Photo by Steve Lafond

Two-time World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers of Clovis will make his 2013 King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series debut this weekend at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. The man known as “Hotfoot” will be aboard one of two Tarlton & Son Inc. entries, with the other being driven by talented young racer Carson Macedo from Fresno.

Meyers last season drove the Tarlton Racing machine to a preliminary night triumph at the Knoxville Nationals in August and also claimed his second career “Trophy Cup” title in October at the Tulare Thunderbowl. He also made one King of the West 410 start, bringing home a second place finish to Tim Kaeding in the “Cotton Classic” at Kings Speedway.

In his career Meyers has scooped up 12 Golden State/ King of the West 410 Series victories, which places him in a tie with Santa Cruz, CA’s Kevin Pylant for seventh on the all-time list. The three-time “Mini Gold Cup” champion also won the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” in 2002 at the Thunderbowl. That season saw him sweep all three Golden State/ KWS events at the one-third mile clay oval. 

On Saturday night immediately following the races and once the front stretch interviews are completed there will be a free concert in the grandstands featuring Nashville recording artist Jon Webber. The beer booth will remain open after the races and soft drinks will also be available. Amigo’s Mexican Restaurant will also be in the grandstands selling tacos and burritos during the concert, so we invite everyone to stay after the races, hang out and listen to some great music to commemorate Memorial Day Weekend.

This Saturday & Sunday May 25 & 26 the front grandstand gate will open at 4pm. Hot laps are scheduled for 6pm, with qualifying at 6:30pm and racing anticipated to start around 7pm. Also on hand during the Memorial Day Weekend extravaganza will be the Vintage Hardtops to give a glimpse of the days gone by.

The Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California. From the junction of SR 99 and SR 137, go west on SR 137. At South K go south one-half mile to the Fairgrounds. For directions visit http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=E+ ... code=93274

Photo by Tim Holland

King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series Notes & Pertinent Info

Rounds seven & eight at Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway

“Chris & Brian Faria Memorial Weekend”

Tulare, California – Saturday & Sunday May 25 & 26

What:

With six rounds complete in the 2013 racing season the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series will charge into its first outing of the year in the Central Valley this coming Memorial Day Weekend at Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. The double-header event on Saturday & Sunday May 25 & 26 will pay tribute to brothers Chris & Brian Faria, who both lost their lives far too soon.

Chris Faria was an up and coming driver who was the youngest of five children to Danny Sr. & Arlet Faria. He grew up on their farm in Tipton and was known as the prankster of the family. Chris unfortunately lost his life at the age of 21 during a farming accident and his memory has been kept alive with a memorial race at the Thunderbowl Raceway ever since.

Brian was the oldest of the five Faria children and was taken from us in January of 2006 during an accident while driving on a highway. Brian enjoyed helping out with the track preparation at the Thunderbowl Raceway, as he drove the water truck and the grader among other things. The “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” has become a cornerstone of the track schedule and is always a special night for the Faria family.

On Saturday night immediately following the races and once the front stretch interviews are completed there will be a free concert in the grandstands featuring Nashville recording artist Jon Webber. The beer booth will remain open after the races and soft drinks will also be available. Amigo’s Mexican Restaurant will also be in the grandstands selling tacos and burritos during the concert, so we invite everyone to stay after the races, hang out and listen to some great music to commemorate Memorial Day Weekend.

Current King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series point leader Rico Abreu goes into this weekend as the defending “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” winner aboard his potent Paul Silva wrenched Abreu Vineyards No. 24 machine. The St. Helena, California racer is off to a blazing hot start in 2013, having claimed five podium finishes in the first six events of the KWS season, including two victories. Over the last few weeks Abreu has racked up the dough, taking home $16,000 over that span.

“I can’t wait for Tulare this weekend,” said the 21-year-old third-year Sprint Car driver, who also won opening night of the Trophy Cup last October in Tulare. “The Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway is my favorite track to compete at, because you can usually move around and it’s a lot of fun to bang off that wall. Paul Silva and my guys have been working hard and giving me great cars every week. We’ve been on a roll to start the season and hopefully we can continue that on Memorial Day Weekend.”

Sacramento’s Kyle Hirst will bring the locally based Roth Enterprises No. 83jr into the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway sitting second in the King of the West 410 standings. The one-third mile clay oval is a home track for car owner’s Dennis & Teresa Roth and the 25-year-old Hirst will look to give them a win this weekend. Last Friday night in Fernley the second generation driver appeared to be on way to his second victory of the year, until Abreu made a final corner charge to steal that opportunity away.

