CHICO, CALIF. (August 19, 2025) – It’s the most prestigious event in all of California Sprint Car Racing.
The 71st Mike Curb Gold Cup Race of Champions presented by NOS Energy Drink takes over the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds this week as Chico, California welcomes Kubota High Limit Racing to town.
A staple on the west coast for seven decades now, Gold Cup is the Knoxville of the west with the high payouts ($100,071-to-win), the split-field preliminary programs (half on Thursday, half on Friday), and all the campground activities you can imagine for a full week.
Let's look at what's on the table entering the 71st Gold Cup:
THREE-PEAT: Through seven decades of Gold Cup history, 43 different drivers have stamped their names into the history books as a winner of the Race of Champions. Of those 43, 14 have been able to repeat. Of those 14, an elite five drivers have won it back-to-back. Of those five, only one man – “The King” Steve Kinser – has won three-straight titles.
This week, 19-year-old Corey Day has a chance to put himself alongside an icon like Kinser as the second in history to achieve such a rare feat.
The Clovis, California native is attempting his fourth Gold Cup Race of Champions – all with Jason Meyers Racing, an owner who was a two-time event winner himself in 2010 and 2013. The first step on the path to a three-peat came in 2023 when Day’s first-career World of Outlaws win was a $25,000 Gold Cup title over Justin Sanders. Step two was last year when High Limit Racing took over and upped the payout to $100,070 and Day did it again over Rico Abreu.
Dependent on his anticipated surge through the NASCAR ranks, this very well could be one of the last times we get to see Day compete at the Gold Cup Race of Champions for who knows how long. All the more motivation for him to do something that hasn’t been done since 1986-88.
20 YEARS OF TRYING: Brad Sweet has just about done it all in the sport of Sprint Car Racing. The kid originally from Cool, California has a guaranteed spot in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame waiting for him. After all, he’s a six-time national champion and on top of that, a Knoxville Nationals title and two Kings Royal crowns behold his name. “The Big Cat” has even changed the sport from within by creating Kubota High Limit Racing and elevating Silver Dollar Speedway as promoter of SLC Promotions.
There’s one glaring mark on his resume that has remained unchecked for 20 years, however, and that’s winning the Gold Cup Race of Champions.
He has led countless laps, won multiple preliminary features, and finished in every spot within the top-five except that elusive top step of the podium in the Gold Cup finale. With a fresh team including Jarrett Martin, Andrew Bowman, Tayte Williamson, and headlined by Kasey Kahne in the crew chief role, this could be the year that Sweet finally puts the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 in the Gold Cup history books.
SPLIT-FIELD: For the fourth consecutive year, the split-field tradition continues at the Gold Cup Race of Champions. At 67 entries, half the field will compete Thursday before the other half races Friday – with a unique format awarding points in every session and setting the stage for Saturday’s $100,071-to-win finale.
Thursday’s lineup currently includes the likes of Corey Day, Brad Sweet, Justin Sanders, Brent Marks, Chase Randall, Justin Peck, Danny Sams III, Shane Golobic, Cory Eliason, Brady Bacon, Tanner Carrick, Andy Forsberg, Dominic Gorden, Tanner Holmes, and Colby Copeland, among others.
Friday’s roster currently features Rico Abreu, Tanner Thorson, Giovanni Scelzi, Daison Pursley, Brenham Crouch, Sye Lynch, Tim Kaeding, Dominic Scelzi, James McFadden, D.J. Netto, Spencer Bayston, Ryan Bernal, Kaleb Montgomery, Bud Kaeding, and Tyler Thompson, among others.
INVERTS & POINTS: A split-field event not only means show-up points for the Kubota High Limit Racing championship chase, but also a unique format for the Gold Cup. With Thursday and Friday setting the stage for Saturday, drivers will utilize their preliminary nights to battle for points each time they hit the track.
Qualifying awards 100 points for QuickTime, then down by 1 per position.
Heat Races pay 100 points to win, then down by 2 per position.
A-Main offers 200 points to win, then down by 3 per position.
On preliminary nights, Heat Races will include a six-car inversion with only the top-five finishers transferring to the A-Main. Of those transfers, the fastest-eight cars among Qualifying times are inverted at the front of the lineup with spots 9th-20th set by points among transfers. Four B-Main transfers will round out the starting lineup.
