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 1237
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 1206
Jessie Attard, Sydney, AUS (R) - 1092
Willie Croft, Colfax - 1061
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 1043
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 1039
Rico Abreu, Rutherford - 979The NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and Floracing.com. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, Dirt.Travel, FK Rod Ends, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, Pyrotect, Roth Motorsports, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Scelzi Enterprises, Starr Property Management, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Lite Brakes, Vortex Wings, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NARCKingoftheWest
Facebook (history page): https://www.facebook.com/NARCSprintCarHistory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
YouTube: NARC410
TikTok: NARC410Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
April 9 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford - Anthony Simone Classic
April 30 - Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico - Ninth Annual David Tarter Memorial
May 13 - Thunderbowl Raceway, Tulare - Peter Murphy Classic (Night One)
May 14 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford - $11,000 to win Peter Murphy Classic
May 21 - Petaluma Speedway, Salute to First Responders
LUCRATIVE SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE ANNOUNCED BY NARC SPRINT CARS
(3/28/22 - Jim Allen) Sacramento, CA ... The Northern Auto Racing Club released a full list of sponsors committed to support the 2022 NARC Fujitsu General USA 410 Sprint Car campaign. The busy schedule features 25-event at 13 different dirt tracks in three States and will crown a "King of the West" champion.
Total feature event prize money will exceed $770,000 this season, plus additional cash awards and product contingency certificates worth another $49,000. Fujitsu General Heating & Air Conditioning and Hoosier Racing Tires are the series title sponsors, with additional marketing support provided by Floracing.com. In total, 28 companies have lent their support to the NARC sprint cars this season.
While many purses are backfilled in the lower positions to support lower-budget teams ($500 minimum to start A-Main), there are many over-the-top winner shares. Heading the prestigious list is the $50,000 to win Super Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway in June. Others include the $10,000 to win Anthony Simone Classic on April 9th, the May 14th $11,000 to win Peter Murphy Classic; the $8300 to win Dennis Roth Classic on October 15th, the $6900 to win Howard Kaeding Classic in July, plus several others. There is also a $40,000 bonus on the line for any team that can sweep the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports over the Memorial Day weekend.
In addition, the top 10 teams in the final standings will earn shares of a $63,000 year end point fund. The "King of the West" championship team will pocket $12,500 for their efforts. The rookie-of-the-year will earn $1500 from Johnstone Supply. The championship celebration is scheduled for November 6th at the Brookside Country Club in Stockton.
The NARC series sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS), Dirt.Travel, Johnstone Supply, Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, Roth Motorsports, Scelzi Enterprises, Starr Property Management, Swift Metal Finishing, and Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats.
The associate sponsors offering product contingency awards are Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS), FK Rod Ends, KSE Racing Products, Kaeding Performance, Maxim Racing, Pyrotect, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI - Sprint Car Innovation, System 1 Pro Ignition, Ultra-Lite Brakes, Vortex Wings, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Winters Performance.
Bullet Impressions is the official merchandising vendor of the Northern Auto Racing Club and provides numerous promotional benefits.
The 2022 campaign kicks off on Saturday, April 2nd with the Third Annual Asparagus Cup at the Stockton Dirt Track. The winner of the feature event headliner will pocket a $6,000 payday.
For more information, go to www.NARC410.com
2022 NARC FUJITSU GENERAL USA SPRINT CAR SERIES SEASON PREVIEW
(3/25/22 - Alex Nieten) Sacramento, CA ... Less than two weeks remain before the historic NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Cars embark on their 63rd season, and an interesting silly season coupled with the largest schedule in many years have created many storylines to follow throughout 2022.
The Schedule
With 25 races on the calendar, NARC is set for its most events since 2007. The series will travel to 13 tracks across the three West Coast states, California, Oregon, and Washington.
The farthest southern point on the schedule is Bakersfield’s Kern County Raceway Park, and the most northern point nearly reaches the Canadian border at Alger, Washington’s Skagit Speedway. Between those two facilities are nearly 1100 miles, and NARC will travel all around that space from the April 2nd season opener at Stockton Dirt Track to the finale on November 5th also hosted by Stockton.
The trips to the Pacific Northwest will be the first for the series in a decade, the most recent visit being a 2012 race at Southern Oregon Speedway won by Tim Kaeding.
Championship Hangover?
Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi is coming off what he’s commonly referred to as a “dream season” in 2021 that he punctuated with his first NARC title. The 24-year-old delivered one of the most dominant seasons in series history and had the championship wrapped up before the final event of the year. Scelzi will look to defend his crown in 2022.
A key element to his title campaign will also return as Jimmy Carr enters his third year with Scelzi Motorsports. Scelzi credits Carr for elevating his performance to new heights as the reigning champ nearly doubled his career sprint car win tally last year, adding 22 triumphs to his pre-2021 count of 27.
In NARC competition, Scelzi has won at seven of the 13 tracks featured on the 2022 schedule, but he hasn’t had an opportunity to make a series start at a handful of the tracks due to the recent absence of the Pacific Northwest dates that have returned. Scelzi owns some 360 starts at the Oregon and Washington facilities including two wins in three nights at last year’s Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway.
Back to the Top?
The 2019 champion, D.J. Netto, slipped slightly in performance in 2021, coming home second in points with a victory, nine top-fives and 16 top-10s.
Though the Hanford native is scaling back his racing calendar as his responsibility at the family business increases, Netto still intends to take on the full NARC tour in search of title number two.
Netto has become one of the most consistent forces of the NARC roster over the past several years, earning top-10s in more than 85% of his series starts since the beginning of 2016. After the runner-up finish last year, the 26-year-old is motivated to get back to the top of the standings and claim a second championship.
Brotherly Battles
Last year brothers Tim Kaeding and Bud Kaeding finished up third and fourth in the final standings, and the duo hope to occupy the top two slots in 2022.
Two-time series champion Tim returns to the seat of the Bates-Hamilton Racing No. 42X. TK picked up a pair of victories, the 70th and 71st of his career, last season aboard the machine and narrowly missed the runner-up spot in the standings. The West Coast legend put together the longest streak of top-10s in 2021, stacking 11 straight from July to October.
Between NARC and World of Outlaws starts, Tim may have the advantage over the field on the two northern swings with many more laps in a 410 around the Pacific Northwest ovals. He already owns series victories at both Southern Oregon Speedway and Cottage Grove Speedway.
Bud Kaeding and Tim Kaeding with both be championship contenders in 2022![/caption]Early on in 2021, younger brother Bud looked like he might match Tim’s title count of two. After finishing seventh in the season opener, BK collected five consecutive top-fives highlighted by a pair of runner-ups at Petaluma and Watsonville. The hot streak gave him the points lead, but a crash at the Howard Kaeding Classic began to derail the season. Bud consistently finished in the top-10 through the second half of the year, but he and the BK Racing team couldn’t find the speed they had early on.
Bud will be back aboard his family’s iconic No. 69 BK Racing machine for 2022. With plenty of experience and victories on the West Coast, Bud is always a favorite for the championship.
The Faccinto brother's, Mitchell and Michael, are both set to tackle the full season for the first time. The duo shook up silly season with announcements revealing that Mitchell would head to Tarlton Motorsports to wheel the No. 21 with Michael handling driving duties on the Mike Phulps owned No. 56.
Though they’re brothers and a similar age, their racing histories with NARC are quite different. Mitchell owns 90 career series starts since debuting in 2013 and has earned top-10s in over half of them along with three victories. Michael, a micro and midget ace, only has two series starts to his credit, though he has spent considerable time behind the wheel of a 360-sprint car over the past few years.
Oddly enough, Michael has made one more NARC start than Mitchell in their current rides. Mitchell is set to debut with Tarlton while Michael’s lone 2021 appearance came aboard Phulps’ machine.
Same Faces, New Places
At Petaluma Speedway in May of last year, 15-year-old Joel Myers Jr. made his presence felt with his first series podium. The top-three came in just his second career NARC start and aboard his family-owned ride. He went on to compete in 16 of the 21 features and picked up four more top-10s along the way.
This season, the rising talent has been hired to wheel the Vertullo Motorsports No. 83V, and they have prioritized the NARC campaign.
Joel Myers Jr. will be looking to score his first ever NARC feature victory aboard David Vertullo's #83V sprint car. Photo by Joe Shivak[/caption]The Vertullo ride has helped produced some of the sport’s best with names like Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet and Chuck Gurney getting behind the wheel early in their careers, and Myers Jr. is looking to add his name to the list.
After not completing a full NARC season in a handful of years, Vertullo returned in 2021 with veteran Sean Becker as his pilot and earned the fifth position in points. The pairing picked up a popular win last summer in the Howard Kaeding Classic.
With the knowledge of the impressive list of names to precede him in the 83V, Myers Jr. is filled with excitement to take his turn and potentially become the youngest champion in series history.
NARC’s second winningest driver of 2021, Justin Sanders, is heading to Mittry Racing to pilot the No. 2. Last year the Aromas native began the tour aboard Larry Antaya’s car and picked up an early win at Petaluma. Sanders sat out a double-header weekend in July but came back in a new ride for the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports.
Sanders hopped in the Kevin Kozlowski-owned and Paul Silva-prepared Works Limited No. 57 and won in his debut in the car at Merced. The partnership went on to claim four of the final 12 races of the season as Sanders nearly doubled his career NARC win total, jumping to 11 after starting the year with six.
Sanders wrapped up his 2021 by turning some impressive results in the Mittry machine. The team traveled to Arizona for four ASCS regional events and came away with podiums in three of them. Sanders has already won in his new ride this year in Silver Dollar Speedway’s season opening 360 sprint car race, the Silver Cup.
Sophomore Slump or Success?
After having made only nine NARC starts over three years prior to 2021, Billy Aton followed the entire tour last year and came home with rookie of the year honors after finishing sixth in points. He’ll be back this season with hopes of improving a few spots in the standings.
The highlight of Aton’s campaign came in July at Santa Maria Raceway when he started on the pole and led all 30 laps en route to his inaugural NARC victory in his 18th series start.
Last season, Aton continually proved his ability to move forward in the main event, passing more than 100 cars in the feature over the course of the season. However, he struggled in qualifying which often left him starting near the back in the A-main, necessitating a charge through the field.
Aton and the team are prioritizing a better qualifying program this year, hoping for better starting spots on the feature grid leading to more finishes toward the front.
Taking Another Swing
Savvy veteran Willie Croft intends to tackle the entire NARC tour with his sights on his first title. The Colfax native has competed over the full schedule five times before with a best result of third in the standings back in 2007.
Croft has been one of the most consistent forces over his roughly two decades of wheeling sprint cars, having tallied eight victories, more than 50 top-fives, and over 100 top-10s with the West Coast’s premier 410 series.
Mega Watts
The pilot of his family-owned Billet America No. 98, Sean Watts, plans to take on the entire NARC schedule again.
The 26-year-old has collected 15 top-10s with the series in his career, highlighted by a 2019 win at Stockton, a facility with four dates on the 2022 NARC calendar.
Regulars
A handful of talented West Coast drivers plan to attend a majority of the NARC tour and are likely to pick up plenty of strong results when they do.
Fremont’s Shane Golobic tentatively plans to race all but one of the 25 scheduled events, the lone absence being the July Petaluma date. He’s the owner of 13 career series wins and always a threat to park the Matt Wood Racing machine in victory lane. Though he missed a few events last season, Golobic still managed to notch the second most podiums and top-fives.
Northern California will have a frequent visitor from down under this year in the form of Kerry Madsen. The 28-time World of Outlaws feature winner has partnered with Roth Motorsports to run a schedule consisting of a blend of West Coast and Midwest races. Turning the wrenches on the No. 83 will be fellow Australian Paul Baines, and with the Toyota Racing Development engine under the hood they plan to compete in nearly 20 NARC events. Another Australian, Jessie Attard, is in the process of loading his racing equipment into a shipping container for the journey to the Golden State. He plans to race a majority of the NARC schedule.
Two-time NARC feature winner, Colby Copeland, will be back aboard the Larry Antaya No. 16A for his appearances this season, the same car he drove to those two victories. Last season, driving mostly for a joint effort between Jim and Annette Vanlare and Antaya, Copeland made seven series starts with top-10s in all of them, the highlight being four straight finishes of 8th or better in the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports resulting in a runner-up in FFDM points.
Keller Motorsports pilot, J.J. Ringo, will contest over half of the schedule. The 32-year-old is shifting his focus toward 410 racing and will double his career start total with NARC this season. Last year, Ringo earned his first series podium after a resilient night at Santa Maria Raceway.
The Carrick brothers hope to frequent NARC events this season. Both Tanner and Blake have made many appearances in the top-10 but are still seeking their first series victories. With more 410 engines in their shop and more 410 races on the schedule, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them both collect their inaugural NARC wins. Last year Tanner picked up his first career NARC podium at the Howard Kaeding Classic, and that same night Blake notched his best series finish to date by running fourth. Iowa driver Austin McCarl will also race about half the NARC schedule aboard the Keith Offill 88 sprint car. He will be looking for his first NARC victory.
Iowa driver Austin McCarl plans to drive Keith Offill's number 88 sprint car around the West Coast before embarking on a swing through the Midwest. He is still looking for his first NARC victory in California.
Last year’s 11th place finisher in the standings, Geoffrey Strole, plans to compete in a solid amount of NARC races. The highlight of his 2021 season came in July at The Thunderbowl when he drove from 18th to 10th to claim both his first top-10 of the season and Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger award.
Trying Something New
After making a name for himself piling up ASCS regional trophies over the past several years, Logan Forler is diving more into 410 racing by making an attempt at a NARC title this year.
The Idaho driver hasn’t contested a NARC race since 2014, but he’ll change that in a big way in 2022 by tackling all 25 events. In five career series starts Forler has earned two top-fives, one at Southern Oregon Speedway and one at Placerville Speedway.
A more common sight at NARC events in 2022 will be Chase Johnson. After not competing in a single race last year, the two-time NARC feature winner plans to run more than half of this season’s schedule. Johnson has many wingless and midget wins on his resumé, and the versatile driver will look to tally a few more with a wing this year.Let’s Go Racing
The many storylines entering 2022 have been laid out, and now the only thing left to do is watch how they unfold over the course of seven months and 25 races.
For the full schedule, visit Schedule – King of the West NARC Sprints (narc410.com). If you can’t make it to the track, all NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car Series races can be viewed live on floracing.com.
NARC ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY EVENT SPONSORS
March 21, 2022
Jim Allen(3/21/2022) Sacramento, CA … The Northern Auto Racing Club announced all of the sponsors contributing to all of the NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car Series events. This includes the fast time award, heat races and trophy dash winners.
Automotive Racing Products (ARP) has returned to sponsor the fast time award at all 25-events this season. ARP is world-leader is fastener technology. Their fasteners are built to withstand serious racing and have higher tensile strengths and can survive higher stresses than most aircraft fasteners will ever see. For more information, go to www.arp-bolts.com.
Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS), Kimo’s Tropical Car Wash, and Dirt.Travel are the heat race sponsors. Each will be kicking in $100 to each of the winners throughout the season.
BMRS is an industry leader in the manufacturing of hoses, fittings, tubing and seals. They have been an innovator in motorsports for more than four decades. You can view their catalog at https://www.bmrs.net/
Kimo’s Tropical Car Wash is owned by 1996 NARC Hammerdown! Rookie-of-the-Year Jim Taves. His company runs three premium car washes in the Reedley, CA area. For a location, go to https://kimoscarwash.com/
Dirt.Travel is a membership-based travel club specializing in providing outstanding event-based travel experiences to premier racing events around the nation. Dirt.Travel is an innovative travel group of race fans and family that provides one stop online shopping for all travel needs, track travel, weekend getaways and family vacations. Once again, the site is Dirt.Travel
Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats is the sponsor of the “Powered by Bacon” dash that not only pays cash awards, but also awards the driver and a lucky fan 10 lbs. of flash-frozen bacon. Sunnyvalley products can be found at almost all major grocery chains.
The 2022 NARC season opener will take place on April 2nd with the Third Annual Asparagus Cup at the Stockton Dirt Track. A complete schedule of events can be found at NARC410.com.
$40,000 BONUS ON THE LINE FOR THE FASTEST FOUR DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS
(3/14/2022) Sacramento, CA ... There will be a stout $40,000 bonus on the line when the Northern Auto Racing Club Fujitsu General USA sprint car tour invades the Pacific Northwest over the Memorial Day weekend. The huge incentive will be paid to any driver who can sweep all four shows during the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports.
The four-day blast of 410 sprint car racing kicks off on Thursday, May 26th at Southern Oregon Speedway in Central Point, OR. From there it's a trip up Interstate 5 to Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, OR on the 27th, followed by a big two-day show at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA on May 28-29th. Each show pays $5,000 to win.
"We were already excited to have the NARC King of the West 410 sprint cars come visit us in Oregon and Washington, "said Grays Harbor promoter Bert Johnson. "When we add this promotion to the mix, competition is going to reach a whole new level. Race fans are going to be in for four great days of racing."
In the event a driver doesn't sweep, there is still a $5000 bonus for any driver that can claim three of the four events. The two insurance-policy promotions are not combined. The maximum bonus is $40,000.
Among the teams that have already committed to tow from California including 2019 series champ DJ Netto of Hanford (Netto 88N); Hanford brother's Mitchell ( Tarlton 21) and Michael Faccinto ( Phulps 56); Billy Aton of Benicia ( Aton 26); Joel Myers Jr. (Vertullo 83V); 2017 series titleist Bud Kaeding of Campbell (Kaeding 69); Colfax driver Willie Croft (Croft 29); two-time series champ Tim Kaeding of San Jose (Bates-Hamilton 42x); Paso Robles' JJ Ringo (Keller 2K); Shane Golobic of Elk Grove (Wood 17); Aromas driver Justin Sanders; Australian Kerry Madsen (Roth 83); and defending series champion Dominic Scelzi of Fresno (Scelzi 41). More are expected to be added soon. Several local teams including Tanner Holmes of Jacksonville, OR and Mount Vernon, WA driver Jason Solwold will be joining the mix to battle the NARC stars.
For more information, go to www.NARC410.com, or contact NARC GM Jim Allen at 714-397-7417.
SWIFT METAL FINISHING SPONSORS NARC HARDCHARGER AWARD
(3/10/22) Sacramento, CA ... The Northern Auto Racing Club announced today that Swift Metal Finishing is back as an associate sponsor of the traveling sprint car sanctioning body. The Santa Clara, CA-based metal and finishing company will be sponsoring the Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger Award at every NARC show.
Swift Metal Finishing President Bob Montoya is an avid sprint car fan and is very appreciative and supportive of the unheralded drivers who charge from the back of the field. His company will be awarding $150 to the driver who passes the most cars from their original starting position in each feature event. An extra $1000 bonus will be presented to the driver who advances the most cars this season. That money is awarded at the November 6th championship awards celebration.
"Bob Montoya is not only a friend, but a tremendous supporter of NARC and 410 sprint car racing," said series board member Brent Kaeding. "The Swift Metal Finishing sponsorship provides great incentive and reward for teams that fight to make the best out of a bad starting position. On most nights, those drivers work harder then the guy standing in victory lane. We thank Swift Metal Finishing for their support or our racing series."
Bill Aton of Benicia, CA, the 2021 NARC King of the West rookie-of-the-year, claimed the end of season award last year. He fought his way past 104 sprint cars.
The Northern Auto Racing Club encourages race fans to support those who support sprint car racing!
The 2022 NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car Series season opener is on April 2nd at the Stockton Dirt Track. The 25-race campaign will invade 13-different dirt tracks in California, Oregon, and Washington.
ABOUT THE COMPANY: Swift Metal Finishing is located in Santa Clara, California, and was founded in 1963. They employ approximately 20 people. The company is located at 1161 Richard Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Their phone number is 408-727-5776. No web site is available.
THE NEXT JUMP: FACCINTO SHIFTS FOCUS TO 410’S WITH MOVE TO MIKE PHULPS MOTORSPORTS
(3/2/2022 – ) … Michael Faccinto has already cemented himself as one of the greatest micro sprint and midget drivers from California, and beginning in 2022 he’ll begin his quest to achieve a similar status in the 410 sprint car ranks.Slightly more than a month ago Faccinto announced that he’d partnered with Mike Phulps Motorsports to pilot their No. 56 sprint car. The pairing has assembled a tentative schedule of more than 40 races with the focus being the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car tour.
The move is the natural progression for the 31-year-old who has spent much of his career driving micros and midgets, even at one point racing a midget for Gary Scelzi, father of Faccinto’s current competitor and reigning NARC champion Dominic Scelzi. The micro maestro also picked up a pair of Golden Drillers at the Tulsa Shootout along the way. After winning the 2018 USAC Western States Midget title, Faccinto began his transition to winged sprint cars with a 360 ride.
“I was ready to do the wing stuff,” Faccinto said of the pivotal time. “So, Harley Van Dyke actually took a chance on me, and we were together for two and a half years. I credit a lot to Harley. He let me go do some cool stuff around Knoxville and go run in the Midwest. We had success together. I credit a lot to him for getting me going with the wing.”
Faccinto and Van Dyke collected impressive results, tallying a handful of top-fives with series from both the Midwest and the West Coast. Last year, Faccinto linked with the Phulps team, leading to his debut in the No. 56 at Keller Auto Speedway’s Anthony Simone Classic. While the night ended with an accident in the feature, the driver and team quickly gelled and ultimately birthed the 2022 plans.
“Last year, we tried to actually pencil in a couple races throughout the year when Ryan (Robinson) wasn’t available with the 56, and it never really worked out,” Faccinto explained. “Then it opened up there at Hanford, and I got to race. We kind of just clicked as a team. (Crew chief) Ryan Riley made me feel really comfortable, and Kerry (Fasig) was there. Actually, my dad (Monte) was there also helping that night, and we had a lot of speed.“I kept talking to them throughout the rest of the year,” Faccinto continued. “And I got the call around Chili Bowl time that we were going to do the whole NARC schedule and select 360 shows, and I jumped all over it. I’m ready to take the next jump and run the full NARC schedule.”
As an added bonus to getting an opportunity to take his desired path in racing, Faccinto is excited that’s its coming aboard such an iconic ride. The blue No. 56 has ripped around California’s bullrings for decades, and Faccinto is no stranger to the team’s history.
“It’s really cool,” Faccinto said. “We went and had dinner at the end of January with Mike, and I got to meet the whole team, and with just the stories they told and the history of the car, being able to run for them is an honor. I hope to represent as best as I can and build a team that in three to five years from now we’re still talking that I’m with them.”
With his limited 410 experience, year one is sure to pose a challenge for Faccinto as they take on the NARC tour but one he’s eager to attack with a strategic approach.
This year’s NARC schedule features 25 races at 13 tracks, some of which will be entirely new to Faccinto. To combat his lack of laps at some facilities, Faccinto is setting high expectations for his better tracks to set himself up favorably before heading to unfamiliar territory.
“The tracks in California I’m really familiar with are Stockton, Hanford and Placerville,” Faccinto said. “So, I would say I have those circled on my schedule as events when we go to them I would like to think of ourselves as a top-three or top-five car… Placerville, I ran a lot in the last two years in the 360, and we’ve always had a lot of speed there. I like the little bullring atmosphere. Hanford, I grew watching my dad race there. I’ve had a lot of races there with a wing car, midgets, non-wing car, so I’m very comfortable at Hanford, and Stockton is very similar to Hanford.”
While Faccinto is still writing the beginnings of his winged sprint car resumé, the Mike Phulps crew has a lengthy notebook that should ease his continued transition. Crew chief Ryan Riley’s California racetrack notes date back to his time working on the original No. 56 owned by recent National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Walter T. Ross.
In recent years, the Mike Phulps team has collected wins with a handful of drivers including Ryan Bernal, Justin Sanders, and Cole Macedo.
Last year Ryan Robinson made 11 NARC starts in the No. 56 and picked up five top-10s. Their best run together came in August at Ocean Speedway when Robinson set the 410 track record and claimed the runner-up spot in the feature. Joel Myers Jr. made a NARC start in the powder blue machine at Petaluma and may have won if it weren’t for an incident with slower traffic.
Though Faccinto’s lack of 410 experience may prove to be a slight obstacle, his early success in a winged 360 sprint car combined with a blossoming and already strong dynamic with the potent Phulps crew may lead to impressive results earlier than expected. And if they achieve the finishes they’re looking for, it could be only the beginning of Faccinto writing his name in California’s sprint car history books and adding his name to the list of winners in the No. 56.
“I definitely would like to prioritize 410 stuff going forward and with the 56 team,” Faccinto said. “I think if we can continue to build on runs and build a foundation and a team here, I plan on being here as long as they’ll have me.”
The 2022 NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car Series season is on April 2nd at the Stockton Dirt Track.
SUNNYVALLEY RETURNS AS “POWERED BY BACON” NARC DASH SPONSOR
February 26, 2022 Jim Allen
(2/26/2022) Sacramento, CA … The Northern Auto Racing Club is proud to announce that Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats has returned as the trophy dash sponsor for the 2022 sprint car season. The Sunnvalley “Powered by Bacon” Dash has been a fan-favorite fixture on the NARC Fujitsu General USA Series campaign campaign for the past three years.
The Manteca, Calif.-based company produces a variety of smoked bacon, ham and turkey products for retail and wholesale customers under the Sunnyvalley brand.
In addition to awarding prize money to the winner of the all-important six-lap trophy dash, which determines the way the first three rows line up for the main event, the winning driver and a lucky fan in the grandstands are presented with 10-pounds of flash-frozen Sunnyvalley Bacon. It is one of the most popular interactive promotions on the NARC tour.
The 2022 NARC sprint car season opens with the Third Annual Asparagus Cup at the Stockton Dirt Track on April 2nd. The series will crown a King of the West sprint car champion. Dominic Scelzi of Fresno is the defending series titleist.
ABOUT THE COMPANY: Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats, Inc. was established in 1990 by Bill Andreetta. The Andreetta family has been in the meat business in Manteca, California since 1959. The family bought a meat locker plant and operated it as Manteca Meat Service for many years. Bill purchased the business from his father in 1972 after his service in the U.S. Army.
In 2000 Bill Andreetta built a state-of-the-art 41,000 square foot plant. It has since been expanded with a new dry storage building and maintenance shop to over 100,000 square feet. Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats employs over 325 people. The company also recently completed a 60,000 square foot bacon processing plant adjacent to their current facility to increase their ham and poultry business. The company has gross annual revenue of over $150 million.
Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats is large enough to serve your needs, but small enough to appreciate your business. They are committed to making the best Smoked Bacon, Ham and Turkey on the market and are innovators of producing great smoked products for their customers. Where better smoked products are available, Sunnyvalley will be the name on the label!
ROUND TWO: BATES-HAMILTON RACING PREPPING FOR SECOND SHOT WITH KAEDING AT NARC CHAMPIONSHIP
(2/5/2022 – Alex Nieten) … Last year, Tim Kaeding added two more NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car feature wins to his illustrious career and created a special victory lane celebration for car owners, Joshua Bates and Roger Hamilton, in doing so.
“Tim got his 70th and 71st NARC wins last year at Watsonville and Petaluma,” Hamilton reflected. “Well, for Josh and I, it was our first wins in the series. It was pretty emotional for me.”
With those victories and a full season of NARC racing that resulted in a third-place finish in points under their belts, Bates-Hamilton Racing will return to the tour with TK again behind the wheel in 2022 with their focus squarely on a championship.
Though this will only be their sophomore attempt in their joint effort at a NARC title, Bates and Hamilton are a pair of Californians with deep roots in the West Coast racing circuit that ultimately led to their paths crossing.
Bates began racing quarter-midgets at four years old and followed the familiar path into micros as he entered his teenage years. Around that time, he linked with a friend of his who owned a sprint car and began to lay the foundations of where he’s arrived today.
“We were the same age, so when I was like 16 or 17, I started working on that car and helping him,” Bates said. “I was still racing the micro and then helping on the sprint car. That’s really where I learned how to work on a sprint car, how to set up sprint cars, how to build one, how to square a front and rear end, all of the basic stuff.”
After working with his friend’s team for a handful of years, Bates took a brief break from racing to earn a college degree but quickly returned to the racetrack upon graduating. He began to get more driving experience and picked up a few notable wins including a night before the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. In the mid-2010s Bates shifted back to a more mechanical role ultimately leading to his current position.
Well before Roger Hamilton became co-owner of the car Tim Kaeding drives, his earliest days at a racetrack signaled the beginning of his lasting connection with the Kaeding family.
“I started as a fan from about six years old when my uncle took me to the races at the old San Jose Speedway where Howard (Kaeding) was racing super modifieds on the asphalt track,” Hamilton explained. “I started following the Kaeding's from a pretty young age. When I was about 19, I went to work for Brent (Kaeding) at the shop and started working on Howard’s car for a couple seasons.”
Eventually Hamilton purchased his own sprint car and began to race. In 1991 he earned NARC rookie of the year honors. Shortly after the ’92 season, Hamilton backed out of the pit area and back into the stands as a fan as he needed to focus on his family.
The duo connected in 2018 when, after his kids had grown up, Hamilton had an itch to get involved again, specifically with Tim Kaeding’s career. Conveniently, Bates had just hired the two-time NARC champion at the beginning of that year, so Hamilton approached him at an early season race.
“There’s a lot of people in the pits that I don’t know who they are,” Bates said of the crowd Kaeding draws. “And this guy is standing there, he’s staring at the car. We’re getting left-rears on, getting loaded up a getting ready to go home, and this guy has been in the pit almost the whole time and everyone else has left. So, I went over there and said ‘Hey, did you have a good time at the races?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I’ve been following Tim a long time, and I’ve helped him out in the past… I want to help you guys out.’”
In their first year of Hamilton assisting the race team, Bates Racing claimed the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 Sprint Car owner’s championship with Kaeding driving most of the year until an injury. Justyn Cox filled in to seal the title. With Cox in the seat, they nearly claimed the Trophy Cup as well.
In 2020, they created an official partnership, birthing Bates-Hamilton Racing. That same year they made the decision to prioritize 410 sprint cars and the NARC tour.
“Josh and I, we thought about how most of Tim’s experience was in a 410,” Hamilton said of the swap. “He liked the horsepower and the feel of the car with a 410, so we decided after running the 360 series after a couple seasons that it wasn’t the challenge that Tim needed or that we needed. We were ready to move up.”
Also motivating the move to chase the West Coast’s premier championship was a united confidence in Kaeding’s unparalleled abilities behind the wheel of a sprint car.