Fresh off his first King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series win of the year last weekend Chico’s Jonathan Allard comes into the Thunderbowl ranking third in the standings and has closed to within just six-markers of Hirst for the runner up spot. The wheel-man of the Williams Motorsports No. 0 sprinter captured the “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” in 2003, at the time driving for car owner Rick Wright. Allard was also the 2010 “Trophy Cup” champion at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl and will be gunning to get on a hot streak this weekend.

Sacramento’s Willie Croft is off to the best start of his Sprint Car career and invades the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway maintaining the fourth spot in the KWS points, just nine-digits behind Allard for the third position. The newlywed has driven the Clyde & Marion Lamar owned Tri-C Machine to a pair of wins already this season and has claimed three consecutive podium finishes in King of the West competition. “Double Down” very nearly won a Golden State/ KWS 410 main event at Tulare in ’07, but was passed by Brent Kaeding with just a few laps left that night.

Fresno’s Craig Stidham goes into a track he calls home rounding out the top-five in the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series standings. The former Rebel Cup 360 Series champion has come out strong in 2013 and is fresh off his best outing of the season last weekend in Fernley, which saw him set fast time and finish fourth in the main event on Friday. Stidham looked very impressive last week and will be a strong threat for victory this Saturday & Sunday at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway aboard his KRC Safety Equipment No. 3 mount.

Completing the top-10 in points going into Tulare this weekend is 2004 Golden State/ King of the West 410 Sprint Car champion Jason Statler of Grass Valley, National Sprint Car Hall of Famer & 13-time series titlist Brent Kaeding from Campbell, King of the West Rookie of the Year contender Cory Eliason of nearby Visalia, Auburn’s Richard Brace Jr. and reigning New Zealand Sprint Car champion Peter Murphy of Sydney, Australia.

A strong field of powerful 410 Sprint Cars are set to invade the blazing fast one-third mile clay oval this weekend including two-time World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers of Clovis, Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs, Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Carson Macedo and DJ Netto, Fremont’s Shane Golobic, Tipton’s Mike Faria, Visalia’s Danny Faria Jr., Oakhurst’s Doug Gandy, Fair Oak’s Chad Compton, Grass Valley’s Carl Droivold & Pat Harvey, Laton’s Geoffrey Strole, Corning’s Bud Walberg, Coarsegold’s Scott Parker, Elk Grove’s Sean McMahan, Merced’s Mark Barroso and more.

When:

On Saturday & Sunday May 25 & 26 the front grandstand gate will open at 4pm. Hot laps are scheduled for 6pm, with qualifying at 6:30pm and racing anticipated to start around 7pm. Also on hand during the Memorial Day Weekend extravaganza will be the Vintage Hardtops to give a glimpse of the days gone by.

Where:

The Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California. From the junction of SR 99 and SR 137, go west on SR 137. At South K go south one-half mile to the Fairgrounds. For directions visit http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=E+ ... code=93274

The Tulare County Fairgrounds also features a great campground so we invite everyone to come on down, camp out and make a weekend out of it. Memorial Day Weekend is always a traditional time to camp out and it’s always a fun time at the Tulare County Fairgrounds.
Another group will also be sharing the fairgrounds so RV Spots will fill rapidly. To make sure you get the best spot available be sure and contact the Tulare County Fairgrounds Office at 559-686-4707.

Tickets:

Advance tickets for the weekend are on sale and be acquired by contacting the track ticket office at (559) 688-0909. Reserved grandstand seats cost just $20 with general admission bleacher tickets $18. For a seating chart visit the track website at http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com

About the track:

The Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is a one-third mile clay oval with the all-time track record being 12.651, which was set by two-time Golden State/ King of the West 410 champion Tim Kaeding of San Jose on March 5, 2010. The track has gained a reputation of providing some of the most spectacular and memorable moments in all of California Sprint Car Racing and also hosts the prestigious “Trophy Cup” each October. The King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series will return to Tulare later this year on Saturday September 21 for the “John Anthony Sharp Memorial.”

Last year’s “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” at the Thunderbowl:

The “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” last season also featured a double-header weekend at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway. Opening night saw Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson make a mid-race pass of Easton’s Tommy Tarlton to grab the lead and then hold off a fast moving Jonathan Allard for victory.

The following night Larson looked to be on way to sweeping the weekend aboard the Paul Silva 57, but a problem with the oil filter left him parked on the infield late in the race. This allowed St. Helena’s Rico Abreu the chance to assume the lead and he would go on to score at the time, his first ever King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series victory.