After Friday’s final preliminary, the top-eight in overall points will lock-in to Saturday’s $100,071-to-win, 40-lap Gold Cup Feature. Everyone else will split into four Qualifiers, straight up by points, with the top-three finishers moving to the main event behind lock-in cars. The alphabet soup offers D/C/B-Mains with four spots left in the big dance.
ON THE DOOR STEP: The Gold Cup has long been the most prevalent crown jewel where locals defend home turf against national superstars. In the last 15 years alone, Californians Kyle Larson, Jason Meyers, Jonathan Allard, Rico Abreu, and Corey Day beat the World of Outlaws for their Gold Cup trophies. Entered for the 71st running of the race is a handful of west coast regulars who have been close to joining that list before.
Shane Golobic of Fremont, CA is a 14-time winner in Chico with eight of those being in the last three years, including the 2025 season opener. “Sugar Shane” has finished fourth and sixth over the last two Gold Cup Race of Champions, and he’ll contend again this week aboard the Matt Wood Racing, NOS Energy Drink No. 17W.
Justin Sanders of Aromas, CA – fresh off his first-career High Limit victory at Placerville – is a six-time winner at Silver Dollar in 2025. He’s twice been a Gold Cup runner-up, finishing second to Shane Stewart in 2017 and second to Corey Day in 2023. He’ll continue subbing for Aaron Reutzel in the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 this week for his chance at $100,071.
Tim Kaeding of San Jose, CA is another two-time runner-up finisher at the Gold Cup, finishing second to Steve Kinser in 2002 and second to Rico Abreu in 2018. TK now pilots the famed Williams Motorsports No. 0 in pursuit of his first title at Silver Dollar.
Andy Forsberg of Auburn, CA has also ran podium on two occasions at Gold Cup, finishing runner-up to Jason Meyers in 2013, then third behind Rico & TK in 2018. “Mr. Excitement” is a perfect three-for-three when it comes to top-10 finishes with High Limit in his home state of California – including a 10th in last year’s Silver Dollar debut for the series.
Sean Becker of Oroville, CA owns two podiums at the Gold Cup as well, finishing third in 2012 and 2014 behind the likes of Kyle Larson, Donny Schatz, Jonathan Allard, and Daryn Pittman. “The Shark” is still in the hunt for Thursday’s opening preliminary.
Cory Eliason of Visalia, CA earned his career-best Gold Cup result in 2018 with a third-place finish in the Roth Motorsports No. 83. He was a top-five finisher again last year in the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 8. This week, he pilots the Shannon Wheatley No. 45 after a third-place run with High Limit at Placerville.
Dominic Scelzi of Fresno, CA owns four victories in Chico and a fourth-place finish at the 2023 Gold Cup – a year that saw California natives control the top-six finishers with Day, Sanders, Kofoid, Scelzi, Sweet & Golobic. Dom will join younger brother Gio in Friday’s final preliminary this week.
THE HIGH ROLLERS: Being the second year of sanction for Kubota High Limit Racing, many High Rollers remain in the early stages of figuring out the technical Silver Dollar Speedway. Outside of the aforementioned Day, Sweet & Sanders, Rico Abreu and Tanner Thorson are the most experienced in Chico – in fact, it was those two who supplied a spirited battle for Friday’s preliminary win last year.
Three of the four Rayce Rudeen Foundation Rookie of the Year contenders – Daison Pursley, Sye Lynch and Danny Sams III – will be making their first-ever laps around Silver Dollar Speedway this week. Chase Randall is attempting his third Gold Cup with a top-10 finish in 2023 already on his resume.
Full-timers like Giovanni Scelzi, Justin Peck, Brent Marks, and Brenham Crouch have raced Gold Cup before, but not all that often. Marks is the most experienced of that group and has ran top-10 before, as did Justin Peck last year.
DON’T GET IT CONFUSED: The last two weeks alone have supplied enough driver changes to keep track of, but if your rewind to last year’s 70th running of the Gold Cup, you’ll see a litany of different drivers in different rides. Among many changes to keep note of include the following:
Justin Sanders in the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87
Giovanni Scelzi in the Clauson-Marshall Racing No. 7BC
Spencer Bayston in the Works Limited W
Brenham Crouch in the CJB Motorsports No. 5
James McFadden in the Tarlton Racing No. 21
Justin Peck in the Rudeen Racing No. 26
Daison Pursley in the Buch Motorsports No. 13
Chase Randall in the Chase Randall Racing No. 9
Brady Bacon in the JFM No. 73X
Landon Brooks in the Bates-Hamilton Racing No. 21L
OUTSIDE THE TRACK: Half the fun of the Gold Cup is the wide range of off-track activities planned by SLC Promotions, the Angus Camp, the BBQ Crew, the Kyle Larson Foundation, and more.