“When Tim is focused, he has the ability to do things with a racecar that I’ve never seen,” Bates said. “You see him do things, and for me as a driver I say, ‘You can’t do that. That’s not possible. How do you cheat the corner on the bottom and then still come off faster than the guy that ran the top?’”
“He is such a talented driver,” Hamilton said. “He’s done so much. He’s been racing sprint cars for 25 seasons. He’s accomplished a lot in that time frame. It’s kind of amazing just to see how he’s still can do the things that he does. There’s not a lot of drivers that can. He still has that desire and ability, obviously.”
The COVID-19 pandemic shrank the California racing calendar in 2020, limiting their chances at 410 races. The NARC campaign only managed to complete five features. TK wheeled the BHR machine in four of them and collected top-fives in every race.
Last year they completed their first full NARC tour together, collecting two wins, seven top-fives and 17 top-10s, leading to a third-place points result.
This year, they’ll not only tackle the full season again with hopes of moving up two spots in the standings to claim a title, but they’ve also put together a solid schedule outside of NARC. A handful of World of Outlaws and select 360 events complete their nearly 50-race calendar. Bates and Hamilton agree that the added seat time for TK in their car should lead to an even better performance in 2022.
“That’s one of those things we’re talking about this year is how to maintain that focus, how to build regularity and consistency in the racecar,” Bates said. “This is something we’re going to focus on a lot this year, and I’m super excited. We have a very full schedule.”
“I think it’ll be big to build continuity,” Hamilton agreed. “Tim, being one of the premier drivers out there, he gets requests to drive multiple cars for multiple people, and keeping him in our car for most of the year, I think, will build some continuity and get him some comfort.”
The days until the 2022 NARC campaign begins continue to dwindle, and Bates-Hamilton Racing are prepping for a strong run at Tim Kaeding’s third series title and their first as a team. The co-owners who head the operation, Bates and Hamilton, along with crew members, Bobby Bumgarner, Brad Kennedy and Scotty Taylor, have been busy in the shop readying for the season and what would be a meaningful championship if they can pull it off.
“It would be hard to put into words what that would mean,” Hamilton said of a potential title. “It would be really special, especially for me and my family because of our ties to the Kaedings. It goes back almost 40 years.”
The 2022 NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car season begins April 2nd at The Stockton Dirt Track. All races can be viewed lived on floracing.com. To view the full schedule, visit https://narc410.com/schedule/
Bates-Hamilton Racing would like to thank Teichert Construction, Vinyltech PVC Pipe, Clow Valve, Dan Ewart Sales, Advanced Drainage Systems, Custom Pipe & Fabrication, Tigre, North Bay Waterworks, SIP, Kaeding Performance, Kistler Engines, Maxim Chassis, Wilwood Brakes, Astro Titanium, Bell Helmets, K1 Racegear, B Scadden Design, Warehouse Paint, ARBO Tech, Performance Power Coating, Sellers Race Wings, Rod Tiner Racing, ART, Tiner-Hirst Enterprise and Vanlare Steering Repair.
A NAME AND LOGO CHANGE IN STORE FOR NARC-KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CAR SERIES IN ’22
(1/29/22) Sacramento, CA ... The Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) announced today that the King of the West 410 sprint car series will undergo a name and logo change for the 2022 season and beyond.
The logo’s retro design harkens back to the golden days of NARC as the series approaches its largest schedule in many years with momentum and hopes of a new heyday on the horizon.
As part of the series five-year business plan to restore 410 sprint car racing to its original form in California, King of the West-NARC Racing Series owners Brent Kaeding and Jim Allen announced that the series will now give NARC top billing. The NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car Series will still crown a King of the West champion, but emphasis is being put on the "club" aspect.
"We have 62-years of racing history with the Northern Auto Racing Club," said Kaeding, a 13-time NARC and 13-time King of the West champion. "Our racing organization was always stronger when we had more people involved in a club atmosphere. For 410 sprint car racing to move forward in California and the west coast, we need this effort to continue and grow."
The Golden State Championship Series, which had its inaugural season in 1986, crowned a "King of California" sprint car series champion and was sanctioned by the Northern Auto Racing Club from day one. When the series changed ownership over the years, it morphed into a collection of names ranging from the Golden State Challenge to eventually the King of the West series.
Series information can be found at NARC410.com. The season opener will be held on April 2nd at the Stockton Dirt Track.
And now on perhaps the most fitting date, 63 days from beginning our 63rd season, we present the new Northern Auto Racing Club logo.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA RETURNS AS SERIES SPONSOR OF THE NARC SPRINT CARS
(January 28, 2022) Sacramento, CA ... Fujitsu General USA, a worldwide leader of high-efficiency heating and air conditioning products, is returning as series sponsor of the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) sprint cars for the fifth consecutive year. The company has always been at the forefront of technological innovation and has produced and shipped millions of systems throughout the world.
The 2022 NARC Fujitsu General USA 410 Sprint Car Series schedule will feature 27-events at dirt track venues in California, Oregon, and Washington, ultimately crowning a "King of the West" champion. Dominic Scelzi is the defending series champion.
The Fujitsu General partnership has allowed the 63-year old racing series to supplement race purses and the year-end championship point fund. In addition, it has helped foster business opportunities and comradery with its dedicated Fujitsu HVAC contractor network on the west coast.
Over the past six decades, Fujitsu General has developed and used a variety of ground-breaking technologies and design innovations to make their air conditioners operate in any environment and more efficiently. All these relentless efforts have enabled Fujitsu to become one of the leading air conditioner brands in Europe, Japan, the Middle East, and Oceania. Today, the company has expanded its business in the American and Asian markets as well.
With the demand for air conditioners surging globally, Fujitsu General has broadened its product offerings to include compact residential air conditioners, commercial air conditioners, and more elaborate multi-split variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioners for large buildings.
For more information on Fujitsu General USA products and services, go to https://www.fujitsugeneral.com.
The United States headquarters is located at 340 Changebridge Road, Building 200, Suite 300, Pine Brook, NJ 07058.
The NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car Series will open its 2022 campaign on April 2nd at the Stockton Dirt Track.
REUNITED: FACCINTO AND WARNER TEAM AT TARLTON MOTORSPORTS WITH SIGHTS ON NARC CROWN
(1/9/2022 – Alex Nieten) … Silly season delivered an early Christmas present last month when Tarlton Motorsports announced Mitchell Faccinto would be the team’s primary driver in 2022 with Drew Warner filling the role of crew chief, and the duo have prioritized chasing the NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car championship.
Faccinto makes the move after an eight-year run aboard Stan Greenberg’s No. 37, the ride he wheeled to his three career NARC feature victories and many others in the 360 ranks of the West Coast.
Warner will add another team to his already impressive resumé. The bright mechanical mind has enjoyed positions with other pillars of the California racing scene such as Roth Motorsports, Rico Abreu Racing and most recently Netto Family Motorsports. From 2016 to early 2018, Warner also worked for the aforementioned Stan Greenberg where he was teamed with Faccinto.
The two now head to the team originally formed by Tom Tarlton and now overseen by his son, Tommy, whose all-black sprint car has become as iconic as any on the West Coast.
While the two were happy in their previous homes, certain factors led to their current opportunity with one of California’s most successful sprint car teams. An uncertain future of the No. 37 machine and a can’t-miss shot to drive the No. 21 helped prompt Faccinto’s move.
“At the end of last year, I was unsure of what was going to happen,” Faccinto explained. “The Tarltons, they had a couple different drivers in their car. I talked to Tommy about what their plans were for 2022, and he really wasn’t sure, either. So, we kind of put our heads together on who we should try to get for crew chief if we were going to put a whole thing together.
“Obviously, with Drew, I think he was really good with Netto’s deal, so being as close as we are I thought that was the best option,” Faccinto continued. “It happened really quick. It kind of started as just an idea because the season was still going. They (Tarlton) still had Carson (Macedo) racing here, so everything was really up in the air. I had a couple options open but mostly for 360 rides. Before I committed to any of those, I wanted to make sure I had a 410 ride set because that was my main priority. Obviously the Tarlton ride is top tier for California. I think it’s going to be good. I think we should be able to compete every night, and I appreciate Tom and Tommy giving me the opportunity.”
With D.J. Netto’s elevated role in his family business, the Netto Ag team made plans to scale back in 2022, but Warner wanted his racing calendar to grow to benefit his development.
“D.J. is becoming really busy. He’s taking over all of Netto Ag, taking over the family business,” Warner said of his motivation. “He’s just maybe having to slow down a little bit on racing. He still wants to race and still plans on racing as much as he can, but it’s just not quite the schedule that I was looking to do to help myself grow. I talked to the Netto's for a long time about it and kind of got their blessing.
“Long term, Tommy, he expects Tarlton Racing to be around many, many years to come,” Warner continued. “It’s something that he really enjoys. He wants this program that his father created to keep growing… He just has a lot of potential in his program, and it’s something that I really take on the challenge of helping. They are about as top tier as it comes in California, and I look forward to the challenge of putting my name on that and helping it keep growing.”
For Faccinto, 2022 will mark his first complete attempt at a NARC crown. The Hanford native has contested roughly 65% of the series races over the last eight years, topping out at 15 of 19 (79%) events in 2019. This year’s NARC campaign showcases 27 nights of racing.
Warner is fresh off helping guide Netto to a runner-up finish in NARC points, marking the 2019 champ’s second consecutive top-two result in the standings. Other noteworthy achievements of Warner and Netto’s 2021 include a win in the Dave Helm Classic and a podium in the Trophy Cup standings.
Back when Faccinto and Warner worked together at Greenberg’s operation, Faccinto produced arguably his best stretch with NARC. They amassed 17 top-10s in 23 starts with the West Coast’s premier series, and Faccinto picked up his first win in October of 2017 at the Cotton Classic.
“At that time, my dad was still crew chief on the 37 as he has been the whole eight years I’ve been there,” Faccinto said of when he and Warner first partnered. “Drew came in. He had never been a crew chief yet, so my dad kind of let him do his own thing, and they basically worked together the whole time and bounced ideas off each other which really seemed to help.
“I think the thing with me and Drew is we’re obviously really close friends, but we’re able to separate what happens at the track compared to what happens away from the track,” Faccinto added. “If he sees something I’m doing wrong or I’m doing different than other drivers, he’s not afraid to tell me. And if I feel something that’s wrong with the car that I don’t like then I’m not afraid to tell him. We both want to win.”
The two briefly joined forces again near the end of this past year when Netto’s team fielded a second car for Faccinto at the Trophy Cup and a couple other races. To nobody’s surprise, they found speed as Faccinto led many laps during prelim night two of the Trophy Cup before settling for third. They capped the three-night event with a top-10 in the standings.
“Mitchell, he’s really grown into his own out here in California,” Warner said of his driver’s progress. “He’s become one of the most consistent drivers I think you could say. He finishes races, and that’s what you got to do to win a championship like we’re going to try to do with NARC.”
On top of his familiarity with Faccinto, Tarlton Motorsports has added another piece who has given Warner a hand during previous roles.
“I’m excited that we were able to get Shane Watts on board with us as well,” Warner said. “I’ve worked with him in the past at Rico’s, and he helped out a little with me at Netto’s. He brings a lot to the table and makes my life easier.”
Faccinto and Warner will have some big shoes to fill and lofty expectations entering the year with Tarlton Motorsports. The team is one of the most successful in California, claiming two NARC titles in the last six years with drivers, Carson Macedo and Kyle Hirst, and narrowly missing a third in 2018 with Shane Golobic. On the mechanical side, Warner will fill the void left by longtime Tarlton crew chief, Paul Baines, who joined Roth Motorsports for 2022.
Even though the new opportunity comes with high expectation, the pair of Hanford residents are feeling much more excitement than pressure. And they aren’t shy about stating their goal of putting the Tarlton car back atop NARC with plenty of checkered flags and a title.
“The number one goal is to go out and win the NARC championship,” Faccinto said. “And number two would be to go be competitive every night. I know how Tommy wants his car to get around the track. He wants you to be on the hammer every race, every time around the track to be out there and give it 100-percent… He wants to see his cars win, and that’s what me and Drew want to do. We want to be able to go out and win right away.
NARC 410 SPRINT CARS RELEASE 2022 RACE SCHEDULE
(12/11/21) Sacramento, CA ... The West Coast’s premier 410 sprint car series is going to be busy in 2022.
The Northern Auto Racing Club has finalized a 27-race schedule that will visit 13 different facilities across California, Oregon and Washington. The amount of planned events tops last year’s mark by seven.
The racing will bloom to life at the dawn of spring on the first weekend in April with a trip to The Stockton Dirt Track on Saturday, April 2nd. The $6000 to win opening race has been coined "The Duel at The Dirt Track" and will also feature a pit crew competition. It’ll mark the first of four NARC appearances at Stockton in 2022.
Fan Favorites
Though it’s only heading into its eighth edition, the Peter Murphy Classic has already blossomed into one of the most anticipated events of the NARC calendar, and Murphy is ensuring the two-night show is even bigger in 2022.
NARC has expanded its involvement to both nights of the Peter Murphy Classic with the opener set for May 13th at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway, and the $11,000 to win finale making the move to Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway on May 14th. Both nights will also feature the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360's.
The lucrative Howard Kaeding Classic will be on July 15th and 16th at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway with the NARC portion on the latter. Per usual, the after party will take place once racing wraps up on night one, and the HK luncheon will be on Saturday afternoon.
The popular Louie Vermeil Classic is currently in search of a 2022 location as Calistoga Speedway continues to be mired in a collection of bureaucratic issues involving the fairground property. When a new venue is found for the Labor Day Weekend (September 3-4) tradition, details will be announced.
Speedweek Finds a New Home
The Fastest Four Days in Motorsports returns in 2022 but with a change of scenery. For the first time since 2012, the series will travel to the Pacific Northwest for four straight nights of racing in both Oregon and Washington on Memorial Day Weekend.
The action will begin on Thursday, May 26th at Southern Oregon Speedway. The next night takes the teams up to Willamette Speedway on Friday, May 27th. A double header at Elma, Washington’s Grays Harbor Raceway on Saturday and Sunday will punctuate the four-day blitz on May 28th and 29th. Each race pays $5000 to win and there will be a special bonus for any driver and team who can sweep all four shows.
Dirt Cup
The Fastest Four Days in Motorsports won’t be the only trip north in 2022.
NARC is set to support the 50th edition of the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup at Washington’s Skagit Speedway. The three-night event is slated for June 23rd, 24th and 25th with the finale awarding a whopping $50,000 to the winner. The purse for the Saturday main event also exceeds $160,000.
The Dirt Cup will also be preceded by a pair of events the previous weekend. Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway will begin The Road to Dirt Cup on Friday, June 17th, and the next night, June 18th, it’s back up to Oregon for the "Battle at The Bullring" hosted by Cottage Grove Speedway.
California Mainstays
The racing tradition of California runs deep, and a few events continuing through their fourth decade of existence occupy a trio of dates on the schedule.
A single weekend in June will feature two coveted staples of the left-coast racing circuit. On Friday, June 10th Ocean Speedway will be the site of the 36th annual Pombo-Sargent Classic. Then the series will head from the coast to the Sierra Nevada foothills on Saturday, June 11th where Placerville Speedway will host the 31st Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race.
The series also will visit Petaluma Speedway and the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway this season.
The season finale will be another historic event with the 39th annual Tribute to Gary Patterson capping the year on November 5th at The Stockton Dirt Track.
New but Notable
A few events are still in their infant stages but will continue to cement their spots as must-see, yearly races in 2022.
The second edition of the Anthony Simone Classic will be held at Keller Auto Speedway on April 9th and again pay $10,000 to the winner. It will also showcase a NARC wingless event for anyone who may want to demonstrate their versatility.
Hanford will also host the third annual Morrie Williams Memorial on October 15th that will conclude with a pair of 20-lap NARC features, the second being lined up on a complete invert of the first’s finish. This lucrative event continues to grow in stature and popularity every year.
To celebrate one of the most successful sprint car owners of California, the first ever Dennis Roth Classic will take place at the Thunderbowl Raceway on October 8th. Fittingly, the feature will pay $8,300 to win and $830 to start to commemorate his famous number 83 race cars.
April Can’t Come Soon Enough
The heavy schedule should help create another memorable season for the historic sanctioning body as the 2022 calendar inches toward that of the series heyday in the 1990s.
Throw in a crop of the West Coast’s best drivers, and each and every night on the 27-race calendar is sure to be can’t miss as those gassers aim to cement their place in history with a NARC championship.
Schedules can be downloaded, and additional information can be found at NARC410.com. For more information, call 714-397-7417.
A separate announcement on series sponsors and the championship point fund will be released in the weeks to come.
If you can’t make it to any of the races during the 2022 campaign, catch them all live on Floracing.com!
NARC FUJITSU GENERAL USA SPRINT CARS 2022 SCHEDULE
April 2: The Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) – The Duel at The Dirt Track w/ Pit Crew Competition
April 9: Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford, CA) – Anthony Simone Classic
April 30: Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico, CA) – David Tarter Memorial
May 13: Thunderbowl Raceway w/SCCT (Tulare, CA) – Peter Murphy Classic Night One
May 14: Keller Auto Speedway w/SCCT (Hanford, CA) – Peter Murphy Classic Night Two
May 21: Petaluma Speedway (Petaluma, CA) – Salute to First Responders
May 26: Southern Oregon Speedway (Central Point, OR) – Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 27: Willamette Speedway (Lebanon, OR) – Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 28: Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) – Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
May 29: Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) – Fastest Four Days in Motorsports
June 10: Ocean Speedway (Watsonville, CA) – 36th Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic
June 11: Placerville Speedway w/SCCT (Placerville, CA) – 31st Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race
June 17: Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico, CA) – The Road to Dirt Cup
June 18: Cottage Grove Speedway (Cottage Grove, OR) – The Battle at the Bullring
June 23: Skagit Speedway (Burlington, WA) – 50th Annual Jim Raper Dirt Cup
June 24: Skagit Speedway (Burlington, WA) – 50th Annual Jim Raper Dirt Cup
June 25: Skagit Speedway (Burlington, WA) – $50,000 to win 50th Annual Jim Raper Dirt Cup Finale
July 9: Petaluma Speedway (Petaluma, CA) – Salute to Baylands Raceway Park
July 16: Ocean Speedway (Watsonville, CA) – 12th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic
July 23: The Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) – Salute to LeRoy Van Conett
August 27: The Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) – Champions Classic
September 3 - Louie Vermeil Classic w/USAC-CRA - Track To be Announced
September 4 - Louie Vermeil Classic w/USAC-CRA - Track to be Announced
October 8: Keller Auto Speedway w/SCCT (Hanford, CA) – Morrie Williams Memorial (Twin 20-lap Features)
October 15: Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) – Dennis Roth Classic
October 29: The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park (Bakersfield, CA) – Sprint Car Showdown
November 5: The Stockton Dirt Track w/SCCT (Stockton, CA) – 39th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS CELEBRATION: November 6: Brookside Country Club (Stockton, CA)
NARC KING OF THE WEST FUJITSU GENERAL SPRINT CARS 2021 SEASON REVIEW
December 10, 2021
Jim Allen(12/9/2021 – Alex Nieten) Sacramento, CA… After the disappointment of 2020’s pandemic shortened season, the NARC King of the West Fujitsu General USA Sprint Cars resurged in 2021 with a 21-race schedule that was punctuated with the crowning of a new champion.
The first quarter of the campaign offered a good indicator of how the year would ultimately play out.
The four who would prove to be the strongest competitors of the full-time roster all delivered strong starts to the season. D.J. Netto began his title defense by dominating the season opener at The Stockton Dirt Track and followed it with top-10s in the next four races.
Dominic Scelzi scored the year’s second event by claiming the Peter Murphy Classic and the $11,000 check that went with it. Outside of a DNF at Ocean Speedway, Scelzi finished no worse than fifth in the opening five events and picked up his second victory at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race.
Though he didn’t win a race in the opening fourth of the season, Bud Kaeding’s consistency led him to the best overall start of any driver. Through five races the 2017 series champion had tallied a pair of podiums, four top-fives and an average finish of fourth.
Bud’s brother, Tim Kaeding started the year with four consecutive top-10s including a win in Ocean Speedway’s Pombo-Sargent Classic, his 70th career NARC victory. TK’s win made it so a “Kaeding” owns a win in all five decades of the Pombo-Sargent Classic’s history.
DJ Netto (88N) and Tim Kaeding finished the season second and third, respectively, in the final NARC King of the West standings. Photo by Donna PeterAs July’s four races unfolded those same four drivers continued to jockey at the top of the point standings.
Bud Kaeding went from unshakeable consistency to feast or famine in the next four races with finishes of 3rd, 18th, 6th, and 17th. Tim Kaeding picked up another win at Petaluma Speedway but followed it with a DNF the next weekend in Watsonville. The two-time series champ recovered during the following week’s double header at Tulare and Santa Maria with two top-10s which would kickstart what became his best stretch of the season. Netto collected a trio of top-10s but had to settle for 13th in Watsonville after an incident. Scelzi also had issues at Ocean Speedway but bounced back the next week with a win at Tulare, the start of a historic podium streak for the Fresno racer.
Over that same stretch of races, Sean Becker earned his first NARC victory in seven years by taking the checkered flag at the Howard Kaeding Classic. The month’s final event at Santa Maria Raceway saw Billy Aton snag his first career series victory.
The Fastest Four Days in Motorsports ushered in the second half of the campaign and began with the new pairing of Justin Sanders and Paul Silva in the Works Limited No. 57 winning at Merced Speedway. The next night Mitchell Faccinto earned his first series victory since 2018 at Ocean Speedway, and Dominic Scelzi and Justin Sanders capped the Speedweek with triumphs at Stockton and Petaluma. Scelzi earned the points title for the FFDM with podiums each night, stretching his top-three streak to six and widening his points lead. Colby Copeland, in the Vanlare machine with help from Larry Antaya, came home second in the FFDM standings by finishing no worse than 8th in any race.
Scelzi and Sanders split the two nights of the Louie Vermeil Classic, making it four wins in a row for the duo. Scelzi’s 3rd place result on night two brought his podium streak to eight in a row as he continued to near his first title. Meanwhile, Tim Kaeding earned his 7th & 8th straight top-10s at The Louie as he continued to climb toward the battle for runner-up in points while Netto and Bud Kaeding struggled with incidents.
Justin Sanders was a dominate force in the middle of the season after teaming up with Paul Silva in the Works Unlimited #57. Photo by Donna PeterSeptember concluded with 15-year-old Corey Day earning his first series victory at the same track his father, Ronnie Day, scored his final one, Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway. Scelzi’s podium run was snapped but only by a single spot as he finished fourth.
October opened with the twin-20 lap features at the Morrie Williams Memorial in Hanford where Scelzi earned his career-best sixth win of the year. The second main event produced a first-time winner as Mitchel Moles wheeled the Roth Motorsports machine from 11th to the front. Tim Kaeding stretched his top-10 roll to 11 straight with an 8th and a 3rd in the pair of features.
A few weeks later the series made their third consecutive trip to Keller Auto Speedway for the first ever Anthony Simone Classic. Shane Golobic took his first trip to victory lane of the season after a mid-race pass on Sean Becker to claim the $10,000 prize. Following the A-main, a handful of drivers took their wings off to compete in a special race honoring the versatile Anthony Simone. The recently crowned All-Star Circuit of Champions titlist, Tyler Courtney, came out on top after the 15-laps to become the first NARC non-wing winner since 1985.
The next night at The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park, Scelzi and Sanders resumed their dominance of the year’s second half by finishing one-two with Sanders collecting his fifth checkered flag of 2021 and fourth in eleven starts in the No. 57.
The season concluded with Corey Day becoming the first driver since Gio Scelzi in 2017 to earn their first and second career NARC wins in the same season by claiming the 38th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson at The Stockton Dirt Track. Dominic Scelzi wrapped up the championship by merely completing his qualifying run as he had built such a large points lead that he only needed to earn show-up points the final night to clinch his first title. Scelzi became the 28th different champion in NARC history.
D.J. Netto passed Sean Becker with only two laps to go in the season finale to give himself a one-point advantage over Tim Kaeding and claim second in points. TK took third while Bud Kaeding and Sean Becker completed the top-five in the standings. Billy Aton finished sixth and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Sean Watts, Justin Sanders, Shane Golobic and Joel Myers Jr. rounded out the top-10.
Overall, the season saw 10 different winners over the 21 Fujitsu Features. Dominic Scelzi tallied the most victories with six while Justin Sanders settled for second with five. Tim Kaeding and Corey Day earned a pair of wins apiece, and six drivers claimed a single triumph. 2021 produced three first-time series winners, the most since four in 2017.
Justin Sanders topped the Hoosier Tire Laps Led category by pacing a whopping 138 circuits. Eleven different drivers earned ARP Fast Time honors over the course of the year with Sanders and D.J. Netto tying for the most with three apiece. Dominic Scelzi won the most Brown and Miller Racing Solutions Heat Races with seven. Scelzi and Sanders each collected 36 pounds of bacon with their series-leading four victories in the Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash. Billy Aton drove by 104 cars in feature competition to top the Swift Metal Finishing Most Cars Passed category.
2021 NARC KING OF THE WEST FUJITSU GENERAL RACING SERIES RACE RESULTSMarch 20 – The Stockton Dirt Track – Salute to LeRoy Van Conett – (DJ Netto, Netto Ag 88N)
May 15 – Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway – Peter Murphy Classic – (Dominic Scelzi, Scelzi Enterprises 41)
May 22 – Petaluma Speedway – Salute To First Responders – (Justin Sanders, Antaya Motorports 16A)
June 11 – Ocean Speedway – 35th Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic – (Tim Kaeding, Bates/Hamilton 42x)
June 12 – Placerville Speedway w/SCCT – 30th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Race – (Dominic Scelzi, Scelzi Enterprises 41)
July 10 – Petaluma Speedway – Salute to Baylands Raceway Park (Tim Kaeding, Bates/Hamilton 42x)
July 17 – Ocean Speedway – 11th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic (Sean Becker, David Vertullo 83V)
July 23 – Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway – Chris & Brian Faria Memorial (Dominic Scelzi, Scelzi Enterprises 41)
July 24 – Santa Maria Raceway – Winged Madness (Billy Aton, Aton 26)
“Fastest FOUR Days in Motorsports”
August 26 – Merced Speedway – Thursday Night Thunder (Justin Sanders, Works Limited 57)
August 27 – Ocean Speedway – Friday Night Showdown (Mitchell Faccinto, Greenberg 37)
August 28 – The Stockton Dirt Track – Champions Classic (Dominic Scelzi, Scelzi Enterprises 41)
August 29 – Petaluma Speedway – The Four Day Finale (Justin Sanders, Works Limited 57)September 4 – Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico) w/USAC-CRA – Louie Vermeil Classic (Dominic Scelzi, Scelzi Enterprises 41)
September 5 – Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico) w/USAC-CRA – Louie Vermeil Classic (Justin Sanders, Works Limited 57)
September 25 – Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Jim Turner Memorial (Corey Day, Meyers Construction 14)
October 9 – Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Morrie Williams Legends Tribute – Twin 20’s (Dominic Scelzi, Scelzi Enterprises 41 & Mitchel Moles, Roth Motorsports 83JR)
October 29 – Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – $10,000 to win Anthony Simone Classic (Shane Golobic, Matt Wood Racing 41 & (non-wing) Tyler Courtney, Roth Motorsports 83JR)
October 30 – The Dirt Track at Kern Country Raceway Park (Justin Sanders, Works Unlimited 57)
November 6 – The Stockton Dirt Track w/SCCT – 38th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson (Corey Day, Meyers Construction 14)
NARC ANNOUNCES NEW HOOSIER TIRE RULE FOR 2022
December 9, 2021 Jim Allen
(12/10/21) Sacramento, CA … In the continuing effort to unify basic sprint car rules on the West Coast and nationally, the Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) and Hoosier Racing Tires announced a new tire rule for the 2022 season.
Beginning with the April 2nd NARC King of the West 410 season opener at the Stockton Dirt Track, sprint car teams will be allowed to run the Hoosier H15 right rear & H12 left rear tire. This move now mirrors the World of Outlaws rulebook.
The NARC series has implemented the Hoosier HTW right rear and RD12 left tire rule for several seasons. Race teams will now have until June 1, 2022, to burn off any existing HTW/RD inventory. At that point, the H15 and H12 tires will become mandatory.
“With supply chain issues, the timing was perfect for such a rule change and allows local teams to support other racing series when they visit California,” said Neal Cowman, Hoosier Tire’s Oval Dirt Track Business Unit Manager.
Winged sprint car series such as the Sprint Car Challenge 360 Tour and the Kings of Thunder, along with local dirt tracks on the schedule are also planning to adopt the same tire rule.
For additional information regarding Hoosier Racing Tire and technical questions please contact Hoosier Tire West at Hoosier Tire West, 2608 E. California, Fresno, CA 93721. The phone number is 559-485-4612
The 2022 NARC sprint car schedule will be released shortly. For more information, go to www.NARC410, or call 714-397-7417.
DAY DOMINATES TRIBUTE TO GP FINALE, SCELZI SEALS TITLE AT STOCKTON
(11/6/2021 – Alex Nieten) Stockton, CA… Nothing could stop Corey Day Saturday night at the 38th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson hosted by the Stockton Dirt Track.
The 15-year-old led from flag to flag en route to his second career NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car victory aboard the Meyers Constructors No. 14.
The victory completed a hot streak to end Day’s season. Some bad luck forced to ascending star to wait until his ninth series start before earning his first top-10, but Day hasn’t missed the top-10 in the four starts since earning his first, including the pair of wins.
Though nothing tops the significance of a first win, the Stockton triumph held an important layer that was absent from Day’s inaugural victory relating to his car’s owner.
“This feels great,” Day said in victory lane. “Jason (Meyers) wasn’t even there for the first one at Hanford, so I’m glad he could be here for this one.”
Courtesy of claiming the Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash, Day led the field to green with the defending series champion, D.J. Netto, to his outside. Netto got the initial jump, but an incident between Rico Abreu and Tim Kaeding before the first lap had been completed that left Kaeding spun in turn two brought the field back together for a complete restart.
Day would not be denied on the restart, darting ahead of Netto and setting sail in the early stages. Back behind the leaders, Tim Kaeding, who was wheeling a Steve Kinser Quaker State No. 11 tribute paint scheme for Bates Hamilton Motorsports, began a furious charge from the tail after his opening lap mishap. Just a few laps after the restart, TK entered the top-10.
The race’s first red flag flew on lap five for Richard Brace Jr. who tipped over in turn three. Brace Jr. was unharmed.