Results from last year’s “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial Weekend”

Opening night

26-cars

Fast time: Cody Lamar 13.361

Heat one: Tommy Tarlton, Jason Statler, Kyle Hirst, Bud Kaeding, Bobby McMahan, Craig Stidham, Doug Gandy, Pat Harvey

Heat two: Evan Suggs, Tim Kaeding, Jonathan Allard, Cory Eliason, Peter Murphy, Sean McMahan, Trey Starks, Danielle Simpson, Geoffrey Strole

Heat three: Kyle Larson, Roger Crockett, Brent Kaeding, Andy Gregg, Mike Faria, Chad Compton, Willie Croft, Rico Abreu

Dash: Brent Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Tommy Tarlton, Jason Statler, Jonathan Allard, Kyle Larson, Evan Suggs, Andy Gregg

LCQ: Rico Abreu, Willie Croft, Sean McMahan, Chad Compton, Danielle Simpson, Geoffrey Strole, Doug Gandy, Craig Stidham, Pat Harvey, Trey Starks, Cody Lamar

Amain: Kyle Larson, Jonathan Allard, Tommy Tarlton, Roger Crockett, Kyle Hirst, Evan Suggs, Bud Kaeding, Peter Murphy, Bobby McMahan, Andy Gregg, Cory Eliason, Mike Faria, Chad Compton, Brent Kaeding, Sean McMahan, Danielle Simpson, Doug Gandy, Geoffrey Strole, Tim Kaeding, Jason Statler, Rico Abreu, Willie Croft

Night two

28-cars

Fast time: Roger Crockett 13.800

Heat one: Kyle Hirst, Shane Golobic, Roger Crockett, Cory Eliason, Trey Starks, Sean McMahan, Doug Gandy

Heat two: Tommy Tarlton, Tim Kaeding, Jonathan Allard, Bud Kaeding, Andy Gregg, Mike Faria, Koen Shaw

Heat three: Willie Croft, Brent Kaeding, Bobby McMahan, Peter Murphy, Cody Lamar, Chad Compton, Geoffrey Strole

Heat four: Kyle Larson, Evan Suggs, Rico Abreu, Jason Statler, Craig Stidham, Pat Harvey, Danielle Simpson

Dash: Rico Abreu, Willie Croft, Kyle Hirst, Kyle Larson, Tommy Tarlton, Roger Crockett, Bobby McMahan, Jonathan Allard

LCQ: Andy Gregg, Sean McMahan, Trey Starks, Craig Stidham, Cody Lamar, Chad Compton, Mike Faria, Doug Gandy, Danielle Simpson, Pat Harvey, Geoffrey Strole

Amain: Rico Abreu, Jonathan Allard, Tim Kaeding, Tommy Tarlton, Kyle Hirst, Roger Crockett, Trey Starks, Brent Kaeding, Andy Gregg, Peter Murphy, Evan Suggs, Craig Stidham, Chad Compton, Kyle Larson, Cody Lamar, Sean McMahan, Bobby McMahan, Bud Kaeding, Shane Golobic, Cory Eliason, Jason Statler, Willie Croft

Top-10 in King of the West driver standings after six rounds of competition:

1. Rico Abreu 937; 2. Kyle Hirst 902; 3. Jonathan Allard 896; 4. Willie Croft 887; 5. Craig Stidham 866; 6. Jason Statler 767; 7. Brent Kaeding 755; 8. Cory Eliason 738; 9. Richard Brace Jr. 728; 10. Peter Murphy 722

Winners so far this season with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series:

Antioch Speedway April 20: Willie Croft
Placerville Speedway April 27: Kyle Hirst
Silver Dollar Speedway May 4: Rico Abreu
Petaluma Speedway May 11: Willie Croft
Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway May 17: Rico Abreu
Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway May 18: Jonathan Allard

Upcoming King of the West events:

As noted in a prior release the June 1 date at Merced Speedway has been cancelled with no makeup date being scheduled.

On Friday & Saturday June 7 & 8 the King of the West 410’s will invade Rattlesnake Raceway in Fallon, Nevada for the very first time ever. The exciting weekend of action will be held in conjunction with the Fallon Octane Fest. Along with Sprint Cars the Octane Fest will also feature the Monster Truck Jamboree including a Freestyle Nevada vs. California Motocross jump show, and the Lucas Oil Drag Races featuring a jet duel in the desert: The Beast jet car vs. Jet-Lagg diesel truck. For more information visit http://visitfallonnevada.com/octanefest/

"Double Down" Willie Croft scored two more podium finishes this past weekend to continue his strong start to the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series season. Croft will bring the Clyde & Marion Lamar owned No. 3c sprinter into the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway sitting fourth in points. Photo by Troy White.