On Tuesday, the golf cart parade at dusk features 100+ decorated machines with the beach theme. On Wednesday, the Kyle Larson Foundation Golf Tournament takes place in the morning at Canyon Oaks, then a $7,100-to-win 360 Sprint Car race at the track precedes the Farmers Brewing Kickoff Party in the pavilion.
Thursday’s headliner after the opening preliminary night is the fan-favorite Glow Party with DJ KarLos in the pavilion. On Friday, the iconic Miss Gold Cup Bikini Contest and chili feed consume the pavilion after the races.
Saturday has something for everyone with Coffee & Cars in the pavilion from 8am-12pm, a Fan Appreciation Rib Feed at the BBQ Camp at 12pm, a Factory Kahne Shocks Pit Crew Challenge in the pavilion at 1:30pm, a High Limit Room Pre-Race Show at 3pm, a High Limit Fan Fest at the merch trailers at 4pm, and public drivers meeting in the pavilion at 5pm.
KUBOTA A-MAIN WINNERS (12 Drivers):
6 Wins – Rico Abreu (Rico Abreu/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 24)
4 Wins – Aaron Reutzel (Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87)
3 Wins – Brad Sweet (Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49)
3 Wins – Corey Day (Jason Meyers Racing No. 14BC)
2 Wins – Brent Marks (Murray-Marks Motorsports No. 19)
2 Wins – Justin Peck (Rudeen Racing No. 26)
2 Wins – Kyle Larson (Silva Motorsports No. 57)
1 Win – Travis Arenz (Arenz Motorsports No. 25T)
1 Win – Buddy Kofoid (Roth Motorsports No. 83)
1 Win – Tyler Courtney (Clauson-Marshall Racing No. 7BC)
1 Win – Cole Macedo (Two-C Racing No. 2C)
1 Win – Carson Macedo (Jason Johnson Racing No. 41)
1 Win – Justin Sanders (Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87)
A-MAIN LAPS LED (24 Drivers):
127 Laps – Rico Abreu
108 Laps – Aaron Reutzel
84 Laps – Justin Peck
82 Laps – Brad Sweet
66 Laps – Tyler Courtney
54 Laps – Kyle Larson
46 Laps – Corey Day
45 Laps – Brent Marks
40 Laps – Buddy Kofoid
35 Laps – Cole Macedo
35 Laps – Carson Macedo
33 Laps – Kaleb Montgomery
23 Laps – Daryn Pittman
21 Laps – Travis Arenz
14 Laps – Bill Balog
12 Laps – Tanner Thorson
12 Laps – Spencer Bayston
10 Laps – Kasey Kahne
9 Laps – Christopher Bell
7 Laps – Ashton Torgerson
6 Laps – Austin McCarl
5 Laps – Lance Dewease
4 Laps – Kerry Madsen
2 Laps – Justin Sanders
CAPITOL CUSTOM TRAILERS QUICKTIME AWARDS (16 Drivers):
8 QuickTimes – Aaron Reutzel
4 QuickTimes – Daison Pursley
2 QuickTimes – Rico Abreu, Spencer Bayston
1 QuickTime – Corey Day, Daryn Pittman, Austin McCarl, Kyle Larson, Cale Thomas, Jonathan Preston, Danny Dietrich, Logan Schuchart, Danny Sams III, Brenham Crouch, Cole Macedo, Justin Sanders
HEAT RACE WINNERS (38 Drivers):
11 Heat Wins – Brad Sweet, Tyler Courtney
7 Heat Wins – Justin Peck, Rico Abreu, Daison Pursley
5 Heat Wins – Sye Lynch, Tanner Thorson
4 Heat Wins – Kasey Kahne, Aaron Reutzel
3 Heat Wins – Tanner Holmes, Brent Marks
2 Heat Wins – Austin McCarl, Brenham Crouch, Chase Randall, Danny Sams III, Corey Day
1 Heat Win – Brian Brown, Robbie Price, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Kyle Larson, Kerry Madsen, Brady Bacon, Lucas Wolfe, Danny Dietrich, Ryan Smith, Brock Zearfoss, Bill Balog, Giovanni Scelzi, Anthony Macri, Kevin Thomas Jr, Ashton Torgerson, Cole Macedo, Carson Macedo, Spencer Bayston, James McFadden, Justin Sanders, Tanner Carrick, Jake Andreotti