Racing was quickly halted again on the restart for Mitchel Moles who slowed in turn two. The caution flying before another lap was complete necessitated a single file restart with 26 to go.
Again, Day quickly jumped out to a strong advantage when racing resumed as Shane Golobic, Netto and Dominic Scelzi battled for the runner-up spot. Netto slipped off the track on the backstretch, allowing Golobic and Scelzi by, and the trio would settle in that order for a bit.
The green flag run saw Day forced to negotiate slower cars for the first time of the race. Knowing how fast his machine was, the teenager wasn’t concerned navigating lapped traffic. In fact, he knew it would probably play to his advantage.
“We were just really good, so we could get around lapped cars pretty good,” Day explained. “I was hoping I could get around some lapped cars and have a buffer between me and D.J. (Netto) or Shane (Golobic) or whoever was in second.”
Slicing through the slower cars worked exactly as Day had hoped until the race’s second red flag came out on lap 12. While running second, Shane Golobic flipped wildly in turn three, collecting Dominic Scelzi and Justin Sanders and ending the trio’s night. All three were okay.
Following the red flag, Day led a few new names who had joined the top-5 after the accident wiped out three of the top competitors. Among those nearing the top of the leaderboard was Tim Kaeding who slotted into fourth on the restart, continuing his climb from the lap one spin.
The 30-lap Fujitsu Feature’s final yellow flag flew with 12 to go when Geoffrey Strole slowed in turn three.
While Day made the race for the lead anti-climactic by pulling away from Rico Abreu in the latter stages, drama developed when Netto again got tripped up on the backstretch, dropping him to fifth and moving Tim Kaeding up to third. Netto came in two markers ahead of TK in the battle for second in points, and Kaeding owned the tie breaker based on wins.
Netto maintained composure after his error, and with just two laps remaining threw a slider on Sean Becker to claim fourth, enough to earn him second in the standings just one point ahead of Kaeding.
Day ultimately held on to win comfortably over Abreu, the only challenge to his triumph coming in the form of his machine’s amount of methanol.
“We started to run out of fuel there with about four to go,” Day revealed. “So, I had to drop down to the bottom and go through the rubber there, so I’m glad it didn’t run completely out of fuel and we were able to seal the deal.”
Rico Abreu held on for second in his Rowdy Energy No. 24. Abreu claimed the runner-up spot back in the season opener at Stockton and capped the year at the same track in the same position.
“Restarts is really where I kind of exceled on picking guys off,” Abreu said. “My car was a little bit free, and the cushion had some whoops and ruts that really upset my car. The race went on and I started searching and didn’t want to be the guy last in line when it laid rubber.”
Tim Kaeding completed his impressive rally to finish third in the Steve Kinser tribute car.
“On the initial start I got tight and Rico got into me a little bit there. It was a racing deal, no hard feelings,” Kaeding said. “It was an honor to drive for Steve (Kinser) at one point and to be able to drive this car and come from the back to the front.”
Though his night ended in a DNF, Dominic Scelzi had such a wide point lead that he only needed to show up and make a qualifying lap to lock up his first series title. Scelzi occupied the winner’s circle at night’s end in front of his damaged machine as the newest NARC-KWS champion.
“Dammit, I wasn’t going to get emotional,” a choked up Scelzi said. “You look at all the names that have won this thing, Brent Kaeding, Jonathan Allard, Tim Kaeding, Bud Kaeding, Ronnie Day. I mean there’s so many amazing champions of this series that this has just been a pipe dream for me for a long time. This caps off this whole season as the most amazing year of my life.”
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Corey Day 14 2. Rico Abreu 24 3. Tim Kaeding 11 4. D.J. Netto 88N 5. Sean Becker 83V 6. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 7. Austin McCarl 88 8. Ryan Bernal 21 9. Willie Croft 29 10. Ryan Robinson 56 11. Billy Aton 26 12. Bud Kaeding 69 13. Sean Watts 98 14. Blake Carrick 38B 15. Tim Estenson 14T 16. Geoffrey Strole 09S 17. Shane Golobic 17W 18. Dominic Scelzi 41 19. Justin Sanders 57 20. Mitchel Moles 83 21. Richard Brace Jr. 2R
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Day 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Ryan Robinson 19th to 10thARP FAST QUALIFIER (21 cars): Corey Day 14.203
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Myers Jr., Golobic, Day, Becker, Watts, Robinson, Estenson
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (8 laps): T. Kaeding, Sanders, McCarl, Bernal, Moles, Croft, Brace Jr.
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (8 laps): Abreu, Scelzi, Netto, Carrick, B. Kaeding, Aton, Strole
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Day, Netto, Scelzi, Golobic, Myers Jr., T. Kaeding
NARC-KING OF THE WEST CAMPAIGN CONCLUDES SATURDAY AT STOCKON WITH TRIBUTE TO GP
(11/1/21) Sacramento, CA ... The NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars are set for a strong send off with the popular Tribute to Gary Patterson at the Stockton Dirt Track slated to wrap up the 2021 season this Saturday, November 6th.
The event salutes one of the most legendary figures in the history of West Coast sprint car racing, Gary “The Preacher” Patterson. The National Sprint Car Hall of Famer made countless trips to various victory lanes until he sadly lost his life in an accident in 1983 at one of his favorite tracks, Calistoga Speedway.
A powerful field of drivers hungry to close out 2021 with a win are set to honor the late Patterson with what promises to be a fantastic finale at Stockton’s speedy three-eighths mile.
The NARC-King of the West 410 sprint cars will be joined by the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 Sprint Cars, who will also be completing their final points event of the season.
Saturday’s finale will be the 20th event of 2021 completing a resurgent year after pandemic regulations limited the series to only four trips to a racetrack in 2020.
Arguably sprint car racing’s greatest wheelman ever, Steve Kinser, will be in attendance signing autographs for fans on Saturday night.
Dominic Scelzi has all but locked up the title heading into Saturday. The championship will be his first and a fitting conclusion to a dominant season. The Fresno native has already collected six series victories, 13 podiums and 16 top-fives, leading the series in each category. Even though all the No. 41 team has to do is show up this weekend, Scelzi still hopes to add one more win to his tally at a track where he already owns a trio of NARC-King of the West wins including one recently in August.
The battle for second in the standings continues to be a tight three-car battle between former series champions San Jose's Tim Kaeding, DJ Netto of Hanford and Campbell's Bud Kaeding.
Netto currently holds the position by a slim margin and may be the favorite to take home the runner-up spot. The 2019 series champ claimed the season opener at Stockton back in March and has only missed the podium once in his last eight starts at the central valley speedway.
Two-time series champ, Tim Kaeding, won’t let Netto grab the spot easily. In TK’s last six KWS starts at Stockton, he’s snagged a pair of victories, four podiums and hasn’t finished worse than eighth.
Tim’s brother, Bud, still has a mathematical shot at second and is a recent series winner at Stockton (August 2019), but his competitors may have to have some bad luck for him to climb to the runner-up spot.
Justin Sanders is expected to compete in search of tying Dominic Scelzi for the most Fujitsu Feature event wins on the year at six. The Aromas, CA native has claimed four of the ten NARC-King of the West events he’s competed in since joining forces with Paul Silva in August to pilot the Works Limited No. 57. Sanders scored at Stockton in last year’s Tribute to GP in Larry Antaya’s 16A.
Other expected entrants include Iowa's Austin McCarl, Shane Golobic of Elk Grove, Roseville's Sean Becker, Billy Aton of Benicia, Clovis driver Sean Watts and more.
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 8-lap Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi if necessary and the Fujitsu 30-lap Feature.
General Admission tickets for Saturday at Stockton will be $35 with kids ages 5-12, seniors ages 65+ and military (ID required) will be admitted for just $25. Kids 4 and under are free. Pit passes are priced at $40. The pit gates are set to open at 1:00 P.M. with the main gate to follow at 3 P.M. Racing is slated to begin at 6:00 P.M. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online by visiting: stocktondirttrack.com.
The Tribute to Gary Patterson can also be viewed live on floracing.com as well as the entire NARC-KWS Fujitsu Sprint car schedule.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series Championship Points Standings (After 19 events in 20-race series 11/1/2021)
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 2131 DJ Netto, Hanford - 2052 Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 2050 Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 2041 Sean Becker, Roseville - 2004 Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 1973 Sean Watts, Clovis - 1923 Justin Sanders, Aromas - 1839 Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 1659 Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 1438 Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 1345 Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 1237 Corey Day, Salinas (R) - 1232 Austin McCarl, Altoona, Iowa - 1141 Jessie Attard, Sydney, AUS (R) - 1092 Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 1100 Willie Croft, Colfax - 954 Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 937 Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 937 Rico Abreu, Rutherford - 865
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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Upcoming Events: November 7 - Championship Celebration - Brookside Country Club, Stockton, CA
CLASH OF THE TITANS: SANDERS WINS WAR OF CALIFORNIA’S BEST AT KERN COUNTY
Bakersfield, CA… On Saturday night at The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park the old saying “the cream always rises to the top” applied perfectly.
Heading into the penultimate event of the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car season, the Golden State trio of Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi and Shane Golobic owned a combined 49 sprint car wins in 2021. When the checkered flag waved, the number had grown to 50 courtesy of Justin Sanders topping Scelzi and Golobic in the 30-lap main event.
The triumph marked Sanders’ fifth NARC Fujitsu Feature win of the year and fourth since climbing aboard the Works Limited/Finley Farms No. 57.
“I’m really happy to get this win,” a smiling Sanders said in the winner’s circle. “It’s been like a month and a half since we won a race, so it’s nice to get this win for Works Limited, Paul Silva, Hayden and everybody that puts all this work into this car. They’re not stopping.”
Sanders and Washington’s JJ Hickle brought the field to green, and Sanders quickly darted out to an early advantage. As Sanders set the pace with Hickle in tow Dominic Scelzi and Corey Day battled for third. The pair of 41 cars traded the spot a couple times and began to gain on Hickle.
Scelzi capitalized on Hickle slowing Day on the low side and powered by both on the top. Hickle briefly grabbed the position back, but Scelzi once again claimed the runner-up spot just before the race’s first and only yellow flag flew for a spun Ryan Timms on lap 10.
Once racing resumed it only took a single lap for Shane Golobic to surge into third in his NOS Energy Drink/Elk Grove Ford No. 17W. Golobic then set his sights on the intensifying battle for the lead in front of him as Scelzi ripped the top to gain on Sanders who was running lower on the track.
Just as it appeared Scelzi may snatch the top spot shortly before the halfway point, the tactical Sanders moved to the high side, forcing Scelzi to search elsewhere.
“I saw him up there on that restart,” Sanders explained. “I caught him out of the corner of my eye, so I moved up.”
Sanders’ decision paid off as he began to build a lead over Scelzi and Golobic until lapped traffic came into play.
Scelzi mounted a late charge in his Red Rose Transportations/Whipple Superchargers No. 41 as the two most winningest sprint car racers in the country sliced through slower cars. With just five laps remaining, Scelzi utilized a run out of turn four to slide Sanders in turn one. Not one to be rattled, Sanders turned down the banking and roared back into the lead on the backstretch.
“I was just trying to go where the lapped cars weren’t,” Sanders said of the late race duel. “And I think I maybe slowed up for a lap or two and Dominic was able to get a run. I couldn’t let that happen again, so I just stepped it up as hard as I could and drove the wheels off it.”
After Sanders’ successful crossover, Scelzi hung near the tail tank of the 57 but couldn’t gather enough momentum to take another swing at the lead.
The checkered flag flew, and Sanders collected his 11th career NARC-KWS win and 21st overall sprint car victory of 2021, tying Scelzi for the nation’s most.
“When they get this thing right and I’m driving the way I’m supposed to, it’s a really fast combination, so hopefully we can keep it going,” Sanders said.
Scelzi hung on for second to notch his series leading 13th podium of the year and all but clinched his first series title. The No. 41 team just has to roll into the pit area next Saturday at Stockton to earn the show-up points that will be enough to lock up the championship.
“It’s been a very humbling year,” Scelzi said after the race. “I’m so thankful for Jimmy, Garrett, Mike, Lucas and Todd, everybody that makes this 41 go. It’s been a dream season. I’m so thankful for it.”
The previous night’s Anthony Simone Classic victor, Shane Golobic, rounded out the podium, his eighth top-three result of the year.
“My NOS Energy Drink car was good again,” Golobic said. “It was a good weekend, can’t complain too much, but I really would’ve liked to have won tonight. I think maybe if we could’ve started out front, these two would’ve been chasing us and it would’ve been kind of a similar outcome.”
Completing the top-10 was Corey Day, Bud Kaeding, JJ Hickle, Rico Abreu, DJ Netto, Tyler Courtney and Sean Becker.
The NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars can next been seen in action Saturday November 6th for the season finale at Stockton Dirt Track. The race can also be viewed live on floracing.com.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Justin Sanders 57 2. Dominic Scelzi 41S 3. Shane Golobic 17W 4. Corey Day 41 5. Bud Kaeding 69 6. JJ Hickle 63 7. Rico Abreu 24 8. DJ Netto 88N 9. Tyler Courtney 83 10. Sean Becker 83V 11. Tim Kaeding 42X 12. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR. 13. Austin McCarl 88 14. Bill Balog 7 15. Billy Aton 26 16. Sean Watts 98 17. Tim Estenson 14T 18. Ryan Timms 5T 19. Geoffrey Strole 09S 20. Ryan Bernal 21 HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Sanders 1-30 SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Tyler Courtney 14th to 9th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (20 cars): Justin Sanders 12.339 BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Golobic, B. Kaeding, Sanders, Abreu, Courtney, Bernal, Watts FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (8 laps): Timms, Day, Hickle, Becker, Myers Jr., Estenson, Strole FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (8 laps): Netto, McCarl, Scelzi, T. Kaeding, Balog, Aton SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Sanders, Hickle, Day, Scelzi, Golobic, B. Kaeding
SECOND NO MORE: GOLOBIC CAPTURES $10,000 ANTHONY SIMONE CLASSIC
(10/29/2021 – Alex Nieten) Hanford, CA… Though he prides himself on being one of sprint car racing’s most consistent drivers, Shane Golobic doesn’t come to the racetrack to run second.
Heading into Friday night’s Anthony Simone Classic at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway, Golobic had finished in the runner-up spot five times in 410-competition since his last 410 win in November of 2019 with the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars.
The Fremont native appeared headed for yet another second-place result at the Kings County track, but a determined Golobic refused to settle and earned both his 13th career victory and 50th career podium with NARC-King of the West in the Anthony Simone Classic.
“It’s pretty cool to win in honor of Anthony,” Golobic said in victory lane. “I didn’t have the chance to be really good buddies with him, but anytime we parked near him in the pit area he was nothing but cool to me. I always remember him as one of the coolest, most unique guys in the pits. It really means a lot to get this win in honor of him.”
The 30-lap Fujitsu Feature kicked off with Sean Becker on pole and Golobic to his outside. Becker paced the field early in his Starr Property Management/Morrison Concrete No. 83V on a hooked-up Hanford surface as Golobic and Bud Kaeding loomed behind him.
The leaders hammered around the tacky bottom groove and quickly approached traffic, but the yellow flag flew just as the front of the field was about to enter slower cars as Sean Watts stopped on the back stretch.
When racing resumed hometown hero DJ Netto ripped around Kaeding to climb onto the podium but then got out of shape on the next circuit, dropping him to sixth. Shortly after Netto’s mishap the caution came out again, this time for a stopped Justin Sanders in turn three.
The ensuing restart saw Golobic briefly take the lead from Becker, but the pass was negated by the reg flag coming out for a vicious flip in turn one from Michael Faccinto. Faccinto climbed from the car uninjured. The wreck prompted an open red as officials wanted teams to have to opportunity to adjust on their cars for safety purposes considering the lightning-fast track conditions.
Becker learned from the previous start and didn’t allow Golobic to grab the top spot on the restart. Golobic, piloting the NOS Energy Drink/Elk Grove Ford No. 17W hung right with Becker as the pair again neared the tail of the field.
Just as it appeared Becker would get some breathing room when Golobic bobbled out of turn two, Becker went a little too high in turn four on lap 13, allowing Golobic to slip by for the lead, one he would not relinquish.
“That front row starting spot was huge,” Golobic said of what helped him get the lead. “I didn’t get a very good start. Sean (Becker) actually got a really good launch on the outside there at the beginning, so I knew it was going to come down to traffic, and luckily he made a mistake in traffic and I was able to sneak by.”
After taking over the lead, Golobic didn’t let up. He built a comfortable advantage, picking off slower cars while Becker, Kaeding, Cory Eliason and Joel Myers Jr. all ran close together but stuck behind traffic.
Ultimately Golobic cruised to the victory with a huge lead and the $10,000 payday thanks to his expertise navigating the slower cars.
“Coming through lap traffic is huge on a racetrack like this,” Golobic said. “I had a couple close calls and obviously that’s how I was able to get Sean. It’s all about bouncing the right way and trying to position yourself as best as possible. Those guys that are racing back there are racing hard too.”
Cory Eliason climbed onto the podium on the final lap in his Rudeen Racing No. 26 after Bud Kaeding’s left-rear tire went down just short of the finish.
Completing the top-10 was Joel Myers Jr., DJ Netto, Tyler Courtney, Corey Day, Bud Kaeding, Kyle Hirst and Rico Abreu.
Tyler Courtney scored the special 15-lap non-wing feature to honor Anthony Simone that followed the winged main event to become the first NARC wingless winner since 1985.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA WINGED FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Shane Golobic 17W 2. Sean Becker 83V 3. Cory Eliason 26 4. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 5. DJ Netto 88N 6. Tyler Courtney 83 7. Corey Day 14 8. Bud Kaeding 69 9. Kyle Hirst 0 10. Rico Abreu 24 11. Dominic Scelzi 41S 12. Keith Day Jr. 22 13. Ryan Bernal 21 14. Bill Balog 7 15. Billy Aton 26X 16. Sean Watts 98 17. Tim Estenson 14T 18. Austin McCarl 88 19. Justin Sanders 57 20. Ryan Timms 5T 21. Mauro Simone 10 22. JJ Hickle 63 23. Michael Faccinto 56 24. Blake Carrick 38B 25. Max Adams 42XL
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Becker 1-12, Golobic 13-30 SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Ryan Bernal 22nd to 13th
FUJITSU GENERAL USA "NON-WINGED" FEATURE (15 laps): 1. Tyler Courtney 83 2. Bill Balog 7 3. Ryan Bernal 21 4. Max Adams 42XL 5. Billy Aton 26X 6. Sean Becker 83V 7. Bud Kaeding 69 HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Courtney 1-15
SUNNYVALLEY BACON TROPHY DASH (10-laps): Shane Golobic, Sean Becker, Bud Kaeding, DJ Netto, Joel Myers Jr., Tyler Courtney, Michael Faccinto, Cory Eliason, Justin Sanders, Corey Day.
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT RACE ONE (6 laps): DJ Netto, Dominic Scelzi, Bud Kaeding, Sean Becker, Tim Estenson, Keith Day Jr., Ryan Timms
FUJITSU HEAT RACE TWO (6 laps): Justin Sanders, Sean Watts, Kyle Hirst, Joel Myers Jr., Billy Aton, Blake Carrick
FLORACING HEAT RACE THREE (6 laps): Austin McCarl, Cory Eliason, Tim Kaeding, Bill Balog, Shane Golobic, Mitchel Moles, JJ Hickle
KAEDING PERFORMANCE HEAT RACE FOUR (6 laps): Rico Abreu, Michael Faccinto, Tyler Courtney, Corey Day, Mauro Simone, Ryan Bernal, Max Adams
WILWOOD HEAT RACE FIVE (6 laps): Keith Day Jr., Sean Becker, Bud Kaeding, Tim Estenson, DJ Netto, Ryan Timms, Dominic Scelzi
PYROTECT HEAT RACE SIX (6 laps): Joel Myers Jr., Kyle Hirst, Blake Carrick, Justin Sanders, Sean Watts, Billy Aton
SCHOENFELD HEAT RACE SEVEN (6 laps): Shane Golobic, Cory Eliason, JJ Hickle, Bill Balog, Tim Kaeding, Austin McCarl, Mitchel Moles
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS HEAT EIGHT (6 laps): Corey Day, Tyler Courtney, Michael Faccinto, Ryan Bernal, Max Adams, Mauro Simone, Rico Abreu
KAEDING PERFORMANCE LAST-CHANCE RACE (12-laps): JJ Hickle, Ryan Bernal, Billy Aton, Ryan Timms, Mauro Simone, Max Adams, Geoffrey Strole
HANFORD AND KCRP SET FOR NARC-KING OF THE WEST HALLOWEEN WEEKEND DOUBLE-HEADER
(October 25, 2021) Sacramento, CA ... The final double-header of the 2021 NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car campaign is slated for this weekend as the West Coast’s premier 410 series heads to Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway Friday October 29th then to the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park the following night on October 30th.
Friday will mark the 18th event of the season while Saturday will be the penultimate series race with the finale slated for November 6th at Stockton Dirt Track.
Friday’s show at Keller Auto Speedway will be the Anthony Simone Classic and feature a hefty purse and a variety of unique twists in the format. The Fujitsu Feature will award $10,000 to the winner with the runner-up earning $5,000 and 3rd place will receive $3,000. The prize of $10,000 is to honor the late Anthony Simone who wheeled a No. 10 machine during his versatile career.
The Brown and Miller Racing Solutions Heat Races will be lined up straight up by qualifying times and be just five-laps in distance. The top-two finishers in each heat will transfer to the 10-car, 10-lap Sunnyvalley “Powered by Bacon” Dash. The lineup for the dash will be based on a complete inversion of the qualifying times from the 10 drivers who earned a spot.
After the 30-lap Fujitsu Feature, drivers will have the chance to compete in a 20-lap NARC sanctioned non-wing feature awarding $3,000 to the victor. This will be the first NARC non-winged feature since 1985.
Joining NARC-KWS at Hanford will be the USAC Western States Midgets and IMCA Stock Cars.
Saturday will be the highly anticipated return of NARC-King of the West to Kern County Raceway Park. The series hasn’t visited the Bakersfield bullring in more than two years since the October 5th, 2019 trip to KCRP. West Coast Sport Compacts will also be on the card at KCRP.
Two-time series champion, Tim Kaeding of San Jose, has been on a roll the past few months. His finishes of eighth and third two weeks ago in the Morrie Williams Memorial twin features gave him 11 straight top-10s, and the latter result marked his second podium in the last three races.
The current point leader, Dominic Scelzi, is coming off a 20th place result in the second Morrie Williams Memorial feature after winning the first. His win in the opener was his third series victory at Keller Auto Speedway, tied with Stockton for the most he owns at any one track. Scelzi is a two-time series winner at KCRP after sweeping the two appearances there in 2019.
Four-time series champion Kyle Hirst is still hunting his first series win of the year while competing on a part-time basis. Friday’s Anthony Simone Classic presents a good opportunity for Hirst to snag that win as he owns podium finishes at Hanford in half of his last dozen series starts there.
Hanford’s own DJ Netto continues to search for a hometown NARC win. Netto’s runner-up result from the opening feature of the Morrie Williams Memorial marked his third career NARC-KWS runner-up result at Keller Auto Speedway.
Other drivers expected to compete in one or both events this weekend include Roseville's Sean Becker, Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Hollister's Ryan Bernal, Billy Aton of Benicia, Clovis driver Sean Watts, Austin McCarl or Iowa, Sebastopol's Joel Myer's Jr. and more.
There may also be a few surprise entries consisting of drivers who spend much of the year traveling the country to race.
For Friday at Hanford, the NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire Format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 5-lap Heat Races, a 10-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi-main, the Fujitsu 30-lap Feature and the 20-lap wingless feature.
Saturday’s NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire Format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 10-lap Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash and the Fujitsu 30-lap Feature.
Keller Auto Speedway’s gates will open at 4:00 P.M. on Friday with hot laps scheduled for 6:00 P.M. Adult general admission tickets are $20. Seniors, military (ID required) and juniors age 6-17 will be admitted for just $15. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at myracepass.com or by using the MyRacePass app.
Keller Auto Speedway is located at 801 South 10th Ave Hanford, CA 93230. For more information visit racekingsspeedway.com.
Tickets for Saturday’s event will be available at the gates. For more information regarding the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park or the event on Saturday, visit kernraceway.com.
Kern County Raceway Park is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd Interstate 5 and Enos Lane Bakersfield, CA 93311.
Both nights of racing can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After 17 events in 20-race series 10/25/2021)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 1917
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 1845
DJ Netto, Hanford - 1844
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 1830
Sean Becker, Roseville - 1798
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 1772
Sean Watts, Clovis - 1723
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 1621
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 1446
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 1237
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 1234
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 1148
Jessie Attard, Sydney, AUS (R) - 1092
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 1010
Willie Croft, Colfax - 954
Austin McCarl, Altoona, Iowa - 938
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 937
Corey Day, Salinas (R) - 919
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 837
JJ Ringo, Morgan Hill - 806The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
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Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
Upcoming Events:
November 6 - Stockton Dirt Track - Tribute to Gary PattersonNovember 7 - Championship Celebration - Brookside Country Club, Stockton, CA
SCELZI AND MOLES CLAIM MORRIE WILLIAMS MEMORIAL FEATURES, SANDERS TAKES THE OVERALL TITLE
(10/9/2021 – Alex Nieten) Hanford, CA… The NARC-King of the West twin 20-lap Morrie Williams Memorial Fujitsu Features at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway weaved wildly different tales for the victors, Dominic Scelzi and first-time series winner Mitchel Moles.
Scelzi started from the pole in the first feature and brought the field to green alongside fellow front row starter Rico Abreu. Before the field could get through the first set of turns, Mitchel Moles spun from his third starting spot in front of the field. Miraculously, everyone missed him.
On the ensuing restart Justin Sanders drove the Works Limited No. 57 by Abreu for second. Sanders stalked Scelzi as the two most winningest sprint car drivers with NARC and in the nation in 2021 navigated slower cars.
Scelzi’s race nearly ended with heartbreak on lap eight when Steven Kent spun right in front of him coming out of turn four. Scelzi jumped to the outside near the wall and managed to squeeze between Kent’s machine and the barrier, just grazing the fence but not harming his Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportations No. 41.
Racing resumed for a few laps following the yellow for Kent until a stopped Kurt Nelson slowed the action again with nine circuits remaining.
The hometown hero, DJ Netto, jumped into the runner-up spot in his Netto Ag/Penny Newman Gain No. 88N on the restart but wasn’t able to mount serious a charge at Scelzi. The point leader held on to win by a comfortable margin. Netto and Sanders filled out the podium behind the Fresno native.
The victory marked Scelzi’s sixth of the year, a new personal best for a season, and the 15th of his career with KWS. Rico Abreu, Willie Croft, Kyle Hirst, Blake Carrick, Tim Kaeding, Sean Becker and Mitchel Moles completed the top-10.
The front row in the second feature was comprised of Shane Hopkins and Jessie Attard after the invert based on the first feature’s finish was applied.
Attard took command early in search of his first series victory, and Moles, who started 11th, immediately began his charge. Moles began picking cars off on the bottom side of the track and received a little help on lap three when Ryan Bernal and Ryan Robinson were involved in an accident, gifting Moles two more spots in his journey toward the front.
On the restart, Moles got back to work on the bottom, cruising by his competition within the top-five. Another yellow flew on lap five for a spun Rico Abreu. Moles stole the lead on the restart from Attard and quickly built a comfortable advantage.
As the laps dwindled Moles’ greatest threat began to creep toward the front. Using the same bottom line as Moles, Fremont’s Shane Golobic moved his NOS Energy Drink/Elk Grove Ford No. 17W into second on lap seven. When Golobic got to the runner-up spot, Moles held a huge lead of roughly 15 car lengths, but the 12-time NARC feature winner started to slice into the margin.
With five laps to go Golobic had all but erased Moles’ advantage. However, the pilot of the Roth Enterprises No. 83JR showed the poise of a veteran in pursuit of his first series victory, clearing two lapped cars in one corner to give himself enough space to seal the deal.
Moles’ triumphs marked the third time of 2021 a driver has earned their inaugural series victory. Oddly enough, it was also the first time Roth Motorsports visited NARC-KWS victory since the winner of the first feature, Scelzi, took the 83 to the winner’s circle in 2019.
Behind Moles and Golobic, Tim Kaeding rounded out the podium in his R&B Company/Teichert No 42X for his second top-three in his last trio of KWS races at Keller Auto Speedway.
Justin Sanders finished in fifth after starting 20th and was the only driver to earn top-fives in both feature events, collecting him enough points to win the Morrie Williams Memorial points title and the $2,000 that came with it. Scelzi and Moles’ main event wins netted them each $3,200.
Spots 4-10 in the second feature were occupied by Austin McCarl, Justin Sanders, Shane Hopkins, Blake Carrick, Kyle Hirst, Jessie Attard and Kalib Henry.
Up next for the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars is a double header weekend set for October 29th and October 30th at Keller Auto Speedway for the Anthony Simone Classic and Kern County Raceway Park.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE #1 (20 laps): 1. Dominic Scelzi 41S 2. DJ Netto 88N 3. Justin Sanders 57 4. Rico Abreu 24 5. Willie Croft 29 6. Kyle Hirst 0 7. Blake Carrick 38B 8. Tim Kaeding 42X 9. Sean Becker 83V 10. Mitchel Moles 83JR 11. Craig Stidham 36 12. Kalib Henry 93K 13. Shane Golobic 17W 14. JJ Ringo 2K 15. Bud Kaeding 69 16. Austin McCarl 88 17. Ryan Bernal 21 18. Ryan Robinson 56 19. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 20. Sean Watts 98 21. Billy Aton 26 22. Shane Hopkins 21S 23. Kurt Nelson 72W 24. Steven Kent 7 25. Stephen Ingraham 93 26. Geoffrey Strole 09S 27. Jessie Attard 53
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Scelzi 1-20
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Willie Croft 15th to 5thFUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE #2 (20 laps): 1. Moles 2. Golobic 3. T. Kaeding 4. McCarl 5. Sanders 6. Hopkins 7. Carrick 8. Hirst 9. Attard 10. Henry 11. Myers Jr. 12. Becker 13. Netto 14. Abreu 15. Ringo 16. Bernal 17. B. Kaeding 18. Watts 19. Croft 20. Scelzi 21. Stidham 22. Robinson 23. Aton 24. Nelson 25. Kent 26. Ingraham 27. Strole (did not start)
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Attard 1-4, Moles 5-20
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Justin Sanders 20th to 5thARP FAST QUALIFIER (27 cars): Kyle Hirst 14.694
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT RACE ONE (8 laps): Scelzi, Carrick, Robinson, Hirst, Aton, Nelson, Kent, Hopkins, McCarl
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (8 laps): Moles, Ringo, Attard, Stidham, Becker, Myers Jr., Bernal, Strole, Watts
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (8 laps): Sanders, Abreu, Netto, Henry, Croft, T. Kaeding, Golobic, B. Kaeding, Ingraham
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): Scelzi, Abreu, Moles, Carrick, Sanders, Ringo
HANFORD SET TO HOST NARC-KING OF THE WEST FOR MORRIE WILLIAMS LEGENDS TRIBUTE RACE
(10/4/21) Sacramento, CA ... This weekend brings a unique event for the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars with the second annual Morrie Williams Legends Tribute Race slated for this Saturday October 9th at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway.
