2008 Season Schedule Results Pacific Sprints Driver Roster Driver Standings Owner Standings Pro Stocks Driver Roster Driver Standings Owner Standings Pure Stocks Driver Roster Driver Standings Owner Standings Wingless Sprints Driver Roster Driver Standings Owner Standings Seasons: |'07|'06|'05|'04| |'03|'02|'01|'00| |'99| Registration Rules 360 Sprints Pro Stocks Pure Stocks Wingless Sprints Points System History Track Records Former Champions Cars Location Personnel Silver Dollar Speedway Placerville Speedway California Sprint Car Civil War Series Golden State Challenge - King of California Series GOLD CUP Race of Champions HELP MENU Site Map Contact Us Search the Site Sponsor Index

Wiesz and Taylor continue Placerville sprint division domination into round 11 Saturday
Pure Stock's Stevens looks to hold off determined lady racer Clauson for title hopes
by Bill Sullivan

PLACERVILLE, CA (7-16-08) - Since the day he went from driver to team owner, John Taylor has been known as one of the most successful car owners in Northern California sprint car racing with a Civil War title and two straight Placerville Speedway championship on his resume. This year, factor in Colby Wiesz of Colfax into the mix as Taylor's hired wheelman and the result is one of most the strongest teams in area sprint car racing.

For Taylor and Wiesz, the key to success is four simple things; attention to detail, and patience and respect for the competition. Its these three ingredients that have led Taylor to one of his strongest championship campaigns at Placerville Speedway and placed Wiesz in position to win his first title at Placerville, adding to his multiple titles at Marysville early in his career.

'I can't say enough about John Taylor and this whole team," said Wiesz. "No matter where we show up they have the car perfect for me, said Wiesz. "When I show up at the track there is never any doubt that the car is ready to go and ready to win and the rest is up to me as a driver. We're having a great season so far and I hope we continue to run as strong as we have."

When Wiesz uses the term "strong" he isn't kidding. In 2008 he and his JTM team have dominated the top position in the point standings at Placerville and enter this Saturday night with a 53-point lead. In 10 starts they have garnered 3 wins, 9 to fives and 9 top tens. The team only finished out of the top five on one given night this year and that was simply do to the misfortune of being collected in two accidents and forced to the pit area by the infamous "two yellow flag" rule.

This Saturday, Wiesz will headline the 11th championship point race at Placerville Speedway and will look for his fourth win of the year here. Placerville's Scott Russell sits in second place and will eye closing in on Wiesz as the season inches into its final weeks. Placerville driver Jimmy Trulli is fourth in the standings, just 102 points behind the leader despite having his share of incidents and set backs early in the year.

The local representation of the division continues with Placerville's own James Sweeney ranking fourth in the standings, 115 points away from the lead. Sweeney is tied with Andy Forsberg of Auburn who sits in fifth, despite being absent for two events this season . Justin Johnson of Shingle Springs is sixth over Scott Kinney of Citrus Heights and injured Andy Gregg of Placerville.

The Pure Stock division will join the sprint cars this Saturday for their 12th event in the Hoosier Racing Tires-Arnold's for Awards-Coors Light championship racing season. In this division Brian Stevens of Pollock Pines continues to lead the point standings as he has all season long. However, Stevens is beginning to feel the pressure of Placerville's Danielle Clauson in recent weeks.

While Clauson's driving skills have shown great improvement over the past two seasons, this year she is amidst the best year of her racing career. Add in the recent assistance of former track champion Bob Treat in the pit area and Clauson has transformed to a championship contender as the season edges into its final weeks.

Clauson current trails Stevens by 41-points. In one night of racing a driver can earn as many as 45 points so a simple night of luck, good or bad in the direction of Stevens or Clauson could drastically change the scenario and stage Clauson to become the first ever female track champion at Placerville.

Rick Grunert of Woodland is currently trailing Clauson by 16-points. A veteran champion of the division, Grunert leads his son, Scott Grunert in the standings who sits just 7-points back. Keith Fournier of Placerville rounds out the top five while Jared Vilt of Cameron Park sits in sixth place seeking the Rookie of the Year honor.

In the Pro Stock division, Dan Brown Jr. of Nevada City is well on his way to his first championship title. Brown as won 10 events in 11 starts at Placerville and leads the division by 68 points over Placerville's Forryst Carnett. Dennis Armstrong, the veteran driver from El Dorado, sits third in the standings, 72-points out of the lead while Ray Trimble of Auburn sits in fourth place over Placerville's James Boss.

The three track regulars will be joined on Saturday by the Wingless Sprint Cars of the Joe Hunt Magnetos, John Padjen Motorsports championship series. In this division, Keith Bloom leads the series point standings with a 46-point lead over Taylor Simas of Chico. Mason and Cody Myers of Browns Valley sit third and fourth in the standings while "Love Shack" Jimmy Pettit of Chico rounds out the top five over lady driver Reyna Krueger.