FK ROD ENDS DASH WINS (19 Drivers):
4 Dash Wins – Brad Sweet
2 Dash Wins – Tyler Courtney, Justin Peck, Tanner Thorson
1 Dash Win – Daryn Pittman, Aaron Reutzel, Kasey Kahne, Brent Marks, Kyle Larson, Kerry Madsen, Rico Abreu, Christopher Bell, Bill Balog, Buddy Kofoid, Daison Pursley, Ashton Torgerson, Cole Macedo, Justin Sanders, Kaleb Montgomery
WINTERS PERFORMANCE B-MAIN WINS (20 Drivers):
4 B-Main Wins – Tanner Thorson
2 B-Main Wins – Kasey Kahne, Chase Randall, Brenham Crouch
1 B-Main Win – Corey Day, Dominic Scelzi, Ryan Bernal, Aaron Reutzel, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Danny Sams III, Davie Franek, Justin Peck, Lucas Wolfe, Troy Wagaman Jr, Brad Lamberson, Max Guilford, Cole Macedo, Ashton Torgerson, Noah Gass, Brent Marks
ROD END SUPPLY HARD CHARGER AWARDS (21 Drivers):
5 Hard Chargers – Tanner Thorson
4 Hard Chargers – Tyler Courtney
2 Hard Chargers – Rico Abreu
1 Hard Charger – Justin Peck, Corey Day, Danny Sams III, Spencer Bayston, Chase Randall, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Larson, Matt Farnham, Brock Zearfoss, Justin Whittall, Joel Myers Jr, Kevin Thomas Jr, Sye Lynch, Will Armitage, Brenham Crouch, Garet Williamson, Brad Sweet, Tanner Holmes
JAKE’S GOLF CARTS FASTEST LAP AWARDS (19 Drivers):
5 Fastest Laps – Aaron Reutzel
3 Fastest Laps – Rico Abreu
2 Fastest Laps – Tyler Courtney, Justin Peck, Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, Corey Day
1 Fastest Lap – Daryn Pittman, Kasey Kahne, Brent Marks, Tanner Thorson, Christopher Bell, Lance Dewease, Bill Balog, Buddy Kofoid, Ashton Torgerson, Cole Macedo, Carson Macedo, Spencer Bayston
PODIUM FINISHES (27 Drivers):
12 Podiums – Brad Sweet
11 Podiums – Rico Abreu
8 Podiums – Aaron Reutzel, Tyler Courtney
6 Podiums – Justin Peck, Kyle Larson
5 Podiums – Tanner Thorson
3 Podiums – Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, Corey Day
2 Podiums – Kasey Kahne, Lance Dewease
1 Podium – Austin McCarl, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Christopher Bell, Ryan Smith, Travis Arenz, Bill Balog, Buddy Kofoid, Cole Macedo, Carson Macedo, Sye Lynch, Spencer Bayston, Giovanni Scelzi, Justin Sanders, Kaleb Momtgomery, Cory Eliason
TOP-FIVE FINISHES (38 Drivers):
20 Top-Fives – Brad Sweet
14 Top-Fives – Tyler Courtney, Aaron Reutzel
13 Top-Fives – Rico Abreu
8 Top-Fives – Brent Marks
7 Top-Fives – Justin Peck, Kyle Larson, Tanner Thorson
6 Top-Fives – Corey Day
5 Top-Fives – Anthony Macri
3 Top-Fives – Tanner Holmes, Spencer Bayston
2 Top-Fives – Kasey Kahne, Sam Hafertepe Jr, Brady Bacon, Lance Dewease, Chase Randall, Justin Sanders, Kaleb Montgomery,
1 Top-Five – D.J. Netto, Austin McCarl, Kaleb Montgomery, Scott Bogucki, Danny Varin, Christopher Bell, Ryan Smith, Logan Wagner, David Gravel, Travis Arenz, Bill Balog, Scotty Thiel, Buddy Kofoid, Daison Pursley, Cole Macedo, Carson Macedo, Sye Lynch, James McFadden, Giovanni Scelzi, Cory Eliason
2025 Kubota High Limit Racing Schedule:
Race / Day, Date / Track / Location/ Winner / (Total Wins)
- Sat, March 15 / Las Vegas Motor Speedway / Las Vegas, NV / Corey Day (1)
- Wed, March 19 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Kyle Larson (1)
- Fri, March 21 / Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway / Bakersfield, CA / Brad Sweet (1)
- Sat, March 22 / Perris Auto Speedway / Perris, CA / Aaron Reutzel (1)
