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Latest News and Information
Pombo/Sargent Classic on deck this Saturday night
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA - June 24, 2009 - For many years sprint car fans have enjoyed paying honor to racing legends Al Pombo & Marshall Sargent as the weather turns sweltering hot in the Central Valley and the tradition will continue this Saturday night with the temperature expected to be near triple digits for the running of the annual Pombo/Sargent Classic at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway.
The exciting night of racing will feature the Golden State Challenge King of California 410 Sprint Car Series, the Bandit Wingless 360 Sprint Car Series and the Western States Modifieds.
The Pombo/Sargent Classic has been going on for over 20 years and it honors California racing icons Al Pombo and Marshall Sargent. It originally started at nearby Kings Speedway in Hanford, before moving to the Thunderbowl in 2006. An interesting facet about the Pombo/Sargent Classic is the fact that the event was created while both legends were still alive. Marshall Sargent has since passed, but Al Pombo is still going strong and is seen at the majority of the Thunderbowl Raceway events at his booth behind the main grandstands.
Pombo began his career in the 1940's and is credited with more than 500 main event victories, including multiple wins in the Gold Cup at Capital Speedway, the same event which is now held at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. He also won five San Jose Speedway titles, seven NASCAR super-modified championships, nine titles at Kearney Bowl and six at Clovis Speedway.
Early in Sargent's career he won a pair of San Jose titles, which included two wins in the Johnny Key Memorial, and also won the Australian championship in 1964. A pair of crashes unfortunately cut his career short and he enjoyed retirement until his passing in 1990. His legend and memory is kept alive each year as part the Pombo/Sargent Classic and on Saturday night we'll once again pay homage to a pair of legends who helped set the foundation for the sport.
The Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series comes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic with one of the tightest point battles in recent memory as just 10 slim digits separate the top three drivers in the standings, with those being two-time King of California Jonathan Allard of Chico, Los Angeles, CA's Tyler Walker and 13-time King of California Brent Kaeding of Campbell.
With nine events remaining in the season Allard goes into the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway holding an eight point lead at the top of the standings as he searches to become just the second driver to have at least three King of California titles. The defending GSC champ had his second win of the year in his sights during the most recent series event held in Cottage Grove, Oregon on Monday June 15, but a flat right rear tire ended his bid with just a few laps left in the feature. Allard drove his Williams Motorsports, Sharp Insurance No. 0 to a third place finish in Tulare on May 16 and will look to extend his advantage in the standings on Saturday.
The most recent winner in Golden State Challenge Series competition at the Thunderbowl Raceway was Walker, who comes into the 1/3 mile clay oval this Saturday looking to close the eight point gap between himself and Allard. The 29 year-old racer is coming off a tough ending to the Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway last week where he looked to have his first ever win at the $25,000 event wrapped up, until motor issues ended his night with just five laps left in the feature. Walker has driven his SC Motorsports, NMI Industrial Contractors No. 24 to a series high five victories this season and is just three away from tying the single season GSC win mark.
Sitting just 10 points back of Allard for the lead and two behind Walker for second is the three-time and defending Pombo/Sargent Classic champ Kaeding, who had a great overall outing this past week, which included claiming victory at the Cottage Grove Speedway on June 15 for his second GSC triumph of the season. "BK" was also the hard-charger on Saturday night at the Dirt Cup with an inspired drive from 22nd to fourth aboard his Al's Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance No. 69. Kaeding has captured the Pombo/Sargent Classic on 10 occasions in his career, including every year since it has moved to the Thunderbowl Raceway.
Other Golden State Challenge King of California Sprint Car entrants expected on Saturday will include Scotts Valley's Evan Suggs, Elk Grove's Kyle Larson, Grass Valley's Jason Statler, Fresno's Tommy Tarlton & Craig Stidham, Placerville's Andy Gregg, Loomis' Kyle Hirst, Clovis' Peter Murphy, Sacramento's Willie Croft, Ripon's Brandon Carey, Fremont's Brent Bjork, Caruther's Garrett Ishii, Selma's Charlie Louden and more.