Photo by Troy White of TW Race Photos

Jonathan Allard races to first King of the West win of the year on Saturday night at Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway

By Gary Thomas

Fernley, Nevada – May 18, 2013…After battling through adversity at times early in the season three-time & defending King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series champion Jonathan Allard put it all together on Saturday night at Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway and charged to his first win of the year, during what was the sixth round of competition for the tour.

Allard the previously weekend had scored his best KWS finish of the season up to that point by running second in Petaluma and this past Saturday executed a veteran move on a double file restart to get under rookie contender Cory Eliason for the lead. After that it was clear sailing for the Chico, California veteran as he drove off to claim the $3500 top prize and his 33rd career Golden State/ King of the West 410 Series win, which ranks third all-time.

“We’ve had our ups and downs to begin the season, but my guys have stuck with me and I couldn’t be happier to be standing in victory lane right now,” said a very ecstatic Allard on the front stretch. “This car was a rocket ship tonight and I really have to thank Ashley Smith, Bob Scovel, our new addition this week Randy V and my whole team that works so hard. I also want to thank you fans for coming out tonight and we’ll look forward to seeing you all again soon here in Fernley.”

The second night of the Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway weekend saw 26-cars return for the finale and earning the pole in the main event was Visalia’s Cory Eliason, who picked up his first career King of the West 410 Dash victory earlier in the evening. When the green lights flashed on Eliason charged into the lead and took command of the 22-car starting field in the 30-lapper. The Central Valley youngster was also in search of his first ever King of the West win and early on did a great job to hold off the pack of hungry racers.

Eliason soon had Allard breathing down his neck, while at the same time having to deal with lapped traffic around the 3/8 mile oval. “JA” hounded the rear bumper of the Eliason Racing Composites No. 00x mount and looked to find an opportunity to get by, but Eliason hit his marks to perfection. It then became a five car fight for the lead just before the halfway point with Corning’s Bud Walberg, St. Helena’s Rico Abreu and Sacramento’s Willie Croft joining the fray. Just as things looked to get interesting however, the yellow lights would flash on and bring the party to a stop.

With a double file restart on tap Eliason led the field into turn one, but slipped up just enough to allow Allard the opportunity to slice his way to the inside and steal the lead away. Allard showed his strength following that as he blasted away from the rest of the pack and looked extremely motivated to get that first KWS win of the season. With just over five-laps remaining it was then heartbreak city for Eliason, as the throttle linkage broke on his sprinter and caused him to slow to a stop. This moved Abreu up to second, but despite a pair of double file restarts, nothing could slow the fast moving Allard who crossed the checkered by 1.303 seconds for victory in the Morrie & Katie Williams owned No. 0 machine.

Abreu capped a strong weekend by finishing second at the conclusion aboard his Abreu Vineyards No. 24 mount. The 21-year-old has now finished on the podium in all but one King of the West event so far this season, showing great consistency and maturity behind the wheel during his third season in Sprint Car racing. “I have to give a big thanks to Paul Silva, Trevor Canales and all my guys once again,” said Abreu, who hasn’t finished worse than fourth this season with KWS. “I want to congratulate
Jonathan Allard on the win and we’re excited to move on to Tulare next weekend.”

Croft also continued his impressive start to the season and came home third at the checkered flag behind the wheel of the Tri-C Manufacturing No. 3c Machine. It marked the fourth podium finish of the season for “Double Down” and his third podium in a row dating back to his win on May 11 in Petaluma. “It’s just been a great start to the season for us and I can’t thank Lee Lindgren and my whole team enough,” said Croft, who is also getting married on Sunday to long time fiancée Samantha Hirst. “I’m happy to be standing up here on the podium again. We really are in a groove right now and I can’t wait for next weekend.”

Bringing home his career best King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series finish in fourth was Bud Walberg, who did a tremendous job all night in the Walberg Inc. No. 55 mount. The former dirt modified driver also qualified fifth quick and ran third in the Dash to complete a very impressive night. Rounding out the top-five and rebounding nicely after a first lap incident was Sydney, Australia’s Peter Murphy in the Dalton’s Landscaping No. 1nz Sprinter. It marked Murphy’s best finish of the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series season up to this point. Grass Valley’s Jason Statler scored sixth for the second consecutive night at RTF Speedway. The “Big Guy” in fact has finished in sixth the last three events.

