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California Driver's Look To Get Back To Gold Cup Victory Lane

CHICO, CA (8-30-16) - With the Gold Cup Race of Champions just a week away, the West Coast race teams are preparing to do battle with the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car regulars once again. Last year the Outlaws were victorious, with Fargo, North Dakota driver Donny Schatz picking up his 2nd career Gold Cup Saturday night win. The previous five years though it was California born drivers picking up the Gold Cup Wins.

The West Coast has produced some incredible talent over the past few years. Now a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Winner, Elk Grove's Kyle Larson won back to back Gold Cups in 2011 and 2012. Clovis, CA driver Jason Meyers won this race in 2010 and 2013. 2014 though was the ultimate breakthrough for local drivers as we saw Chico, CA born driver Jonathan Allard finally break through to win the Gold Cup after coming so close for so many years. While Allard will not be with us during this year's Gold Cup there is still plenty of California Flavor with a shot at taking home the win.

The driver that may have the best shot at knocking the Outlaws off the top spot this year is Roseville, CA driver Sean Becker. Becker is fresh off his 5th straight Silver Dollar Speedway Track Championship and 6th overall at the Speedway. Sean has finished 3rd during the Saturday night portion of the Gold Cup twice in the last 4 years (2012, 2014). Sean won his first and only World of Outlaw Main Event in 2012 during the Friday night portion of the Gold Cup. With three wins at the Silver Dollar Speedway already this year piloting the Menne Motorsports #75, Becker has as good a shot as ever to pick up his first Gold Cup triumph this year.

Paradise, CA driver Kyle Hirst is having one of the best year's of his career. Kyle is currently leading the King of the West Sprint Car Points Standings and has won three of the biggest races at the Silver Dollar Speedway already this year (Bradway Memorial, Tarter Memorial, and Wolf Memorial). Kyle will be behind the wheel of the Roth Motorsports/Tarlton Racing #21x sprint car. Kyle's best finish on Saturday night of the Gold Cup came in 2014 when he finished in the 4th position.

Another driver looking to fill some big shoes is DJ Netto. Netto recently has taken over the helm of the Clyde and Marion Lamar owned #3c sprint car. The Tri-C team picked up the Gold Cup triumph in 2014 with Jonathan Allard and look to return to victory lane with their up and coming new driver. Netto formerly has driven his family owned Netto-Ag #88n sprint car. Last year he finished a career best 3rd with the World of Outlaws during the Friday Night portion of the Gold Cup. He will surely be up on the wheel once again this year as he attempts to get the famed #3c back to Gold Cup glory.

Princeton's Mason Moore is fresh off his first career Placerville Speedway Track Championship and a third place finish in the Points Standings at the Silver Dollar Speedway. He is having a career year behind the wheel and could be a threat to have a good run at this years race driving the Garth Moore owned #22 sprint car.

Some of the young up and coming talent includes Citrus Heights driver Kalib Henry. Henry who is just 16 years of age is finishing up his first year in 410 sprint car racing. He recently won the David Tarter Rookie of the Year Award at Silver Dollar Speedway. Michael Ing has come so close to picking up his first sprint car win on two occasions this year. He will be in action during Wednesday nights Civil War portion of the Gold Cup as well as Friday and Saturday with the World of Outlaws. Chase Majdic has recently taken over the driving duties of the Chuck Wolf Sand & Gravel #19 car and has been lightning fast the last few times out on the track.

With all the drivers named above among many more we are sure to see a strong field of Californian's to go toe to toe with "The Outlaws" this year. The World of Outlaw portion of the Gold Cup begins Friday night and will conclude with the Finale on Saturday night. For more information on the race please visit our event website at www.goldcup.silverdollarspeedway.com.

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