The Wingless Bandit Sprint's will make their final appearance of the season at the Thunderbowl on Saturday and will be led into the event by Clovis, CA's Peter Murphy, who was the victor during the previous series event at the 1/3 mile clay oval in May. With the USAC/CRA Series off again this week there will be the possibility of adding in a couple extra drivers to field, much like has been seen at the past two Bandit races in Tulare.
Not only did Murphy win the Bandit event at the Thunderbowl on May 16, the veteran driver also looked to have a last lap pass in his arsenal during the USAC/CRA event on May 30, only to have a mechanical problem end his hopes while looking to take the lead off turn two. The likable driver also picked up a second place finish at the helm of his Tarlton & Son No. 21 with the Bandit's in Tulare on April 11 and is coming off an eighth place finish at Skagit Speedway's Dirt Cup last week.
Other possible Bandit Wingless 360 competitors taking to the track at the Pombo/Sargent Classic on Saturday will include Visalia's "Hollywood" Danny Faria Jr., Richard Vanderweerd, Jace Vanderweerd, Rusty Carlile, Albert Pombo, Davey Pombo and others.
The Western States Modifieds are geared up for the final event of the season at the Thunderbowl Raceway and will feature a three-way dogfight for the title between Bobby Hogge IV, Paul Stone and Brad Pounds. Hogge IV has finished on the podium in all three races so far this season at the 1/3 mile clay oval and is coming off a strong victory during the previous event where he came from the back after pitting due to what he thought was a flat tire midway through the feature.
Stone has missed out on the title each of the past two years by a slim margin and comes into the Pombo/Sargent Classic just four digits behind Hogge for the lead. Stone hasn't had the flashiest season at the Thunderbowl, but consistency has kept him near the top of the standings and within striking distance of his first WSM championship. Lurking back in third is Pounds, who claimed victory in Tulare on May 16 and will be looking for a strong night on Saturday to overtake the top two.
The front gate at the Pombo/Sargent Classic will open up at 5 pm this Saturday with reserved grandstand tickets costing only $18 and general admission bleacher tickets just $15. The Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare.
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Former winners of the Pombo/Sargent Classic:
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
Tickets on sale for Trophy Cup & Pacific Coast Nationals
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA - May 19, 2009 - Tickets for October's 16th annual Trophy Cup and November's Pacific Coast Nationals featuring the USAC National Sprints at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway can be purchased now by contacting the track office at (559) 688-0909.
The Trophy Cup last season saw some of the most exciting racing of the year and was one of the most talked about events on the west coast. In 2009 it's expected to be bigger than ever as it returns for the second straight season of being a three-night event and will be held at the Thunderbowl on October 22, 23 and 24. Grass Valley native Brad Sweet claimed victory at the Trophy Cup last season while driving for car owner Rod Tiner.
The much anticipated Pacific Coast Nationals will be held on November 14 & 15 and will be an action packed weekend of racing with the USAC National & CRA Sprint Car Series taking to the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway. Don't miss your chance to see National wingless 410 stars Dave Darland, Jesee Hockett, Levi Jones, Jerry Coons Jr., Tracy Hines, Cole Whitt, Brad Sweet, Damion Gardner, Robert Ballou, Kevin Swindell and many more as they take to the always exciting 1/3 mile clay oval.
Tickets for the Trophy Cup will be:
Thursday- Reserved Grandstand $25 for adults & $13 for kids. General Admission $20 for adults & $10 for kids.
Friday- Reserved Grandstand $30 adults & $15 for kids. General admission for adults $25 & kids $13.
Saturday- Reserved Grandstand will be $35 for adults & $18 for kids. General admission will be $30 for adults & $15 for kids.
If you buy all three nights on or before October 1 you can get a Grandstand discount of $5 off. Also if you buy all three nights you will receive free bbq meal on Friday and spaghetti feed meal tickets on Saturday. Both meals will start at around noon and end around 3pm with live country music. Pit passes will be $40 on Thursday & $45 on Friday & Saturday or a three day pit pass will be $120.