The event will be the second of two nights of racing at the 3/8ths mile with the Cotton Classic featuring the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 sprint cars and Kings of Thunder 410 sprint cars taking place on Friday night (10/8/21.)
Joining NARC-KWS on the second night will be the Kings of Thunder 360 sprint cars.
With the scheduled classes, Hanford is the place to be this weekend for any West Coaster who enjoys the sight and sounds of roaring winged sprint cars.
Saturday honors legendary West Coast car owner, Morrie Williams. Williams passed away two years ago after putting many of the sport’s best drivers in the seat of his notorious No. "0" over multiple decades. Among those to drive for Williams was none other than Keller Auto Speedway promoter, Peter Murphy.
The format Saturday night will showcase a pair of 20-lap Fujitsu General USA events. The second feature will be lined up based on a complete inversion of the first’s finish apart from lapped cars as a salute to Williams who preferred to watch a driver earn it with a charge from the back. Up for grabs will be more than $36,000 in prize money!
Each Fujitsu Feature is set to pay $3,200 to the winner creating a possible $6,400 payday to any driver who can pull off the sweep. The overall points champion will earn an extra $2,000 for their efforts. While points will be scored for both main events, only the first of the two features will award points toward the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu championship standings.
Last year, in a storybook finish, Kyle Hirst and Dominic Scelzi won the features wheeling twin Morrie Williams No. 0 machines in the event’s inaugural edition.
Scelzi leads the series into the weekend as he continues to close on his first NARC title. He carries a streak of nine straight top-five finishes and a 2.2 average finish over that span. The Fresno native owns a pair of King of the West triumphs at Keller Auto Speedway and has already won three races in Hanford this year.
Behind Scelzi is Tim Kaeding, and he’ll roll into the weekend riding nine consecutive top-10 results. TK’s second please finish last weekend marked his fourth straight series top-five at Hanford, and he’ll go for his 11th Keller Auto Speedway KWS win Saturday.
Just last weekend, Keller Auto Speedway continued a recent trend of producing first time NARC-King of the West winners. Corey Day triumphed in just his 10th series start, marking the third time in the last five seasons an inaugural winner has emerged from Hanford.
A driver that may perpetuate the trend is Joel Myers Jr. The 15-year-old has continued to impress after finishing on the podium in just his second series start earlier this year. Myers Jr. seemed poised for another top-three run last Saturday in Hanford until an incident forced him to settle for 11th.
Other expected entries include a pair of Hanford natives in DJ Netto and Mitchell Faccinto, four-time series titlist Kyle Hirst, Campbell's Bud Kaeding, Roseville’s Sean Becker, Benicia’s Billy Aton, Clovis’ Sean Watts, Austin McCarl from Iowa, and more.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 8-lap Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi if needed and the two Fujitsu 20-lap Features.
The gates will open at 4:00 P.M. with hot laps scheduled for 6:00 P.M. and racing to follow at 7:00 P.M. Adults will be admitted for $20. Seniors (ages 62 and up), Military (valid ID required) and juniors ages 6-17 will all be admitted for just $15. Tickets can be purchased either at the gate or via myracepass.com or the MyRacePass app.
Keller Auto Speedway is located at 801 South 10th Ave Hanford, CA 93230. For more information visit racekingsspeedway.com.
Saturday’s race can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After 16 events in 20-race series 10/3/2021)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 1800
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 1737
DJ Netto, Hanford - 1730
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 1729
Sean Becker, Roseville - 1691
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 1677
Sean Watts, Clovis - 1627
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 1508
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 1343
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 1237
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 1137
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 1058
Jessie Attard, Sydney, AUS (R) - 1003
Corey Day, Salinas (R) - 919
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 904
Willie Croft, Colfax - 843
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 839
Austin McCarl, Altoona, Iowa - 838
Colby Copeland, Roseville - 768
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 728The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra-Lite Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Facebook (history page): www.facebook.com/NARCsprintcars
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Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
Upcoming Events:
October 29 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford, CA
October 30 - Kern County Raceway Park, Bakersfield, CA
November 6 - Stockton Dirt Track - Tribute to Gary PattersonNovember 7 - Championship Celebration - Brookside Country Club, Stockton, CA
THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE: DAY DRIVES TO FIRST NARC-KWS WIN
(9/25/2021 – Alex Nieten) Hanford, CA … Fifteen-year-old Corey Day continued his ascent to sprint car stardom by earning both his first 410 sprint car win and NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Feature victory in the Jim Turner Memorial at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway.
Day, the son of west coast legend Ronnie Day, has taken the sprint car world by storm in 2021. He’s shown speed night in and night out no matter what car he’s been in, and he finally put together a full night to claim a 410 checkered flag in Hanford.
The teenager scored a 360 win in Oregon earlier this year, but a 410 win in the series his dad had his fair share of triumphs competing in was an even greater level of special.
“Words can’t even describe it,” the rising star said in victory lane.
The front row composed of Tim Kaeding and Joel Myers Jr. brought the field to green. TK darted to an early advantage while Day immediately began his charge from row three. After starting sixth, Day completed the first lap in fifth. He picked off one car per lap over the next two circuits to move to third. Four laps later, Day slipped by Joel Myers Jr. for the runner-up spot.
Over the course of the charge, one might’ve guessed a veteran was in the No. 14 machine. While it was evident he had an extremely fast ride, Day remained patient, picking his spots and comfortably clearing each car in front of him with well-executed sliders.
A caution came out for a spun Tanner Boul shortly after Day took over second.
On the ensuing restart, Kaeding again pulled away while Justin Sanders and Joel Myers Jr. both went by Day, moving him back to fourth.
Day, though, stayed composed in his Four CCCC’s Construction/Meyers Constructors Inc. No. 14. On a lap 10 restart after a caution for Sean Watts, Day roared back to second and quickly applied pressure to Tim Kaeding. On lap 13, Day snatched the lead.
Another yellow for Joel Myers Jr. presented a challenge for Day as Kaeding peeked to his outside in his R&B Company/Teichert No. 42X as Day went to the bottom, but Day fended off the charge and pulled away.
As the final laps waned, Day encountered lap traffic using his preferred bottom line allowing Kaeding to reel him back in. Kaeding looked to the outside in turn two with a pair of laps to go and nearly drew even but Day powered out of the corner to hold on.
Ultimately, Day crossed the line with a narrow three-tenths of a second margin of victory over the west coast legend.
Day was quick to credit his team, who just so happened to add another level of significance to the Day family and their tradition of winning.
“This is the dream team,” Day said of his crew. “This was my dad’s team when he ran the car for them, so I’m glad I can be winning races for them too.”
Behind Day and Kaeding, ARP Fast Qualifier of the night, Justin Sanders, rounded out the podium, his fourth top-three in seven races since climbing aboard the Works Limited No. 57.
Completing the top-10 was Dominic Scelzi, Austin McCarl, DJ Netto, Billy Aton, Bud Kaeding, Keith Day Jr. and JJ Ringo.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Corey Day 14 2. Tim Kaeding 42X 3. Justin Sanders 57 4. Dominic Scelzi 41 5. Austin McCarl 88 6. DJ Netto 88N 7. Billy Aton 26 8. Bud Kaeding 69 9. Keith Day Jr. 22 10. JJ Ringo 2 11. Joel Myers Jr 46JR 12. Zane Blanchard 7Z 13. Sean Becker 83V 14. Tanner Boul 99T 15. Tucker Worth 33 16. Grant Duinkerken 67G 17. Sean Watts 98 18. Geoffrey Strole 09S (Mitchell Faccinto and Connor Danell did not start)
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Tim Kaeding 1-12, Corey Day 13-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Billy Aton 14th to 7th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (20 cars): Justin Sanders 13.621
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE: (8 laps): McCarl, Sanders, Scelzi, Day Jr., Danell, Tanner Boul, Tucker Worth
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (8 laps): Myers Jr., Day, B. Kaeding, Watts, Ringo, Faccinto, Strole
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (8 laps): T. Kaeding, Netto, Duinkerken, Becker, Aton, Blanchard
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): T. Kaeding, Myers Jr., McCarl, Sanders, Netto, Day
NARC-KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CARS HEAD TO HANFORD ON SATURDAY
(9/20/21) Sacramento, CA ... The NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars enter the final quarter of the 2021 campaign this weekend with a trip to Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway on Saturday, September 25th.
The west coast’s premier 410-winged sprint car series will see a heavy slate of Hanford as the season winds down. After Saturday’s event, the following two races will also take place on the Kings County 3/8th mile on October 9th and October 29th.
Joining NARC will be the Kings of Thunder Bandit Non-Wing Sprint Cars, IMCA Stock Cars and West Coast Sports Compacts.
The central valley speedway promises to offer some of the best racing of the year. While most California tracks are notorious for heavy, hooked up conditions, Hanford tends to slick off leading to a big curb up top and a technical bottom groove creating plenty of slide job opportunities and side by side action.
Atop the standings with just five races remaining is Dominic Scelzi. The Fresno native carries a ton of momentum into Hanford with his current streak of eight podium finishes. A win for Scelzi would check off a trio of milestones for the twenty-four-year-old. If he claims the checkered flag, it will mark the most consecutive series podiums since four-time series champion Kyle Hirst notched nine in 2018, Scelzi’s 30th career podium with NARC, and his 15th career series victory. Fortunately for Scelzi, he enters the weekend as the most recent series winner at Keller Auto Speedway and has already earned three trophies in Hanford in 2021.
Hanford’s own Mitchell Faccinto has experienced plenty of success at his home track. Faccinto’s first two series victories came at Keller Auto Speedway in the 2017 and 2018 Cotton Classic. In his last eight series appearances at the 3/8th mile, he owns podiums in half of them including the pair of wins, and he boasts a stout 4.9 average finish over that span.
San Jose's Tim Kaeding should be in contention for his third series victory of the year. The two-time titlist was the only driver to finish inside the top 5 in all three feature events completed at Keller Auto Speedway last year.
Still seeking his first series victory is Iowa’s Austin McCarl. He’s returned to California aboard the Country Builders Construction No. 88, and Hanford might present his best opportunity for a win. In 2020’s Morrie Williams Tribute Race, McCarl finished a respectable 8th and 5th in the twin Fujitsu Features. Earlier this year, the former Knoxville track champion scored a pair of top-5s in Kings of Thunder 360 action at Hanford including a runner-up result.
Many more from California’s crop of gassers will be competing on Saturday. Expect Hanford's DJ Netto, Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Roseville's Sean Becker, Billy Aton on Benicia, Clovis driver Sean Watts and more to be in attendance.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 10-lap Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash and the Fujitsu 30-lap Feature.
Keller Auto Speedway is located at 801 South 10th Ave Hanford, CA 93230. For more information visit racekingsspeedway.com.
Saturday’s race can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
ED NOTE: This event was originally scheduled at Santa Maria Raceway. However, it was moved to Hanford when Santa Maria Raceway ceased operations in August.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After 15 events in 20-race series 9/20/2021)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 1688
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 1623
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 1621
DJ Netto, Hanford - 1620
Sean Becker, Roseville - 1588
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 1568
Sean Watts, Clovis - 1528
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 1394
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 1343
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 1162
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 1032
Jessie Attard, Sydney, AUS (R) - 1003
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 960
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 904
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 639
Willie Croft, Colfax - 843
Corey Day, Salinas (R) - 802
Colby Copeland, Roseville - 768
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 728
Austin McCarl, Altoona, Iowa - 727The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Facebook (history page): www.facebook.com/NARCsprintcars
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
YouTube: NARC410
Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
Upcoming Events:
October 9 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford, CA - Morrie Williams Legends Race
October 29 - Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford, CA
October 30 - Kern County Raceway Park, Bakersfield, CA
November 6 - Stockton Dirt Track - Tribute to Gary Patterson
November 7 - Championship Celebration - Brookside Country Club, Stockton, CA
POTENT PAIRING: SANDERS AND SILVA WIN AGAIN IN THE LOUIE FINALE
(9/5/21, Alex Nieten) Chico, CA ... The combination of Justin Sanders and Paul Silva can’t seem to stop collecting trophies.
In the Louie Vermeil Classic finale at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway, Sanders came out on top after a 30-lap war with some of the west coast’s best. The triumph marked his fourth of the year, third in the last six races since climbing aboard the Works Limited No. 57 and his tenth career with the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars.
The intense fight for the win left some with ruffled feathers, and while Sanders held no ill-intent, he acknowledged that heated tempers are sometimes the by-product of racing, especially in an event as significant as The Louie.
“We were all fighting hard,” Sanders said. “Me and Kyle (Hirst) rubbing wheels and banging wheels, Kyle and Colby (Copeland) banging wheels. I slid Colby down there in turn three, and we hit and I spun him out. It wasn’t intentional, just hard racing. It’s racing, we’re racing for a big purse and big win.”
The green flag waved, and the battle immediately kicked off on lap one as front row starters Sanders and Colby Copeland leaned on each other in turns one and two. Copeland came out ahead down the backstretch, but before the race could establish a rhythm a yellow came out for Corey Day slowing on the front stretch on lap three. On the restart, another caution for an incident between Sean Watts and Michael Ing again slowed the pace.
After the pair of yellows, racing resumed and Copeland bolted ahead. As the race approached the halfway mark, Kyle Hirst roared to life in lap traffic, moving by Sanders after some contact for the runner-up position on lap 14. Just three laps later, Hirst threw a successful slider on Copeland in turn three to steal the lead.
Unfortunately for Copeland, Hirst brought Sanders with him, but Sanders’ move didn’t quite clear the 16A machine resulting in contact and a caution for a spun Copeland in turn four. Copeland would express his displeasure with Sanders later after the checkered flag flew.
Another quick yellow came out for Willie Croft following the incident between Sanders and Copeland.
The green flag came back out with 14 to go, and Sanders stalked Hirst as the duo approached traffic. The first opportunity he saw, Sanders pounced. The pilot of the Works Limited No. 57 threw a huge slider at Hirst on lap 22. Again, Sanders couldn’t quite clear the Williams Motorsports No. 0, but after some slight contact Sanders gained control of the top spot.
Hirst managed to keep pace with Sanders and attempted a few sliders as the laps waned, but he couldn’t ever gather enough momentum to clear him, and Sanders held on to win by just under one second. The victory was Sanders first Louie Vermeil Classic triumph.
“I’m happy, but I just feel like crap,” Sanders, who was fighting a cold in addition to four-time series titlist Hirst, said. “This will make the four-hour, miserable drive home a lot better. Happy to get this done.”
While he would’ve preferred to win, Hirst enjoyed every moment of the main event.
“I had an absolute blast,” Hirst said. “I gave it everything I had right there. I was racing with one of the best of California right now, and it was pretty awesome.”
Behind the battle for the win, Dominic Scelzi crept onto the podium for his eighth consecutive appearance in the top three in the Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportations No. 41. The point leader was especially pleased with the racing surface.
“That was so much fun,” Scelzi said. “I feel like the last couple of races it’s been really hard to have that kind of racing, and that just goes to show you slick tracks make the best kind of racing.”
Shane Golobic finished fourth, making it seven top five's in his last seven series appearances. Tanner Carrick, Tim Kaeding, Carson Short, Corey Day, Bud Kaeding and Colby Copeland completed the top ten.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Justin Sanders 57 2. Kyle Hirst 0 3. Dominic Scelzi 41 4. Shane Golobic 17W 5. Tanner Carrick 83T 6. Tim Kaeding 42X 7. Carson Short 7 8. Corey Day 21 9. Bud Kaeding 69 10. Colby Copeland 16A 11. Jessie Attard 53 12. Ryan Robinson 56 13. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 14. Sean Becker 83V 15. Billy Aton 26 16. Sean Watts 98 17. Angelo Cornet 55A 18. Austin McCarl 88 19. Blake Carrick 38B 20. Willie Croft 29 21. DJ Netto 88N 22. Mitchell Faccinto 37 23. JJ Ringo 2 24. Michael Ing 21X
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Copeland 1-16, Hirst 17-21, Sanders 22-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Carson Short 22nd to 7th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (29 cars): Colby Copeland 11.971
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (10 laps): Scelzi, Sanders, Copeland, Watts, Ing, Cornet, Clark, Ringo
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (10 laps): Golobic, Attard, Netto, Faccinto, T. Carrick, McCarl, Tabor Jr.
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (10 laps): Croft, Becker, B. Kaeding, B. Carrick, Myers Jr., Short, Bloomfield
KAEDING PERFORMANCE HEAT FOUR (10 laps): Hirst, Robinson, Day, T. Kaeding, Aton, Ingraham, StrolePYROTECT SEMI (12 laps): McCarl, Short, Cornet, Ringo, Ingraham, Tabor Jr., Clark, Strole, Bloomfield
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): Sanders, Copeland, Croft, Hirst, Becker, Attard
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER W: SCELZI LOCKS UP NIGHT ONE OF THE LOUIE VERMEIL CLASSIC
(9/4/2021 – Alex Nieten) Chico, CA… By leading all 30-laps of the Fujitsu Feature on night one of the Louie Vermeil Classic at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway, Dominic Scelzi earned his fifth series victory of the year, matching his career-high for a single season.
The result also marked his 18th overall feature win during his dream 2021 campaign and his seventh consecutive race standing on the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car podium at the end of the night.
Scelzi’s biggest challenge of the night would come right as the green flag dropped and Scelzi led into turn one from the pole position. Third starting Mitchell Faccinto capitalized on a great initial start to swipe the lead from the point leader down the backstretch. Scelzi, though, aimed his Whipple Superchargers/Red Rose Transportations No. 41 to Faccinto’s inside coming out of turn four and beat him to the line to lead the opening lap. Shortly after Scelzi reclaimed the lead, the first of a flurry of race stoppages came out for contact between Justin Sanders and Kalib Henry that sent Henry on a wild flip outside of turn one. Both drivers were okay.
The adage “cautions breed cautions” proved true after the first red flag as just a few laps later Corey Day and front row starter Andy Forsberg tangled sending Forsberg over and heavily damaging Day’s Tarlton Racing machine. Following that issue, Bud Kaeding tumbled in turn three after contact with Ryan Robinson, ending BK’s night. Michael Ing slid to a stop in turn four shortly after BK’s issue, and a spin by the USAC/CRA portion winner, Carson Short, on lap twelve ended the avalanche of yellows. With curfew looming, the call was made to go to single file restarts for the remaining 19 circuits. All drivers involved in the incidents were okay.
A trio of drivers survived the early mayhem to put together strong charges. By the lap twelve restart, Tim Kaeding had gone from 22nd to 7th, Billy Aton from the rear to 11th and Shane Golobic from 10th to third.
Racing resumed with 19 to go, and Scelzi set the pace on a low line favored racing surface. He tiptoed around the bottom and distanced himself from second-running Willie Croft. Meanwhile, Croft had to deal with the NOS Energy Drink/Elk Grove Ford No. 17W of Golobic who was glued to Croft’s tail tank.
Even lap traffic couldn’t slow Scelzi during what continues to be a year for the history books. Scelzi patiently negotiated the slower cars, spotting opportunities to sneak to their inside on the straightaways before completing each pass in the turns, giving himself more of a cushion from Croft every lap. Eventually, Scelzi crossed the finish line with nearly a two second advantage to claim his first NARC-KWS victory at the Butte County bullring. Including lap money for leading all thirty circuits, the win netted Scelzi $5,750.
Croft held on to the runner-up spot to secure his second podium of the year aboard the Holey Smokes BBQ/Amerikote Powder Coating No. 29.
Golobic rounded out the podium with his fifth top-three finish of the year and continued his recent trend of charging toward the front. Over the last five Fujitsu Feature events, Golobic owns a net position change of plus-33.
The remainder of the top-10 was Kyle Hirst, Mitchell Faccinto, Tim Kaeding (from 22nd, earned Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger), DJ Netto, Tanner Carrick, Colby Copeland and Billy Aton.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Dominic Scelzi 41 2. Willie Croft 29 3. Shane Golobic 17W 4. Kyle Hirst 0 5. Mitchell Faccinto 37 6. Tim Kaeding 42X 7. DJ Netto 88N 8. Blake Carrick 38B 9. Colby Copeland 16A 10. Billy Aton 26 11. Austin McCarl 88 12. Justin Sanders 57 13. Sean Watts 98 14. Sean Becker 83V 15. Michael Ing 21X 16. JJ Ringo 2 17. Carson Short 7 18. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 19. Mark Tabor Jr. 38N 20. Ryan Robinson 56 21. Bud Kaeding 69 22. Andy Forsberg 92 23. Corey Day 21 24. Kalib Henry 5J
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Scelzi 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Tim Kaeding 22nd to 6th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (31 cars): Willie Croft 11.384
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (10 laps): Forsberg, Croft, Robinson, Bloomfield, Ing, Day, Clark, Cornet
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (10 laps): Sanders, Faccinto, Becker, Short, Ringo, Strole, Aton
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (10 laps): Attard, Golobic, B. Kaeding, Hirst, Copeland, McCarl, T. Carrick
KAEDING PERFORMANCE HEAT FOUR (10 laps): Scelzi, B. Carrick, Netto, Watts, Myers Jr., Tabor Jr.
PYROTECT SEMI (12 laps): Henry, Day, T. Kaeding, McCarl, Tabor Jr., Aton, Cornet, Strole, Clark
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): Scelzi, Forsberg, Faccinto, Croft, Attard, Bloomfield
CHICO SET TO HOST NARC-KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CARS FOR THE TWO-NIGHT LOUIE VERMEIL CLASSIC
(8/30/21) Chico, CA ... The event honoring one of the most important figures in the history of NARC (Northern Auto Racing Club) finds a new home for 2021 at one of California’s most historic bullrings this weekend when the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars head to Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway on September 4th and 5th for the 13th annual Louie Vermeil Classic.
Louie Vermeil is a key figure in the birth of NARC. During what has become one of the most significant conversations in the history of west coast racing, Vermeil helped conceptualize the sanctioning body in Calistoga’s Owl Garage in 1960 and shortly after made it a reality with the creation of the Northern Auto Racing Club.
The first edition of the Classic took place at Calistoga in 2008 and has since become a Labor Day Weekend tradition of the wine country half mile. However, a battle of bureaucracy between the track and the Napa Valley town forced the 2021 relocation. The annual Calistoga Hall of Fame Dinner has also made the move to Chico for this year and will take place Friday September 3rd on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Before the racing gets going on Saturday, there will be wine tasting and live music also on the fairgrounds from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
While it’s a new venue for the event, Silver Dollar Speedway is certain to continue the tradition of great racing with drivers hunting one of the sport’s most coveted trophies and a stout payday. Both Saturday and Sunday’s Fujitsu/Big O Tire Feature will award $5,000 to the winner. The two-night show will also feature $5,000 to win USAC/CRA non-winged sprint car events. There is also lap money and product awards up for grabs.
Dominic Scelzi will enter the weekend as the point leader fresh off his Fastest Four Days in Motorsports title. At this point, it seems a Herculean effort will be required to pry him from the podium as he is currently riding a six-race streak of top-3s. Scelzi owns a win in Chico this year and even finished in the top-5 during a 2019 World of Outlaws appearance at the quarter-mile.
Looking to some other potential favorites, Sean Becker or Roseville stands out. The 2005 champ has turned countless laps at Silver Dollar Speedway and tallied 66 sprint car wins at the quarter mile including a World of Outlaws triumph at a Gold Cup prelim night. Becker has continued to gel with Vertullo Motorsports in his first full KWS season since 2014 and already picked up a win in the Howard Kaeding Classic in the yellow No. 83V.
A preview of any 410 sprint car race at Silver Dollar Speedway cannot go without mention of San Jose's Tim Kaeding. Kaeding owns 58 career sprint car victories in Chico including the most recent series visit in August 2019. TK has finished second in three of his last five starts with the World of Outlaws at Silver Dollar. The pilot of the Bates-Hamilton Racing 42X will be aiming to add a Louie Vermeil NARC-KWS triumph to his accolades.
While Bud Kaeding has spent the bulk of his recent racing career with a wing on, he spent much of the 2000s in the USAC ranks without wings and is expected to have a non-wing ride for the CRA portion in a double-duty effort.
Other expected entrants in the Louie Vermeil Classic include Hanford's DJ Netto & Mitchell Faccinto, Billy Aton of Benicia, Clovis driver Sean Watts, Roseville's Colby Copeland, Auburn's Andy Forsberg, Joel Myers Jr. of Sebastopol, Aromas driver Justin Sanders and many more.
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire Format will include ARP Fast Time Qualifying, 10-lap Brown and Miller Racing Solutions Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a 12-lap Kaeding Performance Semi and the 30-lap Fujitsu General Heating & Air Feature.
On both Saturday and Sunday at Silver Dollar Speedway, the pit gate will open at 1:00 P.M. The grandstand gate will follow at 4:00 P.M.
Qualifying will kickoff at 5:30 P.M. with racing set for 6:30 P.M. Reserved seats will be $40. General Admission will cost $35. Kids 6-12 will be admitted for just $10. Tickets can be purchased at: https://hmcpromotions.ticketspice.com/louie-vermeil-classic and include a unique FanPass option!
The Louie Vermeil Classic can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
Silver Dollar Speedway is located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds at 2343 Fair St, Chico, CA 95928. For more information visit silverdollarspeedway.com or call (530) 891-6535.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After 13 events in 20-race series 8/30/2021)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 1458
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 1419
DJ Netto, Hanford - 1416
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 1403
Sean Becker, Roseville - 1384
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 1361
Sean Watts, Clovis - 1325
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 1173
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 1118
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 957
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 904
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 831
Jessie Attard, Sydney, AUS (R) - 823
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 782
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 639
Willie Croft, Colfax - 632
Corey Day, Salinas (R) - 601
Mark Barroso, Merced - 589
Kenny Allen, Chico - 583
Colby Copeland, Roseville - 554The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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SANDERS SNAGS ANOTHER PETALUMA WIN WHILE SCELZI WRAPS UP FASTEST FOUR DAYS TITLE
(8/29/21 - Alex Nieten) Petaluma, CA ... By leading all 30 laps, Justin Sanders claimed his second win in the last four NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car events while Dominic Scelzi finished third to earn the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports title at the historic Petaluma Speedway.
The win is Sanders’ third 30-lap Fujitsu General USA Feature of the year, ninth career, and second aboard the Kevin Kozlowski owned and Paul Silva prepared Works Limited No. 57. On the tacky, quick racing surface, Sanders had to remain focused each and every lap.
“Just trying not to make any mistakes and trying to keep the car underneath me as hard as I could,” Sanders said of what was required to grab the checkered flag.
Rounding out the podium was Dominic Scelzi, marking his sixth straight appearance in the top-three and securing enough points for the $2,000 to win Fastest Four Days in Motorsports championship. The Jimmy Carr-prepared Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportation No. 41 appears incapable of having an off night even with the grueling challenge presented by the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports.
“This is a very tough four days,” Scelzi said. “You go to four completely different racetracks, and you have to be fast every single night, and the 41 car has been so good to drive every single night this year. It feels great to have that consistency.”
The field was brought to green by Sanders and Scelzi, and Sanders quickly darted to a five car-length advantage. Behind him, Colby Copeland moved around Scelzi into second on lap one aboard the Larry Antaya Motorsports Fire Protection Management 16A.
Copeland began his pursuit of Sanders, who, oddly enough, was attempting to mirror what he did in May in the car Copeland wheeled, lead from green to checkered.
Copeland looked to the inside of Sanders early on in turn three but couldn’t make it work. Then, in typical Petaluma fashion, a game of cat and mouse through lap traffic ensued. Sanders would clear a car, and Copeland was forced to match his moves to have any chance of keeping up.
The two dueled through slower cars, but ultimately Copeland was unable to mount a serious charge for the lead. Every time it seemed like he might reel him in and have an opportunity to make a move, Sanders would put a little more space between the two. When the checkered flag flew, Sanders crossed the line with a cozy 1.039 second advantage.
Despite again dominating by leading every lap on the fast 3/8th mile, Sanders was humble in victory lane.
“I think I put together a decent 30-laps,” Sanders said. “They weren’t great, but they were good enough to get the job done.
Sanders’ efforts earned him a $4,000 payday while Scelzi took home $2,000 for winning the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports title on top of his race earnings. Scelzi also stretched his growing point lead a little more in the overall NARC standings.
Shane Golobic finished fourth, securing top-5 results in all four nights of the FFDM, and Rico Abreu completed the top-5. The remainder of the top-10 was Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Joel Myers Jr, Sean Becker and Andy Forsberg.
The night started off with rising start, Joel Myers Jr., claiming ARP Fast Time.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Justin Sanders 57 2. Colby Copeland 16A 3. Dominic Scelzi 41 4. Shane Golobic 17W 5. Rico Abreu 24 6. Bud Kaeding 69 7. Tim Kaeding 42X 8. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 9. Sean Becker 83V 10. Andy Forsberg 92 11. DJ Netto 88N 12. Robbie Price 21P 13. Billy Aton 26 14. Corey Day 21 15. Sean Watts 98 16. Kaleb Montgomery 35 17. John Clark 12J 18. Jessie Attard 53
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Sanders 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Billy Aton 17th to 13th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER: Joel Myers Jr. 12.457
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (10 laps): Shane Golobic, Colby Copeland, Sean Becker, Joel Myers Jr., DJ Netto, Jessie Attard
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (10 laps): Bud Kaeding, Dominic Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Andy Forsberg, Corey Day, Billy Aton
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (10 laps): Kaleb Montgomery, Justin Sanders, Tim Kaeding, Sean Watts, Robbie Price, John Clark
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi, Shane Golobic, Colby Copeland, Bud Kaeding, Joel Myers Jr.
UNSTOPPABLE: SCELZI’S MAGICAL SEASON AND FASTEST FOUR DAYS CONTINUES WITH STOCKTON CHAMPION’S CLASSIC WIN
(8/28/2021 – Alex Nieten) Stockton, CA… Dominic Scelzi’s dream season just keeps on rolling.