Youngster Chris Martin from Des Moines, Iowa claimed his best ever KWS finish in seventh after winning the Last Chance Qualifier and starting 14th in the feature. Fresno’s Craig Stidham crossed the stripe in eighth, with Sacramento’s Kyle Hirst and Laton’s Geoffrey Strole completing the top-10. For Strole it also marked his first career top-10 finish with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series and earned him the Pit Stop USA Hard Charger Award after starting 19th.

As previously mentioned Chris Martin won the LCQ, with Cory Eliason claiming the six-lap Dash. Kaeding Performance heat race wins went to Jason Statler, Cory Eliason and Kyle Hirst. Willie Croft paced the 26-car field in BR Motorsports qualifying by turning a new track record at the Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway. Croft toured the 3/8 mile oval in 13.673 seconds.

The King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series will return to action next Saturday & Sunday May 25 & 26 at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California. The Memorial Day Weekend double-header will pay tribute to brothers Chris & Brian Faria in the annual “Chris & Brian Faria Memorial” at the one-third mile clay oval. Advance tickets can be purchased by contacting the Thunderbowl box office at 559-688-0909 and for more info on the track visit www.thunderbowlraceway.com

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Chico's Jonathan Allard raced to his first King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series win of the year on Saturday at Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway. St. Helena's Rico Abreu came home second and Sacramento's Willie Croft rounded out the podium. Next up for the series will be a double header next Saturday & Sunday at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway over Memorial Day Weekend. Photo by Tim Holland.

Rico Abreu makes last lap count at Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway Friday
night

By Gary Thomas

Fernley, Nevada....St. Helena's Rico Abreu made a final
corner charge on the high side of the speedway to get by Kyle Hirst in thrilling
fashion and score his second King of the West 410 Sprint Car main event win of
the year on Friday night in Fernley, Nevada. Hirst hung on for second with
Sacramento’s Willie Croft, the night's fastest qualifier Craig Stidham of Fresno
and defending KWS champ Jonathan Allard from Chico rounding out the top five.

“That
was pretty awesome right there and I hope you fans enjoyed that show,” said
Abreu on the front stretch. “I was just hoping that Kyle (Hirst) would follow
those lappers and I’d get a chance to make something happen up high. Luckily for
us that’s how it worked out and we are standing here in victory lane again. Big
thanks to Paul Silva and all my guys. We’ve been running strong and hopefully we
can come back tomorrow and do it again.”

A total of 28-cars signed into the pits on Friday at Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway,
for what was the first of 10-nights of racing for the King of the West 410’s at
the track this season. The 30-lap main event came to the line with Dash winner
Craig Stidham and Kyle Hirst on the front row. After a few spins and a red flag
during the early portion things got going after one-lap was complete, in fact
the final 29-circuits were clicked off caution free.

Hirst led the fast moving field once green flag laps ticked away and weaved his way by
lapped cars with perfection, as he looked for his second win of the year. All
along however, Rico Abreu stayed within striking distance of the Roth
Enterprises No. 83 jr mount. With the race winding down Abreu closed right up to
the bumper of Hirst and when the white flag waved, he looked to make his move.
Going into the final set of corners a big gaggle of lapped cars was just ahead
of Hirst, which gave the 21-year-old Abreu the opportunity he needed.

Abreu blasted to the high scary side and got the momentum he needed to charge around
Hirst and score the thrilling victory. It marked the fourth career win with the
King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series for the talented St. Helena youngster.
Abreu also continues to lead to lead the KWS points going into tonight’s action
at the Reno Tahoe Fernley Speedway. For Hirst the runner up finish was another
consistent effort with the series and was his fourth podium in the first five
races of the season. After his win last week Croft rounded out the podium in
Fernley on Friday to continue his impressive start to the year.

Craig Stidham capped a strong night by earning his best finish of the KWS season in
fourth and Jonathan Allard rebounded nicely from an opening lap incident to
complete the top-five. The remainder of the top-10 was filled by Grass Valley’s
Jason Statler, Sydney, Australia’s Peter Murphy, Campbell’s Brent Kaeding,
Washington driver Jared Ridge and Des Moines, Iowa’s Chris Martin, who started
last on the grid.

Racing continues tonight for the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series at Reno Tahoe
Fernley Speedway for round six of the 2013 season. Qualifying is slated for
6:30pm with racing at 7pm.