CHICO, CA (9-6-05) - The 52nd Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions officially opens Wednesday night, September 7 with the annual Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational for the Hoosier Tires Civil War Series. Although this event may not compare in contrast to the following three days of racing that take place at the famed quarter-mile, the special weeknight event is by far the Crown Jewel of the weather shortened 12-race campaign in 2005.

The Civil War Sprint Car Series competes on five different race tracks in California for a total of 12-events between March and October. Under the title sponsorship of Hoosier Racing Tires, the series is recognized as the premier traveling race series for 360 cubic inch powered sprint cars with more that $180,000 in overall winnings and contingency awards up for grabs in the campaign for the 2005 series title.

This special Wednesday night event will feature only the top 32-drivers in the series point The Wednesday night event opens four big days of racing here in Chico as the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars come to town the following three days to complete the fastest four days in California.

Entering the 2005Pacific Sprint Cup, Roger Crockett of Eugene, Oregon will headline the roster as the returning champion of this prestigious race. Only two drivers have scored multiple wins in the annual Pacific Sprint Cup, both Crockett and his longtime California Rival Andy Forsberg of Auburn, each own a pair of Pacific Sprint Cup titles in their impressive racing careers.

While Crockett enters the event once again driving the Paul Silva owned #57 that carried him to victory last year, championship points are not of concern for the second generation Rio Linda native that won the Civil War title back in 1998 before relocated to the Pacific Northwest to master multiple crowns in the Northern Sprint Tour. Crockett enters the Pacific Sprint Cup with two feature wins in the 2005 Civil War Series and 16th in the point standings. Forsberg, however, will not be in competition this season as he ranks 40th in the standings , eight positions out of the eligibility zone.

With Crockett looking for a third win in the cup, the chase for the 2005 Civil War Championship is sure to heat up during this year’s Gold Cup opener as just 33-points separate the top five drivers in the series chase for the title. Following the eighth round of competition at Placerville Speedway in July, a new leader has risen to the top ranks. That leader is veteran Elk Grove sprint car driver Greg DeCaires, who is no stranger to top finishes at Silver Dollar Speedway.

A 1990 Silver Dollar Speedway champion, DeCaires finished second to Crockett in the 2004 Pacific Sprint Cup. Wednesday night the former Northern Auto Racing Club ace will pilot the John Taylor owned #35 once again in an effort to capture the crown jewel of the series in which he now leads by four points over Colby Weisz of Colfax.

Weisz is the winningest driver in the current Civil War campaign with three feature victories, one of them at Silver Dollar Speedway over the Memorial Day weekend. Weisz will be chasing DeCaires in the event while trying to hold off Roseville driver Chad Riolo. Riolo led the Civil War standings for much of the season this year until a roll over at Placerville set him back to third in the standings, 16-points out of the lead.

Known as the youngest gun in the Civil War campaign this year, Robert Ballou of Rocklin ranks fourth in the point standings. The one time feature winner this season sits just 33-points behind Riolo and looks to be the top candidate for the series Rookie of the Year title. Just 16-years old, Ballou built his young racing career at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in the winter kart series two years ago.

Although the 2005 season has had its ups and downs for his team, defending champion David Robinson Jr. of Foresthill will return to Silver Dollar Speedway sitting fifth in the point standings, tied with Ballou. Robinson is a one time winner this year in Civil War action. Rounding out the top ten in the standings and sure to be on hand are top drivers Mark Hall of Nevada City, Jeff Halleib of Auburn, Chuck Gurney Jr. of Livermore, Mark Tabor Jr. of Reno and Billy Wallace of Grass Valley.

Doug Machado of Elk Grove is currently the last driver eligible for the Pacific Sprint Cup. Machado ranks 32nd in the point standings. Machado has started 7 Civil War events and has one heat race win in the series this season.

The 2005 Civil War Pacific Sprint Cup will begin at 6:30 on Wednesday, September 7 at 6:30 with qualifying. The sprint cars will be joined this year by the Midget Lites of the Bay Cities Racing Association. All seats for the Wednesday night event are general admission. Adult tickets will be $15, Juniors $10 and Children $4. For additional information log on to www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.