The pilot of the Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportation No. 41 notched his fourth NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car victory of 2021 with a masterful drive from his starting spot on the third row at the Stockton Dirt Track Saturday night. The result in day three of the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports also marked his fifth consecutive series podium as he continues to hunt his first career NARC title. Scelzi was quick to credit his crew for the consistent success.
“With Jimmy Carr,” Scelzi said in victory lane. “I say it every week, the guy just gives me a perfect racecar every night.”
The Champion’s Classic field was brought to green by DJ Netto and Justin Sanders. Netto got the initial jump into turn one, but Sanders powered underneath Netto out of turn four to lead the opening circuit.
Sanders continued to lead with Netto close behind until lap 10 when Netto was able to slip back by in his Netto Ag/Penny Newman Grain 88N. Sanders came to a stop in turn four on the next lap with a mechanical issue but was able to rejoin after the caution and tag the tail.
The green flag on lap 11 immediately brought another yellow for Corey Day who had trouble on the backstretch before a lap was complete, ending his night.
Scelzi began his charge after the caution for Day. Scelzi lined up fifth for the restart and watched his competitors all head for the top side when the green dropped. On lap 12 Scelzi rolled the bottom perfectly to jump by two cars onto the podium. The following lap he took over second from Rico Abreu. Just two laps later, Scelzi squeezed to the inside of Netto to grab the lead into turn one.
Netto would not go down without a fight as he launched a slider the next lap to regain top spot and lead lap 16, but Scelzi countered with a crossover and was able to distance himself from the reigning champion just enough to get some breathing room.
Lap traffic came into play with under 10 laps remaining as Scelzi and Netto both had to navigate slower cars on what was a tricky surface. Netto made daring moves to get by lap cars and keep Scelzi in his sights. The pilot of the 88N approached Scelzi’s tail tank on multiple occasions as the laps dwindled, but he couldn’t quite gain enough momentum to make another move for the lead. Scelzi hung on to win by just under two seconds.
Behind the battle for the lead, Tanner Carrick quietly moved forward in his Carrick Motorsports/CVC Concrete 83T from his eleventh starting spot to finish in third for his second career series podium. Carrick’s efforts also earned him Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger honors.
Scelzi’s win in the Champion’s Classic marked his third KWS triumph at Stockton, and it netted him $6,000. The point leader extended his lead in the standings and his advantage in the Fastest
Four Days in Motorsports points. The Fresno native just continues to put together a west coast racing season for the history books, and he’s enjoying every moment along the way.
“I’m in awe,” Scelzi said. “I really can’t believe our car is this good every single night.”
The remainder of the top-10 was Rico Abreu, Shane Golobic, Colby Copeland, Sean Becker, Tim Kaeding, Bud Kaeding and Jessie Attard.
The NARC-KWS Fujitsu Sprint Cars can next be seen in action Sunday August 29th at Petaluma Speedway for the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports finale.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Dominic Scelzi 41 2. DJ Netto 88N 3. Tanner Carrick 83T 4. Rico Abreu 24 5. Shane Golobic 17W 6. Colby Copeland 16A 7. Sean Becker 83V 8. Tim Kaeding 42X 9. Bud Kaeding 69 10. Jessie Attard 53 11. Justin Sanders 57 12. Sean Watts 98 13. Mitchell Faccinto 37 14. Willie Croft 29 15. Robbie Price 21P 16. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR 17. Billy Aton 26 18. Mitchel Moles 01 19. Geoffrey Strole 09S 20. Corey Day 21 21. Brain Boswell 75 22. Richard Brace Jr. 2R 23. Kalib Henry 93
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Sanders 1-9 Netto 10-14, 16 Scelzi 15, 17-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Tanner Carrick 11th to 3rd
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (23 cars): Colby Copeland 13.646
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (8 laps): Justin Sanders, Tanner Carrick, Rico Abreu, Colby Copeland, Mitchel Moles, Billy Aton, Richard Brace Jr., Robbie Price
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (8 laps): Kalib Henry, Sean Becker, Dominic Scelzi, DJ Netto, Tim Kaeding, Jessie Attard, Joel Myers Jr., Brian Boswell
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (8 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, Bud Kaeding, Corey Day, Shane Golobic, Willie Croft, Sean Watts, Geoffrey Strole
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): DJ Netto, Justin Sanders, Rico Abreu, Colby Copeland, Sean Becker, Dominic Scelzi
THIRD TIME’S A CHARM: FACCINTO EARNS THIRD KWS WIN IN THIRD OCEAN RACE OF 2021
(8/27/2021 – Alex Nieten) Watsonville, CA… In the third and final NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car appearance at Ocean Speedway of the year, Mitchell Faccinto picked up his third career series win in what he felt was a long time coming at the Watsonville bullring.
“Finally,” Faccinto said in victory lane. “I feel like we’ve won ten or fifteen dashes here, and I’ve just made too many mistakes in the feature to get the win.”
Faccinto would not make those same mistakes Friday night on day number two of the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports.
Courtesy of his win in the Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, Faccinto paced the field to green with fellow front row starter, Tanner Carrick. Carrick got the initial jump and led off turn two but an immediate yellow for Sean Watts on the backstretch brought the field back together for a complete restart.
On the ensuing green flag Faccinto aced the start to keep the lead in his Stan Greenberg owned Western Metal Co. No. 37. Another caution for Sean Becker slowed the pace again on lap 3. Faccinto secured another a great jump to lead on the restart, and as the leaders approached traffic the action intensified behind Faccinto.
Third starting Ryan Robinson in the Mike Phulps owned Long Creek Winery & Ranch No. 56 began battling with Carrick for the runner-up spot. Reigning champion DJ Netto approached the duel but contact on lap 10 with Carrick sent him for a wild ride down the backstretch and brought out the night’s first red flag. Netto was okay, and the 88N crew immediately began thrashing to make repairs. Carrick exited the track after the contact.
The accident shook up the top-5, moving point leader, Dominic Scelzi, onto the podium and Kurt Nelson into fifth. On the following restart, Robbie Price and Justin Sanders tangled in turn one to bring out yet another yellow. The caution eventually became an open red as teams would need fuel. Miraculously, Netto’s team made repairs on his machine from the previous red, and since a lap did not get completed before the next incident, Netto was able to rejoin on the lead lap.
The restart with 21 to go brought the race’s first long green flag run. Faccinto paced Robinson and Scelzi but couldn’t pull away on the lightning fast Ocean Speedway. The trio stayed a few car lengths apart from one another as they navigated lap traffic. On lap 24, Robinson seized on an opportunity when Faccinto bobbled out of turn two and threw a slider on him into turn three. Faccinto countered with a crossover out of turn four, and as the pair raced side by side down the front stretch and into turn one, the red flag flew again.
Netto, who had been charging after making the earlier repairs, found himself in the turn two fence with Landon Brooks, ending both of their nights and necessitating some lengthy fence repair. Both drivers were unharmed.
Faccinto jumped out to a solid advantage on the following restart with six to go and never looked back. While trying to mount a charge, Robinson made a couple mistakes on the cushion and had to go into defensive mode with a hard charging Scelzi behind him. Faccinto held on to win by just over one second and parked the TSG blue and white 37 in NARC-KWS victory lane for the third time in his career. The win netted Faccinto $4,000.
Robinson held on to second, and Scelzi rounded out the podium in his Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportation 41 machine, marking his fourth consecutive podium. Scelzi extended his overall points advantage and took over the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports points lead.
Bud Kaeding and Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger, Shane Golobic, completed the top-5. Rico Abreu, Kurt Nelson, Colby Copeland, Tim Kaeding and Mitchel Moles rounded out the top-10.
Ryan Robinson broke his own track record he set back in June at Ocean Speedway. His time of 10.734 now stands as the quickest in track history.
NARC-KWS will be back in action again on August 28th at Stockton Dirt Track for night three of the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Mitchell Faccinto 37, 2. Ryan Robinson 56, 3. Dominic Scelzi 41, 4. Bud Kaeding 69, 5. Shane Golobic 17W, 6. Rico Abreu 24, 7. Kurt Nelson 72W, 8. Colby Copeland 16A, 9. Tim Kaeding 42X, 10. Mitchel Moles 01, 11. Keith Day Jr. 22, 12. Justin Sanders 57, 13. Billy Aton 26, 14. Jessie Attard 53, 15. Sean Becker 83V, 16. Brad Dillard 72S, 17. Brian Boswell 75, 18. Richard Fajardo 07, 19. Landon Brooks 76, 20. DJ Netto 88N, 21. Blake Carrick 38B, 22. Tanner Carrick 83T, 23. Robbie Price 21, 24. Sean Watts 98.
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Faccinto 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Shane Golobic 13th to 5th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER: Ryan Robinson 10.734 (New Track Record)
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE (10 laps): Tanner Carrick, Ryan Robinson, Keith Day Jr., Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Billy Aton, Landon Brooks, Sean Becker
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (10 laps): Kurt Nelson, DJ Netto, Colby Copeland, Mitchel Moles, Blake Carrick, Robbie Price, Jessie Attard, Brian Boswell
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (10 laps): Tim Kaeding, Dominic Scelzi, Mitchell Faccinto, Rico Abreu, Justin Sanders, Sean Watts, Brad Dillard, Richard Fajardo
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, Tanner Carrick, Ryan Robinson, DJ Netto, Kurt Nelson, Dominic Scelzi
JUSTIN SANDERS SCORES KING OF THE WEST “FASTEST FOUR DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS” OPENER AT MERCED
(8/26/21 - Jim Allen) Merced, CA ... Justin Sanders took advantage of some well-timed caution periods to outrun Dominic Scelzi and score Thursday night's Fastest Four Days in Motorsports opener for the NARC King of the West Fujitsu sprint cars at Merced Speedway. Although the stat sheet will show that Sanders led all 30-laps aboard Kevin Koslowski's Works Unlimited #57, wrenched by Paul Silva, Sanders had to battle his way through slower cars and an ever pressing Scelzi to score the single-car length victory.
Sanders won the Sunnyvalley Bacon dash and started on pole. He had to fend off 15-year old Corey Day for the first 10 laps, until the Scelzi assumed the runner-up spot in the second corner on lap 12. Scelzi took the lead a lap later, but the field reverted back a lap when the caution came out for fuel leak fire on Jessie Attard's car. When racing resumed, Scelzi continued to shadow the leaders every move and was challenging for the point when the caution appeared once again on the 18th circuit. This was a recurring theme throughout this feature event.
The race came to a abrupt halt on the 23rd circuit when Day tangled with a slower car while running fourth, flipping violently over the first turn berm. He was shaken in the accident and evaluated by medical crews on the scene. He will miss the next event with the Tarlton Motorsports team.
Once the race resumed, Sanders had his hands full with Scelzi and now sixth starter Colby Copeland. The trio reached lapped traffic with two-laps to go but Sanders ended up holding on for a car length margin of victory worth $4000.
"Let's face it, I was lucky that some of those yellows came out tonight," said Sanders. "Dominic was really fast and was all over me when we got in slower traffic. I'll take a little luck any day. I'm just glad that I could score the win for this team. They gave me a great car and I went out and did my job."
Scelzi took home second place money in the Scelzi Enterprises 41. Copeland was third aboard Larry Antaya Fire Suppression Systems 16A. Tim Kaeding started and finished fourth aboard the Bates-Hamilton Teichert-sponsored 42X. Shane Golobic was on the move aboard the Elk Grove Ford sprinter, starting 16th and finishing fifth to pocket the Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger Award money.
Bud Kaeding, Canadian Robbie Price, Blake Carrick, Sean Becker and DJ Netto rounded out the top ten.
Rico Abreu set a new track record in qualifying with a lightening quick 10.354 second run around the quarter-mile oval.
It was Sanders second NARC King of the West victory of the season and 10th of his career. It marked the series first trip to Merced Speedway since 1992.
FUJITSU MAIN EVENT (30 laps): 1. Justin Sanders 57; 2. Dominic Scelzi 41; 3. Colby Copeland 16A; 4. Tim Kaeding 42X; 5. Shane Golobic 17W; 6. Bud Kaeding 69; 7. Robbie Price 21P; 8. Blake Carrick 38B; 9. Sean Becker 83V; 10. DJ Netto 88N; 11. Mitchell Faccinto 37; 12. Joel Myers Jr. 46JR; 13. Billy Aton 26; 14. Landon Brooks 76; 15. Sean Watts 98; 16. Kurt Nelson 72W; 17. Corey Day 21; 18. Mark Barroso 78; 19. Jessie Attard 53; 20. Rico Abreu 24; 21. Tanner Carrick 83T; 22. Brian Boswell 75; 23. Mitchel Moles 01.
LAP LEADERS: Sander 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Shane Golobic 16th to 5th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (23 cars): Rico Abreu - 10.354 seconds
BMRS HEAT ONE (10 laps): DJ Netto, Tim Kaeding, Corey Day, Tanner Carrick, Shane Golobic, Rico Abreu, Kurt Nelson, Brian Boswell.
FUJITSU GENERAL HEAT TWO (10 laps): Dominic Scelzi, Justin Sanders, Bud Kaeding, Blake Carrick, Sean Becker, Sean Watts, Mark Barroso
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (10 laps): Colby Copeland, Robbie Price, Jessie Attard, Mitchell Faccinto, Joel Myers Jr., Landon Brooks, Billy Aton.
SUNNYVALLEY BACON DASH (6 laps): Justin Sanders, Corey Day, Dominic Scelzi, Tim Kaeding, DJ Netto, Colby Copeland
ROAD TRIP: FASTEST FOUR DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS ON TAP FOR NARC-KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CARS
(8/23/21) Sacramento, CA ... The NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series reaches the centerpiece of the 2021 schedule this week when the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports (FFDM) will take teams and fans on a four-day tour of Nor-Cal.
This year marks the second edition of the FFDM. Tim Kaeding claimed the inaugural edition in 2019 by winning two of the four races, and COVID-19 regulations erased the 2020 FFDM from the calendar. (ED NOTE: The originally scheduled August 25th show at Placerville Speedway was canceled because the El Dorado County Fairgrounds were transformed into a staging are for firefighters and equipment battling the Caldor fire.)
Racing kicks off Thursday August 26th at Merced Speedway for Thursday Night Thunder. The following night takes the series to Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway for the third and final visit to the coastal bullring in 2021. Saturday the caravan will head to Stockton Dirt Track for the $6,000 to win Champion’s Classic that also features a $3,000 to win 360 sprint car show. The FFDM wraps up Sunday with the third series appearance at Petaluma Speedway this year.
The FFDM will be incentivized by a $8,000 point fund that will award $2,000 to the winner of the final standings and distribute the remainder among the drivers who finish 2nd-12th in points. Also, on top of the $6,000 to win race at Stockton, the other three events will all be $4,000 to win. Both the point fund and the heightened purses at Stockton will provide an opportunity for some drivers to have a very lucrative week!
On Thursday in Merced NARC will be joined by Mini Stocks, Mini Late Models and IMCA Northern SportMods. Friday at Ocean IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks and South Bay Dwarf Cars will share the card. Stockton will feature the $3,000 to win 360 sprint car event and NorCal Dwarf Cars. Joining NARC on Sunday in Petaluma will be Super Stocks, Dwarf Cars and Hardtops.
The entire four-day blitz of racing guarantees to offer plenty of excitement. Competitors will be vying for the extra money up for grabs alluded to above, and the situation atop the series standings may shake up. Dominic Scelzi currently holds a slim six-point lead over reigning champ DJ Netto, and just 15-markers behind Netto is 2015 titlist Bud Kaeding. For more information regarding drivers to watch and stories to follow this week, check out our FFDM Storylines and Stats here: https://narc410.com/2021/08/15/fastest-five-days-in-motorsports-story-lines-stats/
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire Format for the FFDM will feature ARP Bolts Fast Time Qualifying, 10-lap Brown and Miller Racing Solutions Heat Races (Stockton heat races will be 8 laps), a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash and the 30-lap Fujitsu General USA Main Event.
At Merced the grandstands will open at 5:00 P.M. with racing set to begin at 7:00 P.M. Merced Speedway is located at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way Merced, CA 95341. For more information call 209-600-8382 or visit https://mercedspeedway.net.
On Friday night at Ocean Speedway Adult General Admission tickets will cost $25. Juniors ages 11-16 will be admitted for $20. Kids 6-10 can get in for just $10. Children 5 and under are free! Tickets can be purchased in advance at: https://www.eventsprout.com/event/final-points-night-friday-night-frenzy. Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2601 E Lake Ave Watsonville, CA 95076. For more information call (831) 688-7223 or visit https://oceanspeedway.com.
The Stockton Dirt Track pit gate is set to open at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday with the main gate set to follow at 5:00 P.M. Racing will get going around 7:00 P.M. Pit Passes are $40. Adult General Admission is $25. Kids ages 5-12, seniors 65 and older and military personnel with a valid ID will be admitted for $20. Kids 4 and under are free! Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/king-of-the-west-narc-fujistu-sprint-car-series-and-norcal-dwarf-cars-tickets-162479457431?aff=website. The Stockton Dirt Track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds at 1658 S Airport Way Stockton, CA 95206. For more information call 209-466-9999 or visit https://stocktondirttrack.com.
On Sunday in Petaluma the pit gate will open at 2:00 P.M. with the front gate opening at 4:00 P.M. Hot laps will kickoff at 5:00 P.M. with racing to follow at 6:00 P.M.
The Fastest Four Days in Motorsports can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After nine events in 21-race series 8/24/2021)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 1001
DJ Netto, Hanford - 995
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 980
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 967
Sean Becker, Roseville - 960
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 953
Sean Watts, Clovis - 927
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 730
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 685
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 673
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 632
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 607
Kenny Allen, Chico - 583
Willie Croft, Colfax - 530
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 524
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 524
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 518
Mark Barroso, Merced - 491
Kyle Offill, Tracy (R) - 481
Kyle Hirst, Paradise - 427The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General USA Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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Website: www.NARC410.com
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Fastest Four Days in Motorsports:
August 26 – Merced Speedway – Thursday Night Thunder
August 27 – Ocean Speedway - Friday Night Showdown
August 28 – The Stockton Dirt Track – Champions Classic
August 29 – Petaluma Speedway - Sunday Night Finale
September 4-5 - Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico - Louie Vermeil Classic
FASTEST FIVE DAYS IN MOTORSPORTS – STORY LINES & STATS!
August 15, 2021
Jim Allen(8/15/21 – By Alex Nieten, ) … In less than two weeks, the NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars Series will embark on a journey consisting of five races over five consecutive nights at five different racetracks, all combining to create the highly anticipated Fastest Five Days in Motorsports.
Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi has been red hot this season!With nearly 500-miles of travel taking the west coast’s premier sprint car drivers to five different venues of various shapes and sizes in less than a week, there will be plenty of interesting news to follow and numbers to note, and we’ve got them all in the 2021 Fastest Five Days in Motorsports (FFDM) preview.
The Favorites …
Dominic Scelzi has set the west coast ablaze this year and will look to continue his tear during the FFDM to extend his points lead. The Fresno native has already collected sixteen feature victories in 2021, including three of the nine NARC-KWS events run to date. Scelzi enters the week with three podiums in the last five series races, two of which were wins. Of his twelve career KWS wins, four of them have come at tracks on the FFDM schedule. The most recent series race at the site of the opener, Placerville, saw Scelzi grab his first Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial triumph. Scelzi finished eighth in the 2019 FFDM standings.
Bud and Tim Kaeding have been running up front all season!The 2019 edition of the FFDM was dominated by the Kaedings’, and Tim and Bud aim to write a similar story in 2021. The brothers won three of the four races two years ago with Tim snagging a pair and Bud claiming one, and Tim claimed the $2,000 prize for earning the most points. TK already owns two victories this year including his third Pombo-Sargent Classic at Ocean Speedway which hosts the Friday show. While Bud hasn’t earned a win yet this year, he does own five top-5 finishes. The 2017 champ also has finished seventh or better in five of the six races this year at the tracks on the FFDM calendar, the outlier being a DNF at Ocean when Bud got caught up in a wreck while racing for a spot in the top-5.
The 2018 series runner-up, Shane Golobic, is still in search of his first NARC win in 2021 despite being toward the front nearly every night. The Fremont native’s average finish over the six series races he’s contested this year is 3.8, and he owns podium finishes in four of those six. In the 2019 FFDM Golobic earned a pair of runner-up results, but an expired engine at Chico cost him a potential win and dropped him to seventh in the final standings.
Trending Up …
Roseville’s Sean Becker is looking to score a W!The most recent series winner, Billy Aton, will be looking to keep his momentum going after his Santa Maria victory last month. For some drivers, that highly sought first career win can break the dam and welcome plenty more trips to victory lane. Aton’s best chances for more triumphs may come in Watsonville and Petaluma, the locations where he’s turned the most laps. In July of 2019 Aton earned a then-career best second place finish at Petaluma. The Benicia native enters the week with three top-10s in the last four events.
After two consecutive finishes outside the top-15, Sean Becker has put together his best three-race stretch of the season. He won the Howard Kaeding Classic in July and followed the victory up with a pair of top-10 runs the next weekend at Tulare and Santa Maria. The 2005 series champ’s average finish over the trio of events is fifth, and he hopes the strong performance continues through the FFDM.
Bouncing Back …
15-year old Corey Day is aiming for his first King of the West victory.If it wasn’t for bad luck, the pairing of young gasser Corey Day and Tarlton Motorsports would have no luck at all. The fifteen-year old earned the pole in his first series start for Tarlton before a mid-race incident cost him a potential top-5. Their next race at Tulare Day had climbed from 15th to 6th before climbing the infamous Thunderbowl turn one fence. Most recently Day seemed poised to pass Billy Aton for the lead and win at Santa Maria until lapped cars tangled right in front of him and collected the Tarlton machine in the crash. The familiar black No. 21 has shown plenty of speed with Day behind the wheel, so if their fortune can turn around Day should be in the running for the title.
DJ Netto is another driver who has shown a ton of speed recently but been plagued with bad luck. While the results show three top-10s in the last four races, the complete story reveals how a few of those finishes could’ve been podiums and a win or two. Netto got collected in an incident with a slower car at Petaluma while running second and fought back to eighth. The reigning champ also made contact in a major lap one incident at Santa Maria before rallying to fourth. While dealing with the misfortune, crew chief Drew Warner has undoubtedly had the 88N hooked up for Netto. ARP Fast Time honors have gone to the team the past two consecutive events and three of the last four. And as alluded to above, Netto has always been up front when the incidents have occurred. A little more luck and Netto may very well snag the FFDM title and regain the overall points lead.
Familiar Faces in New Places …
Roseville’s Colby Copeland will be in Larry Antaya’s 16A.Two-time series feature winner, Colby Copeland, is reuniting with Larry Antaya for the FFDM. Both of Copeland’s two career NARC-KWS victories came aboard Antaya’s 16A at tracks on the Speedweek calendar. Copeland also already scored an SCCT triumph at Merced last month. The Roseville native’s lone series start of 2021 came in June at Ocean Speedway and piloting the Ed Butterfield No. 76 Copeland earned an eighth place result.
Look for Justin Sanders to be in a new ride that will turn some heads. Six of Sanders’ seven career series wins have occurred at tracks on the FFDM schedule, so he’ll be a favorite in a very potent machine.
Short Track Savvy …
California may be best known for its plentiful bullrings, and the FFDM will feature a heavy dose of them. The first three nights are set to take place at Placerville, Merced and Ocean Speedway, a trio of quarter mile ovals. The three venues routinely provide some of the most intense racing you’ll see all year.
Saturday brings the FFDM to the 3/8ths mile Stockton Dirt Track. The season opener at Stockton in March displayed the benefits of the recently reconfigured track. A smoother, slicker surface led to slide jobs galore throughout the field.
The finale on Sunday takes place at another 3/8ths mile, Petaluma Speedway, but the tacky, narrow oval races like a bullring. The leaders often set a torrid pace at the Bay Area facility, putting them in lap traffic early on that can be difficult to navigate due to the hooked up conditions.
First Time in a Long Time …
The trip to Merced on Thursday will mark an interesting reunion. It will be the first NARC-KWS appearance at the central valley track since 1992. Current series point leader, Dominic Scelzi, was not even born yet the last time the series visited Merced. Two-time series champ Tim Green claimed a pair of twin features in May of ’92 and has stood as the most recent series winner at Merced since.
Let’s Go Racing! …
The stories above are just a handful of the many that will unfold over the course of the five day blitz of racing. Roseville’s Willie Croft is yet to grab a NARC checkered flag in 2021. Can fifteen-year old Joel Myers Jr. grab his first series win after heartbreak at Petaluma last month? And, of course, who will claim the FFDM title and the $2,000 prize that goes along with it when all is said and done on a chilly evening in Petaluma? Find out by making your travel plans now!
However, if you can’t make it to the track, you can catch the entire Fastest Five Days in Motorsports live on Floracing.com.
WILD BILL BREAKTHROUGH: ATON CLAIMS FIRST CAREER NARC-KWS WIN AT SANTA MARIA
(7/24/2021 – Alex Nieten) Nipomo, CA… Just a tad more than two years after he led seven laps and scored a then-career best second place finish at Petaluma, Billy Aton finally captured his inaugural NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car victory at Santa Maria Raceway’s Winged Madness event Saturday night.
It had been over a year since a driver had claimed their first series victory prior to Aton, Spencer Bayston being the most recent in June of 2020. Aton also became the sixth driver to earn a series victory this year through nine races.
While the box score will show Aton led from green to checkered, it was by no means a 30-lap walk in the park. The pilot of the Bill Aton Painting No. 26 had to endure a hairy start to the feature and hold off the west coast’s hottest driver, Dominic Scelzi, in the closing laps. Aton admitted to feeling some intense pressure.
“I couldn’t tell if I was rolling at a good pace or if they were on us,” Aton said. “But every time a yellow came out, I was looking at the scoreboard and I thought ‘oh god, they’re coming.’”
The green flag dropped with Aton and fellow front row starter, Bud Kaeding, leading the field into turn one. Aton nailed the start and established a lead out of turn two and down the backstretch. Then in turn three, the entire venue held their collective breath as Wild Bill got a little too wild, getting sideways on the top side in front of the field, leaving Bud Kaeding nowhere to go. By the time the dust settled, Aton had straightened himself out, but Bud Kaeding found himself on his side having been hit by at least five other cars in the melee. Kaeding was uninjured.
Ryan Robinson snuck by the mess to briefly take the lead, but since a lap had not been completed the top spot was returned to Aton for a complete restart following the red flag. A pair of cautions on laps three and four for cars stopping on track slowed the early pace of the race.
The restart with twenty-seven to go brought the first green flag run and saw Tarlton Motorsports pilot Corey Day drive by Robinson for the runner-up spot and quickly close on Aton. Just when it appeared Day might move into the lead, misfortune struck the 15-year old on lap thirteen when two lap cars got together right in front of his No. 21 machine, leaving him with nowhere to go and a second straight DNF.
It didn’t take long for three-time series winner in 2021, Dominic Scelzi, to join the battle for the win following the restart with eighteen to go. The driver of the Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportation 41 moved past Robinson on lap fourteen and set his sights on the No. 26.
Just when you could throw a blanket over Aton, Scelzi and a fast approaching Tim Kaeding in the battle for the lead, a yellow came out with less than ten to go for a stopped Brooklyn Holland.
The final seven laps produced an intense game of cat and mouse around the lightning fast Santa Maria Raceway. Scelzi stalked his prey, using a unique line in turns one and two to get a massive run down the backstretch each lap. Aton, though, would not be denied as he maintained a steady line and pace and held on to win by just .350 seconds over the point leader.
“Just had to keep running some good lines, and luckily this old girl took her home,” a jubilant Aton said.
While disappointed to miss out on the win, Scelzi and the entire pit area couldn’t help but be happy for Aton.
“If there’s anybody in this pit area you want to see pick up their first win and run second to him, that’s the guy,” Scelzi said.
Rounding out the podium after an incredible comeback was JJ Ringo. After hitting the wall hard while leading his heat race, he and his team thrashed to get the Mike Mitchell Construction/Ernest Hemingway Vineyards/Porter Diving No. 2 back out for the feature, and Ringo drove from twelfth to third to earn his first career series podium and the Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger.
“Thanks to everyone who busted their butts to help us get out here,” Ringo said. “It’s pretty cool to get my first podium with King of the West.”
The remainder of the top-10 was DJ Netto, Tim Kaeding, Bryce Eames, Sean Watts, Sean Becker, Jessie Attard and Mark Barroso.
(ED NOTE: The Wheelie Contest scheduled at Santa Maria Raceway was cancelled due to poor track conditions. It required a complete track rework which delayed the program by 90-minutes.)
FUJITSU FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Billy Aton 26 2. Dominic Scelzi 41 3. JJ Ringo 2 4. DJ Netto 88N 5. Tim Kaeding 42X 6. Bryce Eames 50 7. Sean Watts 98 8. Sean Becker 83V 9. Jessie Attard 76 10. Mark Barroso 78 11. Brooklyn Holland 2B 12. Geoffrey Strole 09S 13. Keith Day Jr. 22 14. Ryan Robinson 56 15. Corey Day 21 16. James Herrera 5J 17. Bud Kaeding 69 18. Mitchel Moles 01
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Billy Aton 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: JJ Ringo 12th to 3rd
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (18 cars): DJ Netto 12.582
BROWN & MILLER HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps): Bud Kaeding, Sean Watts, Sean Becker, DJ Netto, Mitchel Moles, Geoffrey Strole
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps): Dominic Scelzi, Tim Kaeding, Ryan Robinson, Jessie Attard, Brooklyn Holland, Mark Barroso
FLORACING.COM HEAT #3 (8 laps): Corey Day, Keith Day Jr., Billy Aton, James Herrera, Bryce Eames, JJ Ringo
SUNNY VALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): Billy Aton, Bud Kaeding, Ryan Robinson, Corey Day, Dominic Scelzi, DJ Netto
SECOND VERSE SAME AS THE FIRST: SCELZI DOUBLES DOWN AT THE THUNDERBOWL, AGAIN
(7/23/2021 – Alex Nieten) Tulare, CA… Dominic Scelzi continued his 2021 domination of Tulare Friday night at the Chris and Brian Faria Memorial with his second consecutive NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car victory at the Thunderbowl, and he capped it off with a Kings of Thunder 360 win, making it six straight Tulare triumphs overall.