- Fri, March 28 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Aaron Reutzel (2)
- Sat, March 28 / Central Arizona Raceway / Casa Grande, AZ / Brad Sweet (2)
- Thur, May 1 / Texas Motor Speedway / Fort Worth, TX / Brent Marks (1)
- Sat, May 3 / Texas Motor Speedway / Fort Worth, TX / Rico Abreu (1)
- Fri, May 9 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS / Rico Abreu (2)
- Sat, May 10 / Tri-City Speedway / Granite City, IL / Corey Day (2)
- Mon, May 12 / Kokomo Speedway / Kokomo, IN / Rico Abreu (3)
- Fri, May 16 / Ransomville Speedway / Ransomville, NY / Justin Peck (1)
- Tues, May 20 / Grandview Speedway / Bechtelsville, PA / Rico Abreu (4)
- Sat, May 24 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Brent Marks (2)
- Sun, May 25 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA / Aaron Reutzel (3)
- Sat, May 31 / Butler Motor Speedway / Quincy, MI / Justin Peck (2)
- Wed, June 4 / Red Cedar Speedway / Menomonie, WI / Rico Abreu (5)
- Thur, June 5 / 141 Speedway / Francis Creek, WI / Travis Arenz (1)
- Tues, June 10 / Eagle Raceway / Eagle, NE / Buddy Kofoid (1)
- Thur, June 26 / Lucas Oil Speedway / Wheatland, MO / Aaron Reutzel (4)
- Fri, June 27 / Lucas Oil Speedway / Wheatland, MO / Rico Abreu (6)
- Sat, June 28 / Lucas Oil Speedway / Wheatland, MO / Tyler Courtney (1)
- Fri, July 11 / Florence Speedway / Union, KY / Brad Sweet (3)
- Mon, July 14 / Fremont Speedway / Fremont, OH / Cole Macedo (1)
- Wed, July 16 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Aaron Reutzel & Corey Day
- Thur, July 17 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH / Kyle Larson (2)
- Tues, July 22 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA / Carson Macedo (1)
- Fri, August 15 / Thunderbowl Raceway / Tulare, CA / Corey Day (3)
- Sat, August 16 / Placerville Speedway / Placerville, CA / Justin Sanders (1)
- Thur, August 21 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA
- Fri, August 22 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA
- Sat, August 23 / Silver Dollar Speedway / Chico, CA
- Mon, August 25 / Douglas County Dirtrack / Roseburg, OR
- Thur, August 28 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA
- Fri, August 29 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA
- Sat, August 30 / Skagit Speedway / Burlington, WA
- Thur, September 4 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA
- Fri, September 5 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA
- Sat, September 6 / Port Royal Speedway / Port Royal, PA
- Fri, September 12 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA
- Sat, September 13 / Lernerville Speedway / Sarver, PA
- Wed, September 17 / Lawrenceburg Speedway / Lawrenceburg, IN /
- Fri, September 19 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
- Sat, September 20 / Eldora Speedway / Rossburg, OH
- Sat, September 27 / Bridgeport Speedway / Swedesboro, NJ
- Sun, September 28 / Path Valley Speedway Park / Spring Run, PA
- Fri, October 10 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS
- Sat, October 11 / Lakeside Speedway / Kansas City, KS
- Wed, October 15 / Lucas Oil Speedway / Wheatland, MO
- Fri, October 17 / Texas Motor Speedway / Fort Worth, TX
- Sat, October 18 / Texas Motor Speedway / Fort Worth, TX
- administrator on Aug 19, 2025
- Article Date: 8/19/2025 by Brian Walker