Pacific Coast Nationals:
Tickets for the Pacific Coast Nationals will cost the same both nights with Reserved Grandstand seats costing $35 and General Admission Bleacher tickets being $30. Children under 12 will be half price in the Bleacher's. Racing will start at 7pm on Saturday November 14 and at 4pm on Sunday November 15.
USAC/CRA set for upcoming Thunderbowl date on May 30:
The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway will receive a warm-up to the Pacific Coast Nationals on Saturday night May 30 when the USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series invades the Tulare County Fairgrounds facility. Expected to be on hand will be current point leader Mike Spencer of Temecula, as well as "Dynamite" David Cardey of Perris, Ventura's Cory Kruseman, Yorba Linda's Blake Miller, "Showtime" Danny Sheridan of Santa Maria and others.
The Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California
2009 Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway schedule details
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – January 22, 2009'Another exciting year of racing is set to be seen at the Thunderbowl Raceway as the 2009 racing schedule has been released for the 'special events' track located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds in Tulare, California.
Kicking off the season at the 1/3 mile clay oval will be a double-header weekend of competition on March 20 and 21 featuring the best winged sprint car drivers in the country when the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series invades the Thunderbowl Raceway. Tickets can still be purchased for the event by calling (559) 688-0909. Last October's World of Outlaws visit was claimed by fan favorite Jac Haudenschild of Wooster, Ohio.
The Golden State Challenge King of California 410 Sprint Car Series will compete in a total of four nights of racing at the Thunderbowl this year. The traveling series will be in action on April 11, May 2, May 16 and June 27 and will feature top winged sprint car drivers such as defending champ Jonathan Allard; Tyler Walker; Brent, Tim and Bud Kaeding; Jason Statler; Tommy Tarlton and more.
An exciting addition to the schedule this year will be Bandit 360 Wingless Sprint Car Series that will be in action on three different occasions at the Thunderbowl with the dates being April 11, May 16 and June 27. Pairing the Bandit's with the Golden State Challenge Series should make these events can't miss night's of competition that are sure to provide non-stop entertainment on the track.
Returning to the Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday May 30 will be the always exciting Wingless 410's of the USAC/CRA Series. Last season's scheduled event at the 1/3 mile clay oval was cancelled due to rain, but the anticipation was very high, just as it's expected to be this year. The inaugural USAC/CRA event at the Thunderbowl in 2007 was captured by Ventura's Cory Kruseman and he'll look to make it back-to-back when the series visits in May.
Back for a third straight year will be the Western States Modifieds Association, who always seem to put on a great show at the Thunderbowl. The WSM will be on hand during all GSC shows as well as the USAC/CRA event on May 30. Last years WSM title was grabbed by Brian Cass who claimed the championship by an extremely tight margin.
Finishing off the schedule will be the always exciting Trophy Cup which will be held at the Thunderbowl Raceway for the fifth straight season on October 22, 23 and 24. The 360 winged sprint car event always features some of the most action packed racing seen all year as the unique format forces drivers to pass cars each time they're on the track. This past season's Trophy Cup was won by USAC National Sprint Car & Midget driver Brad Sweet.
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2009 Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway schedule
March 20th - Friday
March 21st - Saturday
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
April 11th - Saturday
Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Cars
Bandits 360 Non Wing Sprint Cars
Western States Modifieds
May 2nd - Saturday
Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Cars
Western States Modifieds
May 16th - Saturday
Brian & Chris Faria Memorial
Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Cars
Bandits 360 Non Wing Sprint Cars
Western States Modifieds
May 30- Saturday
USAC/CRA Wingless 410 Series
Western States Modifieds
June 27th - Saturday
Pombo / Sargent Classic
Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Cars
Bandits 360 Non Wing Sprint Cars
Western States Modifieds
October 22nd, 23rd, 24th
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
16th Annual Trophy Cup
Benefiting the Bay Area
Make A Wish Foundation
November 14th &15th, 2009
Saturday & Sunday
USAC National & CRA
410 Sprint Cars
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