The win didn’t come easy, though. Scelzi lined up sixth on the grid for the start of the 30-lap Fujitsu Feature. Prior to tonight, the farthest back a driver had come to win in 2021 was fifth. The pilot of the Scelzi Enterprises/Red Rose Transportation 41 also had to endure a race-long battle with a pair of the west coast’s best, DJ Netto and Shane Golobic.
“I’m beat,” an exhausted Scelzi said. “I ran thirty laps as hard as I possibly could. The way the cushion was I was really hustling my butt off. I haven’t fallen out of the seat in a long time, but I did tonight. DJ is so good around this place. Shane’s won just about everything there is to win here.”
The win also held some extra significance for not just Scelzi, but the Scelzi family that recently grew by one.
“This is so cool,” Scelzi said. “My baby girl was born last Friday, and this is the first win being a dad, so I’m just kind of soaking it all in.”
The field took the green with DJ Netto and Shane Golobic leading the way. Golobic got the jump in his NOS Energy Drink/Elk Grove Ford 17W from the inside and stretched the early lead while Scelzi worked his way by a few cars early on to jump from sixth to third. A caution with six laps complete bunched the field back up.
Netto returned Golobic’s lap one favor by snagging the top spot in his Netto Ag/Penny Newman Grain 88N from the inside lane on the ensuing restart. Another yellow on lap nine and a red flag for Sean Watts on lap twelve brought the leaders back together, but the top three remained the same until the closing laps brought excitement.
As the lead trio navigated traffic with less than ten to go, Scelzi first picked off Golobic by rolling the bottom, and then snuck into the lead with a similar maneuver the next lap when Netto got trapped behind a slower car running the top.
“Sometimes its better to be second or actually third in that position,” Scelzi explained. “I don’t feel like I was better than either of these guys. That’s the cool thing about racing here, when it does get to the fence like that the top usually is the fastest place around here. When Shane got to him and they started racing, I was like ‘man I ran the bottom earlier in the night, and I felt really good, but nobody around me had done that. I knew I needed to stick the bottom because you only get one chance with these guys.”
A late red came out with six to go for Corey Day, but once racing resumed Scelzi went unchallenged the final few laps to claim his third Fujitsu Feature of 2021 and the twelfth of his career, but not without the notoriously tough Thunderbowl taking a toll on him. Day was unhurt in the accident.
“I’m gassed,” Scelzi said. “I’m going to have to get back to the gym on Monday.”
The balance of the top-10 was Netto, Golobic, Mitchel Moles, Sean Becker, Bud Kaeding, Willie Croft, Tim Kaeding, Faccinto and Geoffrey Strole.
FUJITSU FEATURE (30 laps) 1. Dominic Scelzi 41 2. DJ Netto 88N 3. Shane Golobic 17W 4. Mitchel Moles 83 5. Sean Becker 83V 6. Bud Kaeding 69 7. Willie Croft 29 8. Tim Kaeding 42X 9. Mitchell Faccinto 37 10. Geoffrey Strole 09S 11. Craig Stidham 36 12. Jessie Attard 76 13. Danny Faria Jr. 01 14. Mark Barroso 78 15. Corey Day 21 16. Ryan Robinson 56 17. Sean Watts 98 18. Billy Aton 26
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Shane Golobic 1-5, DJ Netto 6-22, Dominic Scelzi 23-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Geoffrey Strole 18th to 10th
ARP/KIMO’S TROPICAL CAR WASH FAST QUALIFIER (18 cars): DJ Netto 14.683
BROWN & MILLER HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps): Tim Kaeding, Bud Kaeding, DJ Netto, Mitchell Faccinto, Jessie Attard, Corey Day
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps): Sean Becker, Shane Golobic, Billy Aton, Willie Croft, Danny Faria Jr., Mark Barroso
FLORACING.COM HEAT #3 (8 laps): Sean Watts, Craig Stidham, Mitchel Moles, Dominic Scelzi, Ryan Robinson, Geoffrey Strole
SUNNY VALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” DASH (6 laps): DJ Netto, Shane Golobic, Sean Becker, Mitchel Moles, Tim Kaeding, Dominic Scelzi
TULARE & SANTA MARIA SET TO HOST NARC-KING OF THE WEST DOUBLEHEADER
(7/19/21) Sacramento, CA ... This weekend brings the second doubleheader of the 2021 NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car campaign with the "Chris and Brian Faria Memorial" at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway kicking off two nights of racing on Friday, July 23rd. The following night, July 24th, showcases the "Winged Madness" night at Nipomo’s Santa Maria Raceway, in an event that will feature a Wheelie Contest.
Friday’s event in Tulare honors the two brothers of the Faria family. Chris showed promise as a racer before sadly losing his life in a farming incident in 1993. Brian helped with the operation of the Thunderbowl before he passed in an automobile accident in 2006.
Saturday’s show not only offers a full program of NARC-KWS action at Santa Maria, but also what is sure to be a thrilling Hammerdown!/Kimo's Tropical Car Wash Wheelie Contest. Having made a habit of taking checkered flags with the front end aimed at the sky, Tim Kaeding must be the early favorite. However, he’ll have some stout competition in pursuit of the $1,000 prize.
On Friday at Tulare the NARC-KWS 410 Sprint Cars will be joined by the Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars and Western RaceSaver Sprints. On Saturday at Santa Maria RaceSaver Winged Sprints, Winged California Lightning Sprints and the Legends of Kearney Bowl are also on the card.
Both events should combine to provide a must-see weekend of racing. The Thunderbowl is known to provide some of the most intense, high-velocity action on the schedule. May’s Peter Murphy Classic in Tulare featured a slider-fest to decide the outcome. Santa Maria’s most recent race in 2019 saw three different leaders and an exciting final lead change with only two laps left.
Heading into the weekend, Campbell's Bud Kaeding is looking to rebound after an Ocean Speedway DNF trimmed his point lead to just one marker. Tulare should be a place to get the 2017 titlist back on track. Kaeding has eleven top-5s in his last twelve series starts at the Thunderbowl and led the opening 23-laps of this year’s Peter Murphy Classic. Bud also scored a solid third place finish in the series’ most recent visit to Santa Maria.
The reigning series champ DJ Netto should be up front both nights as he looks to jump from third to first in the points podium. The Hanford native carries a streak of twelve consecutive series top-10s at the Thunderbowl and earned his first career series victory at the 3/8ths mile in the 2015 Faria Memorial. He’s also scored top-5s in the last two series appearances at Santa Maria.
A preview for these two facilities cannot go without mention of Dominic Scelzi. The driver out of Fresno has four Thunderbowl victories this year including an $11,000 NARC-KWS triumph as part of his Peter Murphy Classic sweep in May. Scelzi also took home the win the last time NARC visited Santa Maria in 2019. He’s just a single point behind Bud Kaeding in the championship chase heading into the weekend.
The trio above are just a few who will be on hand this weekend. Other expected entries include two time feature winner in 2021 and two time series titlist Tim Kaeding of San Jose, Aromas’ Justin Sanders, Tarlton Motorsports pilot Corey Day, Mitchell Faccinto from Hanford, Morgan Hill driver JJ Ringo, Ryan Robinson of Foresthill, Willie Croft, Billy Aton, Kenny Allen and more.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format for both events will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, three 10-lap Brown and Miller Racing Solutions Heat Races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, and the Fujitsu 30-lap feature.
For the Chris and Brian Faria Memorial at Tulare, the gates will open at 4:00 P.M. Hot laps are set for 5:00 P.M., qualifying at 6:00 P.M. and racing at 7:00 P.M. Pit passes are $40. Adult tickets for the main grandstands are $25 and the bleachers are $20. Seniors can access the grandstands for $23 and the bleachers for $18. Kids 6-12 grandstands tickets are only $13 and the bleachers are $10. Kids 5 and under are free.
For the Winged Madness event at Santa Maria, the pit gates will open at 1:00 P.M., and the front gates will follow at 4:00 P.M. The price for adult tickets is $30. Seniors will be admitted for $28. Kids 6-12 can get in for just $6. Kids 5 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online via the track’s website: santamariaraceway.com.
Both events can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
The Thunderbowl Raceway is located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds at 620 S K St, Tulare, CA 93274. For more information call (559) 688-0909.
Santa Maria Raceway is located at 1900 Hutton Road, Nipomo, CA 93444. For more information call (805) 710-4407.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After seven events in 21-race series 7/19/21)Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 771
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 770
DJ Netto, Hanford - 767
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 748
Sean Becker, Roseville - 741
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 738
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 730
Sean Watts, Clovis - 719
Kenny Allen, Chico - 583
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 560
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 525
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 524
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 518
Kyle Offill, Tracy (R) - 481
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 475
Kyle Hirst, Paradise - 427
Willie Croft, Colfax - 421
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 397
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 322
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 320The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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Upcoming Events
Fastest Five Days in Motorsports:
August 25 – Placerville Speedway – Gold Country Showdown
August 26 – Merced Speedway – Thursday Night Thunder
August 27 – Ocean Speedway
August 28 – The Stockton Dirt Track – Champions Classic
August 29 – Petaluma Speedway
BECKER SURVIVES HOWARD KAEDING CLASSIC TO POCKET $6900 PAYDAY
(7/17/21) Watsonville, CA ... Sean Becker survived a wild sprint car "Battle Royale" at Saturday's Howard Kaeding Classic to claim the coveted $6900 victory in NARC King of the West Fujitsu Racing Series action at Ocean Speedway. His winning efforts in the 30-lapper came aboard the David Vertullo Starr Property Management/Morrison Concrete sprint car.
This premier headliner was loaded with mayhem that effectively reeled in and damaged half the 24-car field in one form or another during three red flag and five caution periods. Luckily nobody was injured.
Australian Jessie Attard set the tone on the initial green flag pursued by Becker, Shane Golobic and fast qualifier Tim Kaeding who were battling position. The action came to a halt just as things were getting interesting when the caution came out on the sixth circuit for a stopped car. When action resumed, Golobic got past Attard and paced the field for two laps before the yellow flag appeared once again for another stalled car. On the ensuing restart, things went bad when Golobic's right rear gave way causing a massive pile up in the second turn. Among those involved were Willie Croft, Tim Kaeding, Justin Sanders, Dominic Scelzi, Kyle Hirst, and Ryan Bernal, and DJ Netto. Most teams scrambled to make makeshift repairs and returned to action. Unfortunately, Tim Kaeding would bring out the red again on the restart when he flipped hard into the front straightaway concrete. He was shaken but walked away under his own power.
It was Becker's turn to lead and he didn't waste the opportunity, jumping out to a healthy advantage as Attard, Sunnyvalley Dash winner Corey Day, and Mitchell Faccinto traded jabs behind him. Another caution appeared on lap 14 when JJ Ringo turned over in the first corner while Attard, Joey Ancona, Sanders and series point leader Bud Kaeding crashed in another turn two tangle. Those five cars were done for the night.
Becker once again shot out into the lead, now chased by ninth starter Tanner Carrick and Mitchell Faccinto. The frontrunners reached slower traffic on lap 21 and Becker's advantage began to shrink as Carrick began to reel him in. However, Becker expertly negotiated his was through slower cars and held on for a three-car length victory. It was his 11th King of the West win for the 2005 champion.
"I'm so excited to finally win one for this team," said a fired-up Sean Becker after jumping out of his car and climbing the front straightaway fence much to the delight of the capacity crowd. "We've worked really hard and I'm glad they didn't give up on me."
It was car owner Dave Vertullo's first King of the West win since 2012.
Carrick was $3000 richer in second aboard his CVC Concrete Sprinter, with Faccinto filling up the rest of the podium in the Stan Greenberg Western Metal Company ride. Eighteenth starter Blake Carrick survived the mid-pack carnage to finish fourth and collect the $650 Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger Award. Ryan Bernal rebounded from his earlier accident to score fifth in the NOS Energy sprint car.
The second five to cross the checkered was 20th starter Bill Aton, Keith Day Jr., four-time series champ Hirst, Kalib Henry, and Scelzi.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30 laps) 83V - Sean Becker, 83T - Tanner Carrick, 37 - Mitchell Faccinto, 38B - Blake Carrick, 17WX - Ryan Bernal, 26 - Billy Aton, 22 - Keith Day Jr, 0 - Kyle Hirst, 17W - Shane Golobic, 93 - Kalib Henry, 41 - Dominic Scelzi, 72W - Kurt Nelson, 88N - DJ Netto, 21 - Corey Day, 98 - Sean Watts, 76 - Kenny Allen, 53 - Jessie Attard, 69 - Bud Kaeding, 88A - Joey Ancona, 16A - Justin Sanders, 2 - JJ Ringo, 42X - Tim Kaeding, 29 - Willie Croft, 8 - Jeremy Chisum.
HOOSIER TIRE LAPS LEADERS: Attard 1-6, Golobic 7-8, Becker 9-30.
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Blake Carrick - 18th to 4th
ARP QUICK QUALIFIER (28 Cars) - Tim Kaeding - 11.115 seconds
BROWN & MILLER HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps): Tim Kaeding, Jessie Attard, Dominic Scelzi, Billy Aton, Bud Kaeding, Chris Nelson, Sean Watts
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps): Ryan Bernal, Justin Sanders, Sean Becker, Tanner Carrick, Joey Ancona, Geoffrey Strole, Kurt Nelson
FLORACING.COM HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps): Kyle Hirst, Willie Croft, DJ Netto, Corey Day, Kalib Henry, Jeremy Chisum, Jason Chisum
KAEDING PERFORMANCE CENTER #4 (10 laps): JJ Ringo, Shane Golobic, Mitchell Faccinto, Blake Carrick, Keith Day Jr., Mark Barroso, Kenny Allen
SUNNY VALLEY "POWERED BY BACON" DASH (6 laps): Corey Day, Jessie Attard, Shane Golobic, Sean Becker, Ryan Bernal, Tim Kaeding
KAEDING PERFORMANCE CENTER SEMI (12 laps): Sean Watts, Kurt Nelson, Jeremy Chisum, Kenny Allen, Geoffrey Strole, Chris Nelson, Mark Barroso, Jason Chisum.
$5,000 TO WIN HOWARD KAEDING CLASSIC IS NEXT FOR NARC-KING OF THE WEST
(7/12/21) Sacramento, CA ... Another prestigious event is on tap for the NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars as this Saturday, July 17th brings the 11th annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway. The event is presented by Al’s Roofing Supply and “The Hogs”, one of the most successful pit crews in NARC’s history.
The event celebrates the patriarch of the familiar Kaeding family, Howard. Along with earning a vast collection of trophies himself, his lineage is responsible for claiming countless checkered flags across California courtesy of his son, Brent, and grandchildren, Tim and Bud.
The Howard Kaeding Classic also serves as a fundraiser for the NARC Benevolent Fund, the non-profit that provides help to injured competitors and their families.
The two-night show kicks off Friday, July 16th headlined by the Taco Bravo 360 Sprint Cars. On Saturday the NARC-KWS 410 Sprint Cars will be joined by IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and the Police-n-Pursuit. The lucrative Fujitsu Feature on Saturday will award $5,000 to the winner and pay a stout $800 to start.
After Friday’s race, there will be a pizza and beer party hosted by the Kaeding's at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Before the action on Saturday night, the Howard Kaeding BBQ Luncheon will take place at 1:00 P.M. also on the fairgrounds. Both will serve great food and an even better atmosphere. A $20 donation to the NARC Benevolent Fund is required for entry to each.
Ocean Speedway should provide some close-quarters racing action Saturday night. The NARC-KWS visit to the bullring last month produced one of the most intense races of the year so far with three different leaders, top competitors making contact and battles all over the track.
The Kaeding brothers shouldn’t be doubted as they aim to win the event honoring their grandfather. Bud will be looking to join Kyle Hirst as the only three time winner of the NARC portion of the Howard Kaeding Classic while Tim eyes his first. The duo claimed the top two positions in the most recent series appearance in Watsonville when Tim scored his third Pombo-Sargent Classic after a duel with Bud. Tim carries the momentum of wins in two of the last three series races in 2021 while Bud leads the points and has a streak of five consecutive top-5s heading into the weekend. The event holds a little extra significance for Bud as he spearheads much of the promotional effort.
As always, Justin Sanders will be a favorite at Ocean Speedway this weekend. The Aromas native has already tallied seven feature wins at his home track this year, and two of his seven career NARC victories have taken place at the quarter-mile. He’ll be looking to redeem his misfortune from June’s Pombo-Sargent Classic when a mid-race incident ended a potential podium run.
Shane Golobic is another who is a near lock to be up front. Since 2015, the Fremont native owns a whopping ten series podium results at Watsonville. Despite the success, Golobic is yet to add a Howard Kaeding Classic to his lengthy resumé, and he hopes to change that this weekend.
Fresno's Dominic Scelzi will look to continue his trend of not only winning in 2021 but collecting victories in high paying events. Out of Scelzi’s thirteen sprint car wins this year, three were the $11,000 Peter Murphy Classic, $7,600 Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and most recently the $15,000 Dirt Cup. If Scelzi can pull of the win, he’ll join Kyle Hirst as the only driver to win the Peter Murphy Classic, Bradway Memorial and Howard Kaeding Classic in the same year.
Many more talented competitors will be vying for the $5,000 prize this weekend including defending series champ DJ Netto, Sean Becker, Billy Aton, Sean Watts, Kyle Offill and plenty more. The last three Howard Kaeding Classics have had an average car count of 33.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format for the Howard Kaeding Classic will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions 10-lap heat races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon trophy dash, a 12-lap Kaeding Performance Semi and the Fujitsu 30-lap feature.
The pit gates will open at noon, and the front gates will open at 3:30 P.M. Qualifying will kickoff at 4:45 P.M. with racing to follow. Adult GA tickets are priced at $30. Juniors ages 11-16 GA tickets are $25, and kids ages 6-10 will be admitted for only $15. Kids 5 and under are free! Tickets can be purchased in advance via the following link: https://www.eventsprout.com/event/kaeding-classic-night-2
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2601 E Lake Ave Watsonville, CA 95076. For more information call (831) 688-7223.
The Howard Kaeding Classic can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car schedule.
Previous Winners of the Howard Kaeding Classic
2011
Night One: Tommy Tarlton – King of the West
Night Two: Evan Suggs – King of the West
2012
Night One: Brent Kaeding – USAC
Night Two: Jonathan Allard – King of the West
2013
Night One: Bud Kaeding – USAC
Night Two: Jonathan Allard – King of the West
2014
Night One: Brad Furr – Civil War
Night Two: Bud Kaeding – King of the West
2015
Night One: Justin Sanders – Civil War
Night Two: Kyle Hirst – King of the West
2016
Night One: Kyle Hirst – Civil War
Night Two: Kyle Hirst – King of the West
2017
Night One: Kyle Hirst – Civil War
Night Two: Buddy Kofoid – King of the West-NARC
2018
Night One: Tanner Thorson – Civil War
Night Two: Colby Copeland – King of the West-NARC
2019
Night One: Shane Golobic – Civil War
Night Two: Bud Kaeding – King of the West-NARC
2020
Night One: DJ Netto
Night Two: Kyle Hirst – King of the West-NARC
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After six events in 21-race series 7/12/21)Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 673
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 665
DJ Netto, Hanford - 664
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 653
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 634
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 628
Sean Becker, Roseville - 624
Sean Watts, Clovis - 618
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 524
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 518
Kenny Allen, Chico - 483
Kyle Offill, Tracy (R) - 481
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 453
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 412
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 397
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 384
Willie Croft, Colfax - 328
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 322
Kyle Hirst, Paradise - 319
Andy Forsberg, Auburn - 307SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
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Facebook (history page): www.facebook.com/NARCsprintcars
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TIM KAEDING CLAIMS BAYLANDS TRIBUTE VICTORY AT PETALUMA
(7/10/21 – Jim Allen) Petaluma, CA … Tim Kaeding captured his second NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series 30-lap feature victory of the season Saturday night, scoring the po…
wp.me(7/10/21 - Jim Allen) Petaluma, CA ... Tim Kaeding captured his second NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series 30-lap feature victory of the season Saturday night, scoring the popular Salute to Baylands Raceway Park at Petaluma Speedway.
Kaeding started fifth in the grid aboard the Bates-Hamilton ABC Companies-sponsored Maxim and passed Bud Kaeding on a lap 19 restart to take a lead that he would never surrender. It was the 70th series victory of his career, second on the all-time list.
Bud Kaeding set the standard for the first 11 laps until the caution flag came out for a Sean Becker. On the restart, 15-year old Joel Myers Jr. and defending champion and ARP fast qualifier DJ Netto both powered past the leader in the first corner to pace the field. The two appeared to be in a class of their own and began to distance themselves from the field when disaster struck on lap 18 in lap traffic. Myers got tangled with a slower car in the fourth turn and Netto, with no place to go, got reeled into the fracas also. Myers was done for the night and Netto had to restart at the back of the pack.
On the ensuing restart, it was the battle of the Kaeding's as they drag raced into the first turn. Tim Kaeding rode the highline on the Petaluma gumbo and catapulted into the lead motoring out of the second turn. At that point, he was off to the races posting some of the fastest lap times of the night.
Sixth starter Andy Forsberg was on the move in his A&A Stepping Stone sprinter during the final laps and passed Bud Kaeding for the second spot with only two laps remaining. He finished five car lengths behind the winner. B. Kaeding held on for third in the Al's Roofing Supply Maxim. Dominic Scelzi and Justin Sanders rounded out the top five.
"It's always great racing against my brother," said TK in victory lane. "It usually a 50-50 deal on who is going to come out on top, but tonight, we had the best race car and he was a little tight."
The balance of the top ten featured Jessie Attard, rookie-of-the-year point leader Billy Aton, DJ Netto, Michael Ing and Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger Sean Watts.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30 laps) 42X Tim Kaeding, 92 Andy Forsberg, 69 Bud Kaeding, 41 Dominic Scelzi, 16A Justin Sanders, 53 Jessie Attard, 26 Billy Aton, 88N DJ Netto, 21 Michael Ing, 98 Sean Watts, 7H Jake Haulot, 76 Kenny Allen, 18 Michael Sellers, 56 Joel Myers Jr., 09S Geoffrey Strole, 83V Sean Becker, 3 Bill Cornwell, 93 Stephen Ingraham.
HOOSIER TIRE LAPS LEADERS: B. Kaeding 1-11, Myers 12-18, T Kaeding 19-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Sean Watts 16th to 10th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (19 cars): DJ Netto - 12.960 seconds
BROWN & MILLER HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps): Dominic Scelzi, Michael Ing, DJ Netto, Jake Haulot, Joe Myers Jr., Stephen Ingraham, Bill Cornwell.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps): Sean Becker, Bud Kaeding, Kenny Allen, Jessie Attard, Sean Watts, Ryan Timms.
FLORACING.COM HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps): Tim Kaeding, Andy Forsberg, Billy Aton, Justin Sanders, Michael Sellers, Geoffrey Strole.
SUNNYVALLEY "POWERED BY BACON" DASH (6 laps): Bud Kaeding, Dominic Scelzi, DJ Netto, Tim Kaeding, Andy Forsberg, Joel Myers Jr.
(7/5/21) Sacramento, CA ... The NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars storm into the second quarter of the 2021 campaign this Saturday, July 10th by making their second trip to Petaluma Speedway of the year for the Salute to Baylands Raceway Park.
Saturday’s event salutes the legendary speedway that was located in Fremont and featured some of the west coast’s best racing action of the 1980’s. Former promoter of Baylands, David Vodden, will be lending some insight from the booth this weekend. Petaluma will also be hosting an autograph session Saturday featuring some of the top talent to have competed at Baylands.
The NARC-KWS 410-winged sprint cars will be joined by wingless sprint cars, super stocks and dwarf cars for what promises to be an exciting evening of action. The hooked-up clay of Petaluma routinely produces intense racing with plenty of hold your breath moments, especially once lap traffic comes into play.
Heading into Saturday show, Bud Kaeding has utilized a stretch of four consecutive top-5 finishes to take over the points lead. The 2017 champ has been banging on the door of a King of the West win in 2021 with 29 laps led across two different feature events, and he would love for Saturday to bring that victory.
“Obviously winning is why we’re all out there,” Kaeding said. “Getting into position to win some of those races has been a good step for us the last couple weeks. To get this number sixty-nine car back in victory lane is something we’re all inching toward and can’t wait to make happen. We’ve been getting closer every week and been in position to win a good share of the last three races.”
The numbers say Kaeding has a great chance to win at Petaluma and extend his margin atop the standings. In his last nine series starts at the 3/8ths mile oval, the Campbell native has six podium finishes, including a runner-up back on May 22nd of this year.
“We’ve had good cars there, regardless of whom I’ve been driving for,” Kaeding said of his success at Petaluma. “It’s a fun place. It’s really fun when you start up on the front couple rows. The back couple rows can be scary.”
Winner of the most recent series race at Petaluma, Justin Sanders, will be a top competitor on Saturday. He aims to rebound after misfortune at both Ocean Speedway and Placerville last month ended potential top-5 runs. The win for Sanders in May marked his second victory on the tacky clay since partnering with Larry Antaya Motorsports, and he hopes to make it a trio of triumphs to help make up some points this weekend.
Reigning series champ, DJ Netto, should be toward the front as he looks to swipe the point lead back. He’s one of only two drivers to finish in the top-10 in all five events of 2021 and hasn’t finished worse than 7th in his last eight series races at Petaluma.
Perhaps a dark horse candidate to keep an eye on for the win is Benicia’s Billy Aton. His last four series starts at Petaluma have all been top-10 runs with a career best second place finish in July of 2019. Aton has proven his No. 26 machine has speed this year as he leads the Swift Metal Finishing Most Feature Cars Passed category. If “Wild Bill” can set himself up with a strong qualifying effort, he’ll have a good shot at parking it in NARC victory lane for the first time in his career.
The names above are just a few who will be on hand Saturday. Some other drivers expected to be in the pits are newly crowned Dirt Cup champion Dominic Scelzi, Iowa’s Austin McCarl, Tim Kaeding, Sean Becker, Sean Watts, Kyle Offill and more.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, three 10-lap heat races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon trophy dash, and the Fujitsu 30-lap feature event headliner.
The pits will open at 2:00 P.M. with the front gates opening at 4:00 P.M. Hot laps are set to begin at 5:00 P.M. with racing at 6:00 P.M. Adult General Admission tickets are $27 while seniors will be admitted for $24. The price tag for kids ages 6-11 is $16, and kids 5 and under are free! Tickets are available now on myracepass.com for those who wish to secure seats ahead of time.
The Salute to Baylands Raceway Park can also be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars schedule.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds at 100 Fairgrounds Dr. Petaluma, CA 94952. For more information call (707) 763-7223.
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Facebook (history page): www.facebook.com/NARCsprintcars
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
YouTube: NARC410
Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After five events in 21-race series 7/1/21)Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 560
DJ Netto, Hanford - 555
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 553
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 536
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 531
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 524
Sean Becker, Roseville - 524
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 519
Sean Watts, Clovis - 512
Kyle Offill, Tracy (R) - 481
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 453
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 416
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 412
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 397
Kenny Allen, Chico - 379
Willie Croft, Colfax - 328
Ryan Robinson, Foresthill (R) - 322
Kyle Hirst, Paradise - 319
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 283
Kalib Henry, Mather - 213UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 17 - Ocean Speedway (Watsonville) - Howard Kaeding Classic
July 23 - Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare) - Chris & Brian Faria Memorial
July 24 - Santa Maria Raceway - Winged Madness & Wheelie Contest
DOMINIC SCELZI WINS BIG AT THE DAVE BRADWAY JR. MEMORIAL
(6/12/21 - Jim Allen), Placerville, CA ... Dominic Scelzi outran Shane Golobic to score a $7500 payday at the 30th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series 40-lap headliner at Placerville Speedway Saturday.
Scelzi second series win of the season aboard the Scelzi Enterprises/Whipple Superchargers #41 came by leading green-to-checkered to maximize the lap money and additional sponsorship that was up for grabs. However, it wasn't a cake walk as Golobic applied pressure the entire distance with a different outcome in mind.
On the initial start, Scelzi led a 24-car field into the first turn shadowed by Kyle Hirst, Willie Croft, Golobic and Justin Sanders. Golobic maneuvered his way into the runner-up spot on the fifth circuit and the highspeed game of cat and mouse was in high gear. The duo reached lap traffic two laps later and the moves became more frantic until the red flag appeared for an upside down Blake Carrick. He was unhurt.
Once the race resume, it was more of the same. Scelzi made some stellar moves squeezing past slower cars to increase his advantage on the slick surface, only to have Golobic reel him in a lap or two later. It was that way the remaining distance until Scelzi scored his three-car length victory.
"I knew he was there the entire time and that I had to hold my line." said Scelzi. "He got next to me a couple of times and I just held my breath and kept going."
Golobic said he gave it his best effort aboard Matt Wood's Elk Grove Ford/NOS Energy sprint car. Hirst won a late race battle over Croft to fill out the podium in the Williams Motorsports Maxim. Series point leader Bud Kaeding was fifth.
Kalib Henry, Ryan Robinson, Stephen Ingraham, semi-winner DJ Netto and 15-year-old Joel Myers Jr. rounded out the top ten. Jake Morgan, who started dead last in the 24-car field passed 10-cars to earn the hardcharger award and a $2000 bonus.
Willie Croft's efforts in qualifying earned him the Carwash Mike Avilla fast time award and $1600. His 10.476 second was the best among the 31-car field.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (40 laps) 41S - Dominic Scelzi, 17W - Shane Golobic, 0 - Kyle Hirst, 29 - Willie Croft, 69 - Bud Kaeding, 93 - Kalib Henry, 56 - Ryan Robinson, 93X - Stephen Ingraham, 88N - DJ Netto, 46JR - Joe Myers Jr., 21 - Austin McCarl, 38B - Blake Carrick, 26 - Billy Aton, 25B - Jake Morgan, 37 - Mitchell Faccinto, 98 - Sean Watts, 7 - Kaleb Montgomery, 85 - CJ Humphreys, 16A - Justin Sanders, 92 - Andy Forsberg, 01 - Mitchell Moles, 33T - Jimmy Trulli, 83V - Sean Becker, 42X - Tim Kaeding.
HOOSIER TIRE LAPS LEADERS: Scelzi 1-40
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Jake Morgan 24th to 14th.
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (31 cars): Willie Croft - 10.476 seconds
BROWN & MILLER HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps): Justin Sanders, Kaleb Montgomery, Willie Croft, Joel Myers Jr., Sean Becker, Jake Morgan, Colby Wiesz, John Clark.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps): Ryan Robinson, Kalib Henry, Dominic Scelzi, Stephen Ingraham, Billy Aton, Austin McCarl, Jimmy Trulli, Kenny Allen.
