Placerville opener brings regional Dwarf Car Clash with Civil War

Placerville opener will be a big night for area Dwarf Car competition
 
Silver-Gold Series brings nearly 40 cars to EDCO and the Flyin' Roofer out of retirement
 
by Bill Sullivan, Handy Racing Promotions Media Relations







HRP Photo by Chad Fletcher

 
PLACERVILLE, CA (3-16-10) - Saturday night will bring nearly one thousand or more eager race fans to the grandstands at Placerville Speedway for the much anticipated 2010 Red Hawk Casino season opener at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. This event is presented in part by Hoosier Racing Tires, Coors Light, Pepsi Cola and Riebes Auto Parts and will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable openers in recent history. 
Not only will Calfornia's best drivers be in competition in the winged warriors known as the Civil War Sprint Car Series, record number of colorful coupes will be on hand. The top Dwarf car drivers from California will go head to head with the best drivers of the Nevada Region in the second annual Silver vs. Gold Cup series.
The Nor-Cal Dwarf Car Association is one of the most popular traveling venues that visit Placerville Speedway annually. Last year the popular group brought the Silver-Gold Cup event to Placerville for the first time and the result was nearly 40 thrilling dwarf cars in a wild night of action packed competition.
The Silver-Gold Cup Series is a championship within a championship for both the NCDA and the Nevada based DART group. The combined campaign consists of four races within the regular tour for the clubs at three different tracks and it all starts at Placerville this Saturday night.
Last year, the dangerously daring Pat Wegar of Grass Valley became the Silver-Gold Champion. Wegar will return to defend his series win this year and will be joined in the royalty ranks by Western States Dwarf Car Champion Ryan Winter and he begins defense of his overall championship title.
The two well known champions will be joined on the track Saturday night by a returning favorite in the Dwarf Car division as well; man who started it all when it comes to the growth of this division in California, Flyin' Frank Munroe of Tracy is coming out of retirement and will return to driver's seat for the first time in several years at Placerville Saturday night.
"This is a very exciting night for all of us," said Kevin Bender of the Nor-Cal Dwarf Car Association. "With the Godfather of Dwarf Car Racing coming out of retirement it should be cool for those that root for us 40-something drivers and the fact the 2010 WSDCA Champion is right here from Norcal is a pretty big deal. We have an exciting year ahead with 15 scheduled races overall and our first National event in Pahrump, Nevada next month."
Last year, Winter outran some 100 of the best drivers from Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming to clinch the coveted WSDCA championship. As he leads the division back to the track this Saturday in Placerville he will be joined by some competitive company in this popular traveling tour.
Among the competition Saturday night will be champions from the last four years of competition including Brett Barstow, Michael Grenert and Munroe, who was best known as the "Flying Roofer" to his counter parts and many fans prior to his temporary retirement.
Nearly 40 drivers are expected here Saturday and the California side of the competition will be well represented. The high flying action of "Dangerous" Daniel Wegar will be returning the chase his titlist brother Pat down for a run at the 2010 championship. The brother acts of Brian Quilty, Austin Quilty will be returning along with Kevin "Hollywood" Bender and Bryan Bender. Neil "Primetime" Stinson, Jeremy Blackshere, Tim Jenkins, Kyle Glassner, Josh Hiatt, Scott Dahlgren, Chuck Conover, Larry Smith, Steve Alberdi, Doug Martin, Curtis Romero, Shawn Salsbury, Shawn O'Leary, Dan Geil, Walt Hotchkiss and more.
Last season saw 8 different drivers take the checkered flag in Nor Cal Dwarf Car competition. Placerville Speedway is one of the most exciting tracks this colorful division competes on annually. While the Civil War Sprint Cars may be the top billing of this opening event, the winged warriors are well matched by these daring colorful coupes that frequent race three and four abreast through the banked turns of Placerville Speedway in friendly rivalry.
In addition to their thrills and spills, the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will be racing for a good cause in the year to come as they are racing to "Speed the Cure" for Crohn's Core. This charity is very close to the hearts of the Nor Cal Dwarf Car Assovcaition and the group has vowed they will continue to support it until a cure is found for this challenging disease.
On April 24th the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will launch a special event at Placerville dedicated to this cause. It will be an all day event with a large Dwarf Car display at Carl's Jr. in Placerville followed by a night of action and fund raising at the speedway. The group will also present a car show on the steps of the Capital in Downtown Sacramento on May 1st. To learn more about this cause visit www.crohns-core.com
"This will be the 18th year of running for the NCDA in Northern California and we are excited to be back at Placerville Speedway," added Bender. "Alan Handy and the staff always treat us superb and give us a great place to race. The track officials are great and the fans here are the best fans in Northern Calfornia. If it wasn't for them there would be no sense to do this."
The front gates to Placerville Speedway are set to open at 5 pm on Saturday. An early arrival is suggested as the anticipated season opener routinely becomes standing room only in quick fashion at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. 
Don't miss the best sprint car drivers and dwarf car drivers from throughout the western states in this exciting event that kicks off some 27 events at Placerville Speedway which celebrates its 45th year of competition this season. Nearly 80 cars are expected with the combined divisions to pack the pit area of the El Dorado County Fairgrounds and begin boosting local tourism in the community as they have more than four decades.
Ticket pricing continues to be a great bargain for the entire family at Placerville Speedway for hours of great entertainment. Adult tickets for this special event will be $15, Juniors will be $10 and children are $5.00. For additional information on this event and the entire 2010 schedule at Placerville Speedway visit www.placervillespeedway.com.or www.civilwarsprints.com.