---

Chico Race History Continues

CHICO, CA (8-18-08) - Fifty-six years of American auto racing history will continue at Silver Dollar Speedway next month with the 56th running of the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Four straight days of racing will be conducted on the 1/4 mile clay oval located at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Racing will get underway with the California Sprint Car Civil War series and Wingless Invitational on Wednesday September 9. The World of Outlaw winged Sprint cars will hit the Speedway Thursday through Saturday September 10-12.

Contenders from the World of Outlaw Tour, the Golden State Challenge Series, and the regular Silver Dollar Speedway series will join the action. The $50,000 offered by Track operator Alan Handy is twice the former winners share of $25,000 offered prior to 2006. In all, over $200,000 will be paid out over the four days of racing.

The Gold Cup began its' long span as California's premiere short track event in 1951 at Sacramento's Hughes Stadium. The race moved to new quarters on the Sacramento riverbanks at West Capital Raceway in 1956. The Gold Cup expanded to a three-day show in 1975 and went to four days in 1990. Silver Dollar Speedway has been the home for "Gold Cup" since 1980.

The Wednesday Civil War program, and Wingless Invitational has been a season long competition among local drivers to be among the eligible drivers for the Wednesday night Gold Cup kick off. The statewide Civil War drivers must be in the top 32 of 100 series drivers after competition at many raceways since March. The Wingless cars are a sprint car without a wing.

The Outlaws will be led by former Gold Cup champions Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota, and three time champion Jac Haudenschild of Wooster, Ohio. Joining competition will be former Silver Dollar Speedway and Golden State Challenge Champion Jonathan Allard of Chico. Nearly one hundred drivers are expected for the three-day program.

Complete race programs will be held each night. The field will be split between Thursday and Friday nights. Timed qualifying, heat races, and main events will be held each night. Accumulated points during the qualifying days will position cars in Saturday's Gold Cup Race of Champions.

Wednesday night tickets are general admission. All seats are reserved for the remainder of the days. Tickets are now on sale. Information is available at www.handyracingpromotions.com or at 916-969-7484.

Back to News