FLORACING.COM HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps): Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Kyle Hirst, CJ Humphreys, Sean Watts, Michael Sellers, Shane Hopkins, Kyle Offill.
KAEDING PERFORMANCE CENTER #4 (10 laps): Andy Forsberg, Shane Golobic, Mitchell Faccinto, Blake Carrick, Mitchel Moles, Josh Wiesz, DJ Netto.
SUNNY VALLEY "POWERED BY BACON" DASH (6 laps): Dominic Scelzi, Kyle Hirst, Willie Croft, Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Kalib Henry
12-LAP WILWOOD BRAKES LAST CHANCE RACE (12 laps): DJ Netto, Austin McCarl, Jimmy Trulli, Jake Morgan, Shane Hopkins, Colby Wiesz, Josh Wiesz, Michael Sellers, Kyle Offill, John Clark, Kenny Allen.
TIM KAEDING TRIUMPS AT OCEAN SPEEDWAY POMBO-SARGENT CLASSIC
(6/11/21 - Alex Nieten) Watsonville, CA ... The Kaeding name has been synonymous with success in California for many years, and Tim Kaeding out-dueled his brother, Bud, on Friday night at Ocean Speedway to continue the family’s winning ways by earning his third Pombo-Sargent Classic victory with the NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars.
“Congrats to Bud, he ran a hell of a race. He just got snookered by the old man,” an elated TK joked in victory lane.
Tim’s win was his first with the series since August of 2019, and it made for the fourth different winner in as many NARC-KWS races this year.
Mitchell Faccinto led the field to green and paced the field early on with third row starters Bud Kaeding and Justin Sanders in pursuit. A caution after ten laps had been completed bunched the field back up for what would be a chaotic restart.
Bud used an excellent jump to slide Faccinto into turn one. Faccinto attempted to turn back underneath Bud, but he found Justin Sanders’ car sliding up the track, and the two collided in the middle and came to a stop in turn two.
Their misfortune proved to be the Kaedings’ gain as Bud and Tim inherited the top two spots for the ensuing restart.
What followed was a brotherly battle through lap traffic as the two raced for the Kaeding family’s 17th overall Pombo-Sargent Classic win. Tim seized on a key opportunity when Bud got trapped behind a slower car on lap seventeen and snuck by coming out of fourth corner in his Bates-Hamilton Motorsports Vinyltech/R&B Company No 42. Bud launched a huge slider into turn one the next lap, but Tim countered with a crossover and put a little distance between himself and the 69 car.
“We built a great racecar,” Tim said, crediting his BHR team and machine. “Josh, Bobby, Roger, everybody that’s associated with this forty-two car.”
A few more late race cautions brought the field back together, but with Bud, Shane Golobic and DJ Netto waging war late for the runner-up spot, Tim was able to cruise to a comfortable win in what he knew was one quick machine.
“This thing was bullet-fast,” Tim said. “It was fast all night long,”
Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, DJ Netto and Sean Becker completed the top-5. The remainder of the top ten featured Kurt Nelson, Sean Watts, Colby Copeland, Austin McCarl and Ryan Robinson.
Ryan Robinson earned his first ARP Fast Time of the year by breaking the Ocean Speedway track record with a blistering 10.867.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30 laps) – 1. 42X Tim Kaeding 2. 69 Bud Kaeding 3. 17W Shane Golobic 4. 88N DJ Netto 5. 83V Sean Becker 6. 72W Kurt Nelson 7. 98 Sean Watts 8. 76 Colby Copeland 9. 21 Austin McCarl 10. Ryan Robinson 11. 01 Mitchel Moles 12. 46JR Joel Myers Jr. 13. 98X Bryce Eames 14. 3M Adam Kaeding 15. 88 Kyle Offill 16. 22 Keith Day Jr. 17. 26 Billy Aton 18. 2 J.J. Ringo 19. 78 Mark Barosso 20. 37 Mitchell Faccinto 21. 16A Justin Sanders 22. 41 Dominic Scelzi 23. 09S Geoffrey Strole 24. 34 Ryon Nelson
HOOSIER TIRE LAPS LEADERS: Faccinto 1-10, Bud Kaeding, 11-16, Tim Kaeding 17-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Sean Watts 19th to 7th.
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (24 cars): Ryan Robinson 10.867 seconds (New Track Record)
BROWN & MILLER HEAT RACE #1 (10 laps): Austin McCarl, Justin Sanders, Ryan Robinson, Sean Becker, Mitchel Moles, Joel Myers Jr., Adam Kaeding
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT RACE #2 (10 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, DJ Netto, Bud Kaeding, Dominic Scelzi, JJ Ringo, Keith Day Jr., Sean Watts, Mark Barroso
FLORACING.COM HEAT RACE #3 (10 laps): Shane Golobic, Tim Kaeding, Ryon Nelson, Kurt Nelson, Colby Copeland, Kyle Offill, Geoffrey Strole, Bryce Eames
SUNNY VALLEY "POWERED BY BACON" DASH (6 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, Ryan Robinson, Shane Golobic, Tim Kaeding. Bud Kaeding, Justin Sanders
A PAIR OF PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS AT WATSONVILLE & PLACERVILLE ON TAP FOR NARC-KWS
(6/7/21) Sacramento, CA ... An exciting double-header is up next for the NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars as Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway hosts the 35th annual Pombo-Sargent Classic this Friday June 11th. The following night brings the 30th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race at Placerville Speedway on Saturday June 12th. The two nights marks rounds four and five of the twenty-one scheduled.
Friday pays tribute to west coast racing legends, Al Pombo and Marshall Sargent. Saturday’s show honors Dave Bradway Jr., the former NARC racer who sadly lost his life competing in 1987. Bradway was a standout competitor who routinely parked in the winner’s circle in the early to mid-80s. This season marks the first time the Bradway Jr. Memorial race will be contested at a track other than Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. Saturday will prove to be a lucrative night. The feature will award $5000 to the winner thanks to $1000 contributions from both Sierra Foothills Wine Services and Roth Motorsports. Other generous contributions from the racing community will boost the pay of Carwash Mike Avilla Fast Time, lap money and more.
Both annual showcases of west coast talent are coveted staples of the California racing circuit. Winning either race etches a driver’s name in the history books next to the many greats of the sport who have claimed victory in these prestigious events.
NARC will share the card with IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods and WMR Midgets on Friday at Ocean Speedway. On Saturday in Placerville NARC will be joined by the state’s premier winged 360 series, the Sprint Car Challenge Tour, making for a west coast winged sprint car fan’s ideal evening.
The two bullrings should provide a must-see weekend of racing. Both tracks commonly develop distinct bottom and top grooves with just enough room in a slick middle for some sensational slide jobs.
Dominic Scelzi rolls into the weekend as the points leader and defending Pombo-Sargent Classic winner. His victory in the 2019 PSC marked the second of his series-high five wins during NARC’s last full season of competition. The ten-time NARC feature winner hopes to continue his strong start to the season. Scelzi is the only competitor who has finished in the top-5 in all three events this year.
Recent history points to the most recent series winner, Justin Sanders, as a favorite for a weekend sweep. In his last twelve series starts combined between the two tracks, Sanders boasts a 3.8 average finish. That stretch yielded eleven top-10s and four victories, including the 2018 edition of the Pombo-Sargent Classic. Sanders is also the defending winner of the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. If Sanders can pull off the sweep, he’ll be only the second person to win both events in the same year, the first being Brent Kaeding. The Aromas,CA native is prioritizing preparation ahead of the important weekend.
“It would be really good to get those two wins back to back,” Sanders said of a potential sweep. “I’ve got a pretty good balance for Watsonville and Placerville, but the thing is I don’t get to run 410s a lot at both of those tracks. So, I’ve got to take a little bit of what I’ve done with the 360 and what we’ve learned with the 410 this year already and put them both together and hopefully I can get a good balance and keep qualifying good and staying up front. It would be awesome to win both of those races and win both of them for a second time.”
The Kaeding family has won Pombo-Sargent Classics in four different decades since the event’s inception in 1986, and Bud and Tim will be looking to make it five. A win for Bud would mark his fourth Pombo-Sargent triumph, while Tim hopes to match his brother’s current tally by earning his third. TK has his sights set on a third Bradway Jr. Memorial victory while Bud goes for his second.
Fremont’s Shane Golobic will be another to watch this weekend. The 2016 & 2017 Pombo-Sargent victor has averaged a 3.7 feature finish over his last nine series starts at Ocean Speedway. The pilot of the Matt Wood Racing No. 17 also finished on the podium in two of his last three series starts in Placerville. Golobic even topped the World of Outlaws during their most recent visit to the tricky quarter-mile in September of 2019.
Expect many other potent competitors to be in pursuit of these two cherished trophies. Some other drivers expected to be in attendance for one or both events are defending series champ DJ Netto of Hanford, Auburn's Andy Forsberg, Sean Becker of Roseville, Iowa driver Austin McCarl, Billy Aton of Benicia, Hanford's Mitchell Faccinto; Willie Croft from Colfax, Chico's Kenny Allen, Sean Watts of Clovis, Tracy's Kyle Offill and more.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format for Friday’s Pombo Sargent Classic will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, 10-lap heat races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon trophy dash, and the Fujitsu 30-lap feature.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format for Saturday’s Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial will feature Carwash Mike Avilla Fast Time Qualifying, 10-lap heat races, a 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash, a 12-lap B-Main and the Fujitsu 40-lap feature.
Carwash Mike Avilla Fast Time Qualifying is currently set to pay $1350 to the top qualifier on Saturday courtesy of Kyle Larson Racing, Southern Pacific Farms and Bill & Claire Stammerjohn. Additional Heat Race Winner support comes courtesy of Hoserville CA and Arnolds for Awards. The Hardcharger Award will pay $1700, thanks to the additional support courtesy of Sierra Foothills Wine Services, Southern Pacific Farms and Starr Property Management.
All laps of both the B and A-mains of the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race are sponsored, and a detailed list of those supporters can be found below.
Tickets for the Pombo-Sargent Classic at Ocean Speedway can be purchased at www.eventsprout.com/event/narc-kws-410-sprint-cars.
Promo/Sargent Classic Narc/King of the West | EventSprout
June 11, 2021 - 2601 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076
www.eventsprout.com
Placerville Speedway is located at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, CA. Pit gates open at 2:00 p.m. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. For tickets and other information, go to www.placervillespeedway.com
PLACERVILLE.SPEEDWAY | Home | Dirt Racing - California USA
Placerville Speedway - Placerville CA, USA: Since 1965, High-Banked 1/4 Mile Clay Oval - showcasing dirt track racing March through September.
www.placervillespeedway.com
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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Live Stream PPV: Floracing.comNARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After three events in 21-race series 6/7/21)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 342
DJ Netto, Hanford - 336
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 335
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 331
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 327
Sean Becker, Roseville - 320
Billy Aton, Benicia (R) - 317
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 312
Sean Watts, Clovis - 303
Kenny Allen, Chico - 294
Kyle Offill, Tracy (R) - 293
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 226
Willie Croft, Colfax - 215
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 215
Kyle Hirst, Paradise - 206
Joel Myers Jr, Sebastopol (R) - 206
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 197
Geoffrey Strole, Hanford (R) - 190
Rico Abreu, Rutherford - 114
Kaleb Montgomery, Templeton (R) - 110Past Pombo-Sargent Classic Winners
1986 - Brent Kaeding
1987 - Jimmy Sills
1988 - Brent Kaeding
1989 - Jimmy Sills
1990 - Brent Kaeding
1991 - Brent Kaeding
1992 - Steve Kent
1993 - Chuck MIller
1994 - Steve Kent
1995 - Brent Kaeding
1996 - Tim Green
1997 - Bud Kaeding
1998 - Bud Kaeding
1999 - Brent Kaeding
2000 - Brent Kaeding
2001 - Blake Robertson
2002 - Tommy Tarlton
2003 - Tommy Tarlton
2004 - Tim Kaeding
2005 - Ronnie Day
2006 - Brent Kaeding
2007 - Brent Kaeding
2008 - Brent Kaeding
2009 - Brent Kaeding
2010 - Tim Kaeding
2011 - Tommy Tarlton
2012 - Bud Kaeding
2013 - Tommy Tarlton
2014 - Kyle Hirst
2015 - DJ Netto
2016 - Shane Golobic
2017 - Shane Golobic
2018 - Justin Sanders
2019 - Dominic Scelzi
2020 - No Race - COVID
Upcoming Events:
July 10 - Petaluma Speedway - Salute to Baylands Raceway Park
July 17 - Ocean Speedway - 11th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic
July 23 - Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway - Chris & Brian Faria Memorial
July 24 - Santa Maria Raceway - Winged Madness w/HammerDown! Wheelie Contest
DOMINIC SCELZI SWEEPS THE PETER MURPHY CLASSIC
(5/15/21) Joe Shivak & Jim Allen, Tulare, CA ... A Peter Murphy Classic win has been on Dominic Scelzi’s bucket list for a long time. According to Scelzi it was Murphy who kept him interested in continuing his racing career after suffering a broken back in a sprint car accident. And in a fitting conclusion to a successful race night, Murphy was the first person to greet Scelzi on the front stretch of the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday night after his win in the 30-lap NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car feature.
Scelzi’s red and white No. 41 Wimple Superchargers/Scelzi Enterprises sponsored car picked up the $11,000 top prize in the Seventh Annual race becoming the seventh different winner. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic there was no race held in 2020.
Polesitter Scelzi and Bud Kaeding brought the 24-car field to the green flag and immediately the two veteran drivers waged a back and forth battle which saw the lead change at each end of the track until Geoffrey Strole brought out the caution when he stopped on the apron of the first turn. During this caution, Rookie of the Year contender Kyle Offill pitted and returned to the track after a visit to the work area.
Once restarted, the two top guns traded slide jobs once again as their battle resumed. The race tightened up even more when the red flag appeared for an upside-down Austin McCarl in the second corner on lap19. He was unhurt. When racing resumed Kaeding and Scelzi's battle was even more frantic with the freight train of Shane Golobic, Kyle Hirst and 11th starter Willie Croft in hard pursuit. Scelzi's slide job final stuck for good on the 24th circuit and he threaded his way through traffic the rest of the way to score the emotional victory.
"I got hurt here and I was looking to redeem myself," said Scelzi. "Peter (Murphy) provided the inspiration and my team gave me the car to do the rest. It been a great weekend and I'm glad I could do this in front of full grandstands. Thank you!"
Golobic, aboard the Elk Grove Ford entry, and Croft got past Kaeding in the waning laps to fill out the podium. Croft earned the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger award for his efforts in his Amerikote-sponsored ride. Kaeding was fourth and Hirst rounded out the top five.
The balance of the top ten included Tim Kaeding, Sean Becker, Justin Sanders, DJ Netto and Billy Aton.
Scelzi's was the only driver in the 24-car field to qualify in the 13-second bracket to earn fast time. That earned him $1100 from Kimo's Tropical Car Wash, Norm Martin, and ARP for his work. Overall for the weekend, he won the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 race and Kings of Thunder 410 features on Friday at Hanford, and the Kings of Thunder 360 and NARC King of the West races on Saturday.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30-laps): 41-Dominic Scelzi, 17W - Shane Golobic, 29 - Willie Croft, 69 - Bud Kaeding, 0 - Kyle Hirst, 42X - Tim Kaeding, 83V - Sean Becker, 16A - Justin Sanders, 88N - DJ Netto, 26 - Billy Aton, 27 - Mitchell Faccinto, 21P - Robbie Price, 93 - Kalib Henry, 83 - Kasey Kahne, 14 - Corey Day, 18T - Tanner Holmes, 2 - JJ Ringo, 98 - Sean Watts, 01 - Mitchel Moles, 36 - Craig Stidham, 88 - Kyle Offill, 21 - Austin McCarl, 76 - Kenny Allen, 09S - Geoffrey Strole.
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Kaeding 1-23, Scelzi 24-30.
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Willie Croft 11th to 3rd.
KIMO'S TROPICAL CAR WASH/ARP FAST QUALIFIER : Dominic Scelzi - 13.963 seconds
BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (8 laps): Scelzi, McCarl, Netto, T. Kaeding, Stidham, Price, Henry.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA SECOND HEAT (8 laps): B. Kaeding, Golobic, Watts, Sanders, Aton, Moles, Offill, Day.
FLORACING.COM THIRD HEAT (8 laps): Becker, Kahne, Hirst, Faccinto, Allen, Croft, Ringo, Strole.
SUNNYVALLEY BACON/NORM MARTIN "AUSSIE POLE SHUFFLE": Becker beat Kahne; Becker beat Hirst; B. Kaeding beat Becker; B. Kaeding beat Golobic, Scelzi beat B. Kaeding.
KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CARS HEADED TO PETALUMA ON SATURDAY
(5/17/21), Sacramento, CA ... As the month of May nears its end, the NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars take on Petaluma Speedway this Saturday, May 22nd for the Salute to First Responders, the third round of a 20-race schedule. The event salutes our brave first responders and their selfless efforts to help ensure our safety. All first responders are encouraged to attend as they will be admitted for the discounted price of $10 with a valid ID at the front gate.
The state’s premier 410 winged sprint car series will be joined by modifieds, dwarf cars and mini stocks for an action-packed night of racing. Located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, the tight and tacky Petaluma Speedway guarantees fast, wheel-to-wheel action, especially when NARC’s roaring 900-horsepower sprint cars take the green flag on the clay oval. Saturday marks the first of three scheduled series appearances in Petaluma, the others being July 10th and August 29th.
After his clean sweep of the Peter Murphy Classic weekend that included an $11,000 Fujitsu Feature win at Tulare, Dominic Scelzi is now atop the point standings. The victory marked his tenth career series triumph and first at the Thunderbowl. Having proven he can run up front at any kind of racetrack over his career, he’ll be in the hunt for the checkered flag this Saturday with hopes to extend his point lead in search of his first title.
Who might be some other drivers to watch this weekend?
Expect Campbell native Bud Kaeding to be in contention. Over his last eight series starts in Petaluma, the 2017 NARC champion has an average finish of 2.9. The stretch includes two victories and top-5s in all but one event, a sixth place run in June of 2019 being the outlier.
Current runner-up in points, Shane Golobic, has two wins in his last three series appearances at the 3/8ths mile. The driver out of Fremont won in August of 2016 and July of 2018 and will be hoping to make it three wins out of four starts this weekend. Golobic also scored an impressive SCCT win on the clay last month.
It’s also worth noting that Chase Johnson won in the series most recent appearance at Petaluma in July of 2019. The versatile driver also scored victories with the SCCT and USAC/CRA in 2019 at the same facility. However, after engine troubles at Tulare plagued his Johnson Racing team, his status for Saturday is up in the air.
Expect many other competitors to be in attendance Saturday. Justin Sanders captured his first ever Petaluma victory last year driving the Larry Antaya Motorsports No. 16A that he’ll be piloting this weekend. San Jose's Tim Kaeding, Willie Croft of Colfax, Sean Becker of Roseville, Hanford's D.J. Netto and more will be occupying the pits this weekend.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature ARP Fast Time Qualifying, 10-lap heat races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon trophy dash, and the Fujitsu General 30-lap feature.
The pits will open at 12:00 P.M. with the front gates opening at 4:00 P.M. Hot laps are set to begin at 5:00 P.M. with racing at 6:00 P.M. Adult GA tickets are $27 while seniors will be admitted for $24. The price tag for kids ages 6-11 is $20, and kids 5 and under are free! And again, first responders will be admitted for only $10 by showing a valid ID at the front gate.
Tickets are available on myracepass.com, and fans are encouraged to purchase theirs now as there will be a 40% capacity limit on the crowd due to local COVID-19 regulations. Get yours while you can! The online tickets do not include the first responders discount option as those must be purchased on race day at the front gate.
The Salute to First Responders can also be viewed live on FloRacing.com along with the rest of the NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars schedule.
Petaluma Speedway is located on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds at 100 Fairgrounds Dr. Petaluma, CA 94952. For more information call (707) 763-7223.
Race fans and teams are highly encouraged to practice safe COVID-19 protocol.
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After one event in 20-race series - 5/16/21)Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 231
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 226
DJ Netto, Hanford - 224
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 221
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 218
Willie Croft, Colfax - 21
Sean Becker, Roseville - 215
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 215
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 213
Billy Aton, Benicia - 209
Kyle Hirst, Paradise - 206
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 205
Sean Watts, Clovis - 199
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 197
Kyle Offill, Tracy - 191
Kenny Allen, Chico - 191
Rico Abreu, Rutherford - 40
Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol - 32
Robbie Price - 104
Blake Carrick - 104Upcoming Events:
June 11 - Ocean Speedway (Watsonville) - 33rd Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic
June 12 - Placerville Speedway - 30th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial with SCCT
$11,000 TO WIN PETER MURPHY CLASSIC AT TULARE NEXT UP FOR NARC
(5/10/21) Sacramento, CA ... Following a nearly two-month break since the season opener, the NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Cars travel to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway this Saturday May 15th for the Seventh Annual Peter Murphy Classic.
The event is Peter Murphy’s way of giving back to those who supported him following his career-ending accident in 2013. The former competitor out of Australia was a versatile and potent driver in his time, frequently visiting victory lanes along the west coast. He now organizes this event that, in addition to offering a generous purse, helps raise money for the NARC Benevolent Fund, the not-for-profit that helped during his recovery process.
Nearby Keller Auto Speedway, promoted by none other than Peter Murphy, kicks off the two-night show on Friday May 14th, headlined by the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 Sprint Cars. Joining the SCCT will be the Kings of Thunder 410 sprint cars. On Saturday in Tulare NARC shares the card with the Kings of Thunder 360 sprints, Western RaceSaver 305 Sprints and the Legends of Kearney Bowl.
Thunderbowl Raceway should offer some intense, white-knuckle action this Saturday as the talent of California’s premier 410-winged sprint car series invades the Tulare County Fairgrounds. The drivers will be aiming to nab one of the calendar’s biggest checks as the Peter Murphy Classic awards $11,000 to the victor.
Defending NARC champion DJ Netto holds an early season points lead after dominating Stockton’s Salute to LeRoy Van Conett in March to earn his fourth career series victory. On top of winning races, the Hanford native continues to be NARC’s model of consistency, only missing the top-10 once in his last fourteen feature events. Hoping to begin his title defense by going two-for-two, he’ll be seeking his first KWS win at the Thunderbowl since May of 2015.
There will be many other hungry competitors joining Netto in the hunt for the $11,000 prize, and a handful stand out as potential favorites.
Tim Kaeding is a proven force at the Thunderbowl. The driver out of San Jose has earned four of his twenty-one career World of Outlaws wins in Tulare. A victory for TK this Saturday would make it 69 career NARC triumphs.
Winner of the 2018 Peter Murphy Classic, Shane Golobic, will certainly be in the mix. The two-time Trophy Cup champ has an outstanding average finish of 2.8 in his last four NARC feature starts at the Thunderbowl. Look for the Matt Wood Racing number 17 to be toward the front on Saturday.
Paradise native Kyle Hirst is a key name to watch. The four time titlist has five series victories at the Thunderbowl since 2016, more than any other competitor.
Former NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne will be competing on both Friday and Saturday. The three time World of Outlaws champion team owner is reuniting with Roth Motorsports to pilot their iconic number 83 machine.
A driver hoping the Peter Murphy Classic will bring his first NARC win is Iowa’s Austin McCarl. The 2018 Knoxville track champion continues to get comfortable aboard the Tarlton Motorsports number 21 after opting to follow the King of the West tour this season. He impressed in Stockton, smoothly rolling the bottom to a top-five finish after starting mid-pack.
The few names listed above plus many others should be filling the pits this Saturday. Bud Kaeding will be aiming to become the first driver to claim two Peter Murphy Classic wins. Other expected entrants include Dominic Scelzi, Justin Sanders, Willie Croft, Mitchell Faccinto, Sean Becker and more. The event has been one of the most well attended for NARC over the past few seasons, averaging 32 sprint cars since 2017.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format will feature qualifying, 10-lap heat races, a unique Sunnyvalley Bacon Aussie poll shuffle, a B-main if necessary and the lucrative $11,000 to win Fujitsu 30-lap feature.
The fastest qualifier will receive $600 courtesy of Kimo’s Tropical Car Wash and ARP.
Gates are slated to open at 4 P.M. Saturday with qualifying kicking off at 6 P.M. The price tag for a pit pass is $40. Grandstand tickets for adults are $30 while the bleachers cost $25. Seniors can access the grandstands for $28 and the bleachers for $23. For kids ages 6-12, grandstand admission is a mere $15 and the bleachers are only $13. Kids 5 and under are free.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the Peter Murphy Classic live on FloRacing along with the entire NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Cars schedule.
The Thunderbowl Raceway is located on the Tulare County Fairgrounds at 620 S K St, Tulare, CA 93274. For more information call (559) 688-0909.
Race fans and teams are highly encouraged to practice safe COVID-19 protocol.
Peter Murphy 410 Classic Winners
2014: Jonathan Allard
2015: Aaron Reutzel
2016: Kyle Hirst
2017: Bud Kaeding
2018: Shane Golobic
2019: Rico Abreu
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Facebook (history page): www.facebook.com/NARCsprintcars
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
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YouTube: NARC410
Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series
Championship Points Standings (After one event in 20-race series - 5/9/21)DJ Netto, Hanford - 42
Rico Abreu, Rutherford - 40
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno - 38
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove - 37
Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA - 36
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford - 35
Bud Kaeding, Campbell - 34
Tim Kaeding, San Jose - 33
Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol - 32
Sean Becker, Roseville - 31
Justin Sanders, Aromas - 30
Blake Carrick, Lincoln - 29
Billy Aton, Benicia - 28
Willie Croft, Colfax - 27
Sean Watts, Clovis - 26
Mitchel Moles, Raisin City - 25
Tim Estenson, Fargo, ND - 24
Kenny Allen, Chico - 23
Mark Barroso, Merced - 22
Kyle Offill, Tracy - 21Upcoming Events:
May 22 - Petaluma Speedway - Salute to First Responders
June 11 - Ocean Speedway (Watsonville) - 33rd Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic
June 12 - Placerville Speedway - 30th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial with SCCT
NETTO DOMINATES NARC KING OF THE WEST OPENER AT STOCKTON
(3/20/21) Jim Allen, Stockton, CA ... Defending NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series champion DJ Netto took no prisoners on his way to a dominating green-to-checkered victory at Saturday's Salute to LeRoy Van Conett 30-lap headliner at the Stockton Dirt Track.
Netto, piloting the potent Netto Ag/Penny Newman Grain KPC, started on the pole after winning the Sunnyvalley Bacon dash and quickly jumped to a straightaway lead over Dominic Scelzi, Mitchell Faccinto and Rico Abreu. Netto encountered lap traffic five laps into the event but had absolutely no problems motoring in and out of slower cars. By lap 12, he had already built up a four-lapped car interference, only to lose the advantage when the first of three caution flags appeared a circuit later for a stopped car.
On the restart, Netto quickly motored to the lead as Scelzi fought handling issues caused by a broken front wing and a pressing Abreu. Abreu managed to move into the runner-up spot after a lap 21 restart but gained little ground on the leader until the final caution flag appeared with only three laps remaining. However, at that point, Netto was in the zone and cruised to a .846 second victory.
Abreu, who set the standard for the 23-car field in ARP qualifying, scored second aboard the Works Limited/Lucas Oil #57 sprint car. Scelzi held on to a solid third in the Scelzi Enterprises Maxim. Seventh started Shane Golobic was fourth, chased by Iowa driver Austin McCarl.
Netto credited his fourth career series to victory to his family and Drew Warner. It ended a NARC King of the West winless streak dating back to June 24th, 2017 at Calistoga Speedway.
"Drew gave me a car that I could run anywhere I wanted," said Netto. "Lapped traffic wasn't an issue and I did my job to get us here."
The remainder of the top ten included Faccinto, Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Geoff Ensign, and Sean Becker. Justin Sanders captured the Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger Award with a 19th to 11th run.
Heat races were picked off by Golobic, Faccinto, and Becker.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30-laps): 88N-DJ Netto (Netto 88N), 57-Rico Abreu, 41-Dominic Scelzi, 17W-Shane Golobic, 21-Austin McCarl, 37-Mitchell Faccinto, 69-Bud Kaeding, 42X-Tim Kaeding, 01-Geoff Ensign, 83V-Sean Becker, 16A-Justin Sanders, 38B-Blake Carrick, 26-Billy Aton, 56-Willie Croft, 98-Sean Watts, 01X-Mitchell Moles, 14T-Tim Estenson, 76-Kenny Allen, 78-Mark Barroso, 88-Kyle Offill, 83-Kyle Hirst, 83T-Tanner Carrick, 46JR-Joel Myers Jr.
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: DJ Netto 1-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Justin Sanders: 19th to 11th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER : Rico Abreu - 14.364 seconds (23-cars)
BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (8 laps): Shane Golobic, DJ Netto, Dominic Scelzi, Rico Abreu, Billy Aton, Tanner Carrick, Willie Croft, Kenny Allen.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA SECOND HEAT (8 laps): Mitchell Faccinto, Tim Kaeding, Kyle Hirst, Austin McCarl, Bud Kaeding, Justin Sanders, Joe Myer Jr.
FLORACING.COM THIRD HEAT (8 laps): Sean Becker, Geoff Ensign, Sean Watts, Blake Carrick, Kyle Offill, Tim Estenson, Mark Barroso, Mitchell Moles.
SUNNYVALLEY BACON DASH (6 laps): DJ Netto, Dominic Scelzi, Geoff Ensign, Mitchell Faccinto, Rico Abreu, Sean Becker.
THE STOCKTON DIRT TRACK TO HOST 2021 NARC KING OF THE WEST OPENER
March 15, 2021
Jim Allen(March 15, 2021 – Jim Allen) Sacramento, CA … The high powered NARC King of the West Fujitsu General Series will kick off its highly-anticipated 2021 sprint car campaign on Saturday, March 20th, with the Salute to LeRoy Van Conett at the Stockton Dirt Track. The event is in honor of legendary eight-time Northern Auto Racing Club champion LeRoy Van Conett.
This marks the first of 20 scheduled championship racing events at 10 different dirt track venues this season. The traveling series and its loyal teams are attempting to return to some form of normalcy after getting sidetracked by the pandemic last year. Only four of the planned 19-events were run season and the Northern Auto Racing Club did not crown a champion for the first time in 61-years.
The sanctioning body is realistic on what is possible this season with the pandemic still looming strong in the background. A few setbacks and cancellations are expected, but a majority of the schedule is should run as scheduled.
“We are looking to get back to the business of dirt track racing and put on some entertaining shows for the fans,” said 13-time series champion and Series Board Member Brent Kaeding of Campbell. “It’s been a rough year for motorsports in California and everybody is anxious to get back to doing what they love the most. We should have a great show at Stockton on Saturday.”
Admission is $30 per person. Seniors 65+ and Military personnel will be admitted for $25. Pit passes are $40. All NARC King of the West races are are available on PPV at Floracing.com.
Hanford driver DJ Netto will be defending his 2019 series title this season and the competition is expected to be fierce. Several teams have already declared their intentions to make a championship run including Dominic Scelzi of Fresno; three-time series titlist Tim Kaeding of San Jose; 2018 champ Bud Kaeding of Campbell; Aromas driver Justin Sanders; Sean Becker of Roseville, the 2005 series champion; Roseville’s Willie Croft; Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto; and Austin McCarl of Iowa. Collectively, this group has 148 NARC King of the West feature event victories to their credit.
Others expected to compete include Rico Abreu of Rutherford; Clovis driver Sean Watts; Kyle Offill of Tracy; Chico’s Kenny Allen and many more.
The NARC King of the West Hoosier Tire format will include qualifying, three 8-lap heat races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon trophy dash, and the $3000 to win Fujitsu feature event headliner.
Pit gates will open at noon. Qualifying is set to get underway at 5:00 p.m., followed by racing at 6:00 p.m. Also on the racing card is Nor Cal Dwarf Cars.
The Stockton Dirt Track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, located at 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For more information, call 916-370-9417.
Race fans and teams are required to wear mask and maintain social distance as much as possible to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
ED NOTE: Commemorative LeRoy Van Conett event shirts will be sold near victory lane between 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the NARC Benevolent Fund.
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu General Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, FloRacing.com, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
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Live Stream PPV: Floracing.com
NARC RELEASES 2021 KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CAR SCHEDULE
December 11, 2020
Jim Allen(12/11/20) Sacramento, CA … The Northern Auto Racing Club has rolled out its 2021 King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series schedule, featuring 20 racing events at 10 different dirt tracks throughout California.
The series, which will feature Fujitsu General as the title sponsor, is backloaded to the second half of the year in hopes of escaping the COVID-19 pandemic, which has crippled grass roots racing operations in the Golden State. Only a handful racing events are scheduled during the first six months of the year.
The newly-configured Stockton Dirt Track is slated to hold the “Salute to LeRoy Van Conett” season opener on March 20th, The track will also host the Championship Night “Tribute to Gary Patterson” series finale on November 6th.
The centerpiece of the King of the West campaign promises to be the “Fastest Five Days in Motorsports.” The five-race blitz kicks off at Placerville Speedway on Wednesday, August 25th and continues on to Merced Speedway, Ocean Speedway (Watsonville), the Stockton Dirt Track and Petaluma Speedway on consecutive nights.
“We are anxious to get back to business,” states series GM Jim Allen. “We only had four events in 2020 and everybody is hoping for a return to normalcy in the very near future. We feel we have a solid racing schedule on tap which will prompt race fans to get re-engaged with dirt track racing as we recover from this pandemic.”
The month of May will feature the lucrative $11,000 to win Peter Murphy Classic at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on May 15th. A week later, the traveling series will invade Petaluma for the first of three races at the “Salute to First Responders” which will pay tribute to all of the local heroes that have battled wildfires in the wine country.
June will feature the first of a trio of “two-race” weekends with a short track doubleheader at a pair of action-packed quarter mile ovals. Ocean Speedway will host the 33rd Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic on June 11th, followed by the 30th Dave Bradway Jr. Race at Placerville Speedway on the 12th. This marks a venue change for the Bradway event, which had a solid foundation at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico throughout its existence. Chico is not on the 2021 NARC-KWS schedule.
Ocean Speedway will be showcasing the ever popular Howard Kaeding Classic on July 17th.
Santa Maria Raceway features a pair of spots on the new calendar. The first “Winged-Madness” event will take place on July 24th and will include a fan favorite Wheelie Contest. The September 25th winged madness edition will also dish up a pit crew competition.
Calistoga Speedway will finally be back in action after being sidelined by fairgrounds lease negotiations and the coronavirus for what will be two-years. The last event held at the facility took place in September 2019. On September 4-5th, the historic half-mile oval is scheduled to host the Louie Vermeil Classic, featuring both the winged King of the West 410’s and the USAC-CRA non-wing machines. There is a possibility that the track will try to schedule additional events later in the year.
October promises to be a lucrative month, headlined by the $30,000+ Morrie Williams Legends Tribute, which features a pair of twin-20 main events. The first main will be lined up straight-up by qualifying times and the second completely inverted based on the finish of the first. The month will also include the eye-opening $21,000 to win Tom Tarlton Classic on October 29th, which is expected to draw some of the best driving talent from around the country. The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park will host its only event on the schedule on Saturday, October 30th.
Hanford, CA driver DJ Netto is the defending 2019 NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series champion. A champion was not crowned in 2020 due to the overall lack of events.
Schedules can be downloaded and additional information can be found at NARC410.com. For more information, call 714-397-7417.
A separate announcement on series sponsors and the championship point fund will be released in the weeks to come.
2021 NARC KING OF THE WEST FUJITSU GENERAL RACING SERIES SCHEDULE
March 20 – The Stockton Dirt Track – Salute to LeRoy Van Conett
May 15 – Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway – Peter Murphy Classic
May 22 – Petaluma Speedway – Salute To First Responders
June 11 – Ocean Speedway – 33rd Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic
June 12 – Placerville Speedway w/SCCT – 30th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Race
July 10 – Petaluma Speedway – Salute to Baylands Raceway Park
July 17 – Ocean Speedway – 11th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic
July 24 – Santa Maria Raceway – Winged Madness w/Wheelie Contest“Fastest Five Days in Motorsports”
August 25 – Placerville Speedway – Gold Country Showdown
August 26 – Merced Speedway – Thursday Night Thunder
August 27 – Ocean Speedway
August 28 – The Stockton Dirt Track – Champions Classic
August 29 – Petaluma SpeedwaySeptember 4 – Calistoga Speedway w/USAC-CRA – Louie Vermeil Classic
September 5 – Calistoga Speedway w/USAC-CRA – Louie Vermeil Classic
September 25 – Santa Maria Raceway – Winged Madness w/Pit Crew Competition
October 9 – Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Morrie Williams Legends Race
October 29 – Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – $21,000 Tom Tarlton Classic
October 30 – The Dirt Track at Kern Country Raceway Park (Bakersfield)
November 6 – The Stockton Dirt Track w/SCCT – 38th Annual Tribute to Gary PattersonNovember 7 – Championship Celebration – Brookside Country Club (Stockton)
ROD TINER PRESENTED BILLY ALBINI MECHANIC OF THE YEAR AWARD
November 10, 2020
Jim Allen(11/10/20), Stockton, CA … The Northern Auto Racing Club presented the coveted Billy Albini Mechanic of the Year Award to veteran crew chief, chassis builder, and car owner Rodney Tiner at the Stockton Dirt Track Saturday.
The one-of-a-kind trophy, which features a gold plated wrench and a mural of the late Billy Albini, was presented by Mike Andreetta and Chris “Cajun” Good at the King of the West season finale.
“We would normally present this at our year-end banquet,” said Andreetta, from the Stockton Dirt Track victory circle, “but COVID-19 forced up to alter our plans. And, we didn’t want to let a whole year go by to recognize another deserving crew chief in our sport.”
“Rod is one of the best in the business at knowing how to get the most out of a sprint car and a driver,” continued Andreetta. “He’s been successful at it for more than three decades and we are proud to present this award to him tonight.”
In addition to taking home the trophy for a year, Tiner was also presented with a $1000 cash prize and a Mechanic of the Year ring.
Mark Bristow was the first winner of the award in 2019.
Billy Albini was a longtime crew chief for 13-time NARC and King of the West champion Brent Kaeding and is recognized as the winningest “wrench” in NARC history. He lost his life to cancer in 2019.
SANDERS DOMINATES KING OF THE WEST TRIBUTE TO GARY PATTERSON RACE IN STOCKTON
(11/7/20) Jim Allen, Stockton, CA ... Justin Sanders put forward a dominating green-to-checkered victory performance Saturday night at the Stockton Dirt Track to claim the Tribute to Gary Patterson race in NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series action.
Sanders, driving Larry Antaya's potent Alkaline 88 Water/Fire Protection Management sprint car, started the 25-lap affair on the outside of the front row and had to survive several caution periods on his way to his sixth series victory.
On the first attempt to get the show underway, polesitter Chase Johnson flipped wildly over the third turn embankment to bring out the red flag. Luckily, despite the carnage, he walked away unhurt. Two other caution flags in the first couple of laps slowed the action. However, on the ensuing restart, Sanders jumped out front and spent the first couple of laps fending off the repeated challenges of Rico Abreu. However, it didn't take long before Sanders motored out to a healthy 10-car length advantage.
Blake Carrick brought out the second race stoppage of the race on lap seven when the 16-year-old jumped a rut in turn one and vaulted over the second corner. Carrick emerged from his damaged car unhurt.
Once the race restarted, Sanders essentially took no prisoners, mastered slower traffic and cruised to a $3000 payday.
"I felt I was all over the place at times," said Sanders in victory lane, referring to the tough track surface. "But I knew Rico was back there so I wasn't taking and chances. I got a little worried in lap traffic a couple of times, but this car was awesome all night long. A big thank you to Larry Antaya and the team for giving me a great race car."
Abreu, who started the night as quick qualifier, scored second aboard his Abreu Vineyards sprint car and eighth starter DJ Netto secured the final podium spot in his Netto Ag KPC. Bud Kaeding earned the Swift Metal Finishing Hardcharger award finishing fourth after starting 12th aboard the Al's Roofing Supply/Alviso Rock Maxim.
Austin McCarl, who survived a red flag heat race adventure of his own driving the Roth Motorsports KPC, Justyn Cox, 14th starter Matt Streeter, and Mark Barroso were the only other cars still running at the checkered.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (25-laps): Justin Sanders, Rico Abreu, DJ Netto, Bud Kaeding, Austin McCarl, Justyn Cox, Matt Streeter, Mark Barroso, Shane Golobic, Blake Carrick, JJ Ringo, Craig Stidham, Stephen Ingraham, Kyle Offill, Buddy Kofoid, Jason Bright, Chase Johnson.
LAP LEADERS: Sanders 1-25
ARP FAST QUALIFIER : Rico Abreu 12.579 seconds
BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (8 laps): Justin Sanders, DJ Netto, Rico Abreu, Shane Golobic, JJ Ringo, Stephen Ingraham
FK ROD ENDS SECOND HEAT (8 laps): Craig Stidham, Blake Carrick, Justyn Cox, Mark Barroso, Austin McCarl, Jason Bright
FLORACING.COM THIRD HEAT (8 laps): Chase Johnson, Buddy Kofoid, Bud Kaeding, Matt Streeter, Sean Becker, Kyle Offill
SUNNYVALLEY BACON DASH (6 laps): Chase Johnson, Justin Sanders, Craig Stidham, Rico Abreu, Blake Carrick, Buddy Kofoid
KING OF THE WEST SPRINT CARS HEADED TO STOCKTON FOR TRIBUTE TO GP
November 2, 2020
Jim Allen(11/3/20) Jim Allen, Sacramento, CA … The NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series will close out its 2020 racing campaign with the 37 Annual “Tribute to Gary Patterson” at the Stockton Dirt Track on Saturday Night (November 7th).
This marks the fourth race of the originally scheduled 19-race campaign that was totally disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Up for grabs will be $20,000 in prize money.
For track promoter Tony Noceti, it marks the first time that he has been able to turn on the lights at the Fairgrounds in Stockton since the spring. “I’m anxious to get some racing events going at the dirt track. I receive phone calls every day asking when we will return to a regular schedule with spectators in the grandstands. We’ve been trying all year to make it happen, but the State mandated guidelines have made it nearly impossible. This is our first step to get back to normalcy.”
The event will be live streamed at Floracing.com. The weekend of events will also include a show on Sunday afternoon featuring Dirt Modifieds, Sport Mods, Tri-State Pro Stocks, Bombers & B-4’s.
Feature event winners so far this season with the NARC King of the West 410 series include Indiana’s Spencer Bayston; Kyle Hirst of Paradise, and Dominic Scelzi of Fresno. With a limited racing schedule, many high profile teams are still looking to make a victory lane appearance, especially at the Tribute to Gary Patterson; one of the premier events on the calendar. The winners list of this event reads like a Hall of Fame roster, featuring many of California’s best sprint car drivers.
Among those looking to permanently etch their name into the history books include defending NARC-KWS champion DJ Netto of Hanford and 2018 series champ Bud Kaeding of Campbell. Others expected to compete include Aromas driver Justin Sanders; Michael “Buddy” Kofoid of Penngrove; Elk Grove’s Shane Golobic; Sean Watts from Atwater; Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto; Craig Stidham from Fresno; Roseville drivers Sean Becker, Willie Croft and Colby Copeland; Tracy’s Kyle Offill and many more.
Pit gates open at noon for competitors. The racing program also includes the Stockton Dirt Track 360 sprint cars. The drivers meeting is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. with qualifying set to get underway at 4:00 p.m. Racing will start at 5:00 p.m. The NARC-King of the West format will include three eight-lap heat races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash and the 25-lap Fujitsu-sponsored headliner. The winner will walk away with a $3000 check.
A “Cold Pass” pit gate will open at 3:00 p.m., allowing sponsors/team supporters/family members to enter the pit area until 5:00 p.m. At that point, they will be directed to the main grandstand seating. A “Cold Pass” is $30.
RV camping is available for a two-night minimum at $35 per night. Call 916-370-9417 to pay by credit card, otherwise cash is accepted upon arrival. Spaces will be first come, first served.
The Stockton Dirt Track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, located at 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, FloRacing.com, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
PAST WINNERS OF THE TRIBUTE TO GARY PATTERSON
1984- Chuck Gurney
1985- Brent Kaeding
1986- Tim Green
1987- Jimmy Sills
1988- Jeff Swindell
1989- Jason McMillen
1990- Jimmy Sills
1991- Tim Green
1992- Tim Green
1993- Randy Tiner
1994- Brent Kaeding
1995- Paul McMahan
1996- Steve Kent
1997- Randy Tiner
1998- Randy Hannagan
1999- Brent Kaeding
2000- Steve Kent
2001- Brent Kaeding
2002- Jason Meyers
2003- Dennis Moore Jr.
2004- Sparky Howard
2005- Steve Kent
2006- Steve Kent
2007- Jonathan Allard
2008- Tim Kaeding
2009- Kyle Hirst
2010- Zach Zimmerly
2011- Peter Murphy
2012- Rico Abreu
2013- (410) Rico Abreu, (360) Tim Kaeding
2014- (410) Shane Golobic, (360) Rico Abreu
2015- (410) Jonathan Allard, (360) Andy Forsberg
2016- (410) Tim Kaeding, (360) Jason Meyers
2017- (410) Cory Eliason, (360) Dominic Scelzi
2018- (410) Rico Abreu, (360) Shane Golobic
2019- (410) Shane Golobic, (360) Rico Abreu
2020 – TBA
(10/10/20) Jim Allen, Hanford, CA ... Kyle Hirst and Dominic Scelzi each drove matching Williams Motorsports team cars to exciting victories in the twin-20 NARC King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Series main events in the Morrie Williams Legends Tribute races at Keller Auto Speedway. Tim Kaeding, on the basis of a second and fourth place finish, was crowned the overall champ of the inaugural event in the Bates/Hamilton Maxim.
Hirst started on the outside of the front row of the first feature and spent the first seven laps tailgating Iowa visitor Austin McCarl. After mounting a several challenges, Hirst finally managed to motor his way into the lead going down the backstretch a lap later. However, he had to survive three caution flag restarts and a barrage of attacks by Blake Carrick, 10th starter Sean Becker and Mitchell Faccinto.
Carrick actually took the lead away twice, but was unable to make it stick at the flag stand as the four-time King of the West champion battled back. A caution flag on the final lap set the stage for a green-white-checkered shootout. With the leader running the low groove, Mitchell Faccinto rode the cushion around Hirst to steal away the on the 19th circuit. The two swapped lines on the final lap and Hirst ended up beating Faccinto to the checkered by a few feet while also making contact with the front straightaway concrete. Becker filled out the podium finishers, chased by Tim Kaeding, and Carrick. Hirst's 30th career King of the West victory was worth $3000. Becker was named the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger.
The second feature was lined up totally inverted based on the finish of the first race. Polesitter Ryan Robinson set the standard at the green, leading a freight train that included JJ Ringo, Stephen Ingraham and Craig Stidham. Robinson grew his advantage to a healthy 12-car lengths as the field sliced and diced for position behind him. The caution appeared on lap eight which changed the entire dynamic of the race. Eleventh starter Dominic Scelzi had the fastest car on the track and negotiated his way into third behind Tanner Carrick and the leader for the restart. Scelzi would go on to pick off Carrick four laps later and claimed a drag race down the front to take the top spot on lap 13. At that point, Scelzi put his ride in cruise control and claimed his ninth series win of his career.
Kaeding, who began the second 20-lapper in the 16th spot, methodically worked his way through the field to finish second, ahead of Robinson, Becker, McCarl, and Tanner Carrick. Kaeding's effort earned the $400 hardcharger award and ultimately the overall points title for the night, worth another $1000.
McCarl set the standard aboard the Roth Motorsports sprinter to set quick time at 14.573 run around Peter Murphy's 3/8 mile dirt track.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT #1 (20-laps): Kyle Hirst, Mitchell Faccinto, Sean Becker, Tim Kaeding, Blake Carrick, DJ Netto, Bud Kaeding, Austin McCarl, Dominic Scelzi, Andy Forsberg, Kurt Nelson, Jake Hagopian, Tanner Carrick, Sean Watts, Kyle Offill, Craig Stidham, JJ Ringo, Adam Kaeding, Stephen Ingraham, Ryan Robinson, AJ Bender, Burt Foland Jr.
LAP LEADERS: McCarl 1-7, Hirst 8-18, Faccinto 19, Hirst 20.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT #2 (20-laps): Dominic Scelzi, Tim Kaeding, Ryan Robinson, Sean Becker, Austin McCarl, Tanner Carrick, DJ Netto, Mitchell Faccinto, Bud Kaeding, Blake Carrick, Andy Forsberg, Stephen Ingraham, Jake Hagopian, Kurt Nelson, JJ Ringo, Kyle Offill, Adam Kaeding, Craig Stidham, Kyle Hirst, AJ Bender, Sean Watts, Burt Foland Jr.
LAP LEADERS: Robinson 1-15, Scelzi 16-20
NARC King of the West Fujitsu Racing Series
(10/6/20) Sacramento, CA ... The high powered 410 sprint cars of the NARC King of the West Fujitsu Racing Series will be back in action on Saturday, October 10th when it invades Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford for the inaugural Morrie Williams Legends Tribute race. The event honors the late great legendary car owner who claimed four series championships with the sanctioning body.
This marks only the third scheduled event of the NARC season. As with previous event, the racing facility will continue to follow state-mandated COVID-19 protocols, which means the main grandstands will be closed to spectators. However, fans are allowed in the pit area as long as they wear a mask and practice proper social distancing. The event will be available on PPV at Floracing.com.
The event will be very unique in that it will feature two 20-lap main events in honor of Morrie Williams, a car owner who loved to watch cars charge from the back of the field. The first event (see format below) will be lined up straight up by qualifying times for cars that transferred through their heat races. The starting line-up for the second 20-lapper will line up completely inverted based on the finish of the first race (with the exception of any lapped cars.) That means the top finishers will be charging from the back.
There will be a 10-minute intermission between the two events when crews can make adjustments to their car race cars - except change tires. Any car that changes a tire would have to go to the very back of the field (behind lapped cars).
More than $27,000 in prize money is up for grabs including $2800 for each winner. The overall points champion will pocket an additional $1000.
"It's an personal honor to present this race for the great Morrie Williams," said Peter Murphy, the promoter of the track, and former longtime driver with the man. "He was the perfect mate to drive for and earned legend status in my book. It will be a great night of racing."
Williams passed away last year after battling cancer, but his legacy continues to live on today.
Some of the other notable drivers who have driven for Williams over the years include Jonathan Allard; Canadian Jimmy Carr; Greg DeCaires; Dennis Moore Jr., Bud Kaeding (2018 championship); and four-time series titlist Kyle Hirst. Both Kaeding and Hirst will be competing in the event.
Allard, who won three championships with Williams (2006, 2008 & 2012), feels that this race is a perfect addition to the NARC racing schedule. "Morrie was an amazing car owner and I feel so fortunate to have been a part of an amazing team. The championships came due to Morrie's ability to believe in all of us. He was always able to get the best out of his team."
"He was different that most car owners," continued Allard. "He was patient and allowed (crew chief) Ashley Smith and I to work in whatever direction we needed with the belief we would achieve many race wins and our championships. I have many amazing memories of Morrie because he taught me so much. The one thing about Morrie that I think about every day is how he treated people. Everyone that has met him has walked away a friend."
Other registered entries include both Tim Kaeding of San Jose; Rutherford's Rico Abreu; Fresno's Dominic Scelzi and Craig Stidham; Hanford's Mitchell Faccinto and 2019 NARC/KWS champ DJ Netto; Auburn's Andy Forsberg; Sean Watts from Clovis; Roseville's Sean Becker and Jodie Robinson; Iowa's Austin McCarl; Blake and Tanner Carrick from Lincoln; Morgan Hills JJ Ringo; AJ Bender from San Diego and many more!
There will also be a full racing program on Friday night (October 9th) with a Kings of Thunder 410 sprint car show.The NARC King of the West portion of the program will consist of individual qualifying, three 8-lap heat races, a four-lap trophy dash, and a pair of 20-lap main events.
Also on the racing card are the King of Thunder 360's and the Legends of Kearney Bowl.
Pit gates open at 1:00 p.m. The drivers meeting starts at 4:00 p.m., with the first session of hot laps taking place around 4:30 p.m.
Keller Auto Speedway is located at the Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford. The address is 801 S 10th Ave, Hanford, CA 93230. The track can be reached at 559-584-7223.
For more information, call Jim Allen at 714-397-7417.
ED NOTE: The main grandstands are closed to the general public and no tickets will be sold to the event. Race fans are allowed to enter the pit area. All race attendees and participants are required to sign a COVID-19 release form, wear face masks and practice social distancing in the pit area.
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Bullet Impressions, FK Rod Ends, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, FloRacing/Speedshift TV, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Winters Performance Products.
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Live Stream PPV: Floracing.comKyle Hirst celebrates in victory lane with the legend Howard Kaeding. Photo Credit: Joe Shivak
(July 18, 2020) Watsonville, CA, By Jim Allen ... Four-time NARC King of the West Fujitsu Racing Series champion Kyle Hirst held off Justin Sanders in a fierce sprint car battle to score a stout $5000 payday in Saturday's 10th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway.
Hirst, piloting the famed Williams Motorsports number 0 Maxim for only the second time, become the only three-time winner of the race named in honor of a West Coast racing legend. The 88-year old Kaeding was in victory lane to greet the winner of this year’s edition which was staged in front of an empty grandstand.
Hirst, who started on the pole of the 30-lapper after claiming the Sunnyvalley Bacon dash, was the class of the field for the first 10-laps despite three caution flag restarts. From that point on, it was a no holds barred open wheel scrimmage through lapped traffic with Sanders and Friday night winner DJ Netto. Sanders and Netto made contact with the defending NARC-KWS champion bringing out the caution flag at the halfway point.
Once action resumed on the racy quarter mile oval, Hirst and Sanders turned up the heat and battled inches apart lap after lap. Sanders, steering the North County Plastering/Alkaline 88 sprinter, actually took the lead briefly on three occasions negotiating through slower cars, but Hirst answered each challenge with moves of his own. Hirst held on to win by .626 seconds. Sanders pocketed $3,000 for his runner-up performance.
"He made me work for it," admitted a winded Hirst in victory lane. "I like racing with Justin and it got really tight a couple of times in lapped traffic. I have to thank this team for giving me a great car."
Indiana's Spencer Bayston, who started 15th in the 24-car grid in the Tarlton Motorsports KPC, methodically sliced his way through the field and picked off Mitchell Faccinto on the white flag lap to earn the final podium position. Bayston also claimed the Swift Metal Finishing hardcharger award.
Faccinto's efforts came aboard the Western Metal Company KPC. Two-time series champ Tim Kaeding rounded out the top five aboard the Bates-Hamilton R&B Company Maxim.
Blake Carrick, Shane Golobic, Andy Forsberg, Ryan Bernal and Sean Becker were the next five to cross the checkered.
DJ Netto was the class of the 32-car field in qualifying, clocking a 12.041 second run.
Heat race wins were captured by Willie Croft, Chase Johnson, Shane Golobic and Bud Kaeding. Joey Ancona won the 12-lap semi.
FUJITSU FEATURE EVENT (30-laps): Kyle Hirst, Justin Sanders, Spencer Bayston, Mitchell Faccinto, Tim Kaeding, Blake Carrick, Shane Golobic, Andy Forsberg, Ryan Bernal, Sean Becker, Chase Johnson, Colby Copeland, Sean Watts, Bud Kaeding, Joey Ancona, Trent Canales, Kurt Nelson, Craig Stidham, Jodie Robinson, Nick Ringo, Adam Kaeding, DJ Netto, James Ringo, Willie Croft.
LAP LEADERS: Hirst 1-30
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (32 cars): DJ Netto - 12.041 seconds
BROWN & MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS FIRST HEAT (10 laps): Willie Croft, Sean Becker, Blake Carrick, DJ Netto, Kurt Nelson, Jodie Robinson, Nick Ringo, AJ Bender.
FK ROD ENDS SECOND HEAT (10 laps): Chase Johnson, Justin Sanders, Ryan Bernal, Andy Forsberg, Sean Watts, Joey Ancona, Jason Chisum.
SPEEDSHIFT TV/MVP THIRD HEAT (10 laps): Shane Golobic, Kyle Hirst, Colby Copeland, Mitchell Faccinto, Adam Kaeding, Jeremy Chisum, Craig Stidham, Jayson Bright.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FOURTH HEAT (10 laps): Bud Kaeding, Spencer Bayston, Tim Kaeding, Trent Canales, James Ringo, Geoffrey Strole, Richard Brace Jr., Jake Morgan.
SUNNYVALLEY BACON POLE SHUFFLE (6 laps): Kyle Hirst, Justin Sanders, Tim Kaeding, DJ Netto, Chase Johnson, Andy Forsberg
KAEDING PERFORMANCE LAST CHANCE SEMI (12-laps): Joey Ancona, Craig Stidham, Jodie Robinson, Nick Ringo, Jason Chisum, AJ Bender, Geoffrey Strole, Richard Brace Jr., Jeremy Chisum, Jake Morgan, Jayson Bright
NARC King of the West tackle Howard Kaeding Classic on Saturday
(July 14, 2020) Jim Allen, Sacramento, CA ... The NARC King of the West Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series will be in action this Saturday, July 18th at the 10th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. The lucrative event will be showcased in front of an empty grandstand due to strict state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. It was made possible due to a tremendous outpouring of sponsorship support in honor of the living driving legend.
Saturday's nights show will feature more than $32,000 in prize money, including a $5000 payday for the winner of the 30-lap headliner. Each starter in the 24-car main will earn a minimum of $700. This is the second night of a two-day HK Classic program at Ocean Speedway, featuring a regular racing program on Friday night (July 17th.)
This marks only the second race of the season for the NARC King of the West series, utilizing a schedule that has endured 13-cancellations so far due to the pandemic. The Northern Auto Racing Club announced three-weeks ago that the traveling series will not crown a champion after 60-consecutive years of doing so. The Howard Kaeding Classic could also be the 2020 "season finale" assuming California continues its lock down on spectator sports.
This race was made possible through donations of businesses and supporters directly tied to the racing community. 2018 series champion Bud Kaeding of Campbell has spearheaded the fund-raising efforts in honor of his legendary grandfather, a winner of more than 500 career main events.
"To be honest, I was surprised by the response we received from supporters of the event," said Kaeding. "I knew going into this project that it is was going to be tough to pull it off. In years past, I just worked on contributing to the existing payout, but this year I knew that raising the full purse would be a tall feat. The support by the teams and sponsors has been incredible."
The only drawback of the 10th Annual event is not providing race fans with the ability to attend in person. The event will only be available on FloRacing/Speedshift TV PPV. Racing teams will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing in the pit area.
"Not having race fans attend really takes away the atmosphere for me as a racer," explains Kaeding, a 21-time winner on tour, including last year's race. "Not seeing fans after the races and not seeing a smiling kid after an autograph is something I hope ends soon."
But the motivation to continue the event without an annual gap comes directly from the source - the 88-year old Howard Kaeding himself.
"He (Howard) is always on me about making flyers and getting the word out to the community in February and March," said Bud. "He usually puts ads in the local papers and goes to local restaurants and auto parts stores to hang flyers. So, I guess you could say he looks forward to it, which drives me to succeed also."
"As a driver, team owner, and promoter I can’t thank all of the supporters of this years event enough. I know this has been an off year for everyone and I am beyond thankful for everyone that has contributed. Without their help this event wouldn’t be possible."
All the top 410 sprint car drivers in California will be competing on the quarter-mile dirt oval. Among them will be defending champion DJ Netto; Indiana's Spencer Bayston, the winner of the June 20th show at Hanford; two-time series champ Tim Kaeding of San Jose; Elk Grove's Shane Golobic; Willie Croft, Colby Copeland, Jodie Robinson and Sean Becker of Roseville; Clovis driver Sean Watts; Kyle Offill of Tracy; Hanford's Mitchell Faccinto; San Diego's AJ Bender; Chico's Kenny Allen; and many more!
The NARC King of the West Fujitsu Racing Series will consist of qualifying, four 10-lap heat races, the 6-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Dash, a 12-lap Last Chance semi, and the 30-lap main event. Also on the racing card are IMCA Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.
Ocean Speedway is located at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds in Watsonville, CA. Qualifying gets underway at 6:00 p.m.
RACING TEAMS: A signed COVID-19 release form must be signed at the pit gate. Strict COVID-19 safety protocol must followed at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, wearing a mask, social distancing, and proper sanitation (washing hands.)
E-mail info@NARC410.com
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