46 year old El Dorado County Dirt Track to ignite with Inaugural Bullring Nationals July 29-30
by Bill Sullivan, Handy Racing Promotions Inc.
PLACERVILLE, CA (7-29-11) – While Placerville Speedway is known for some of the best sprint car racing in Northern California on any given Saturday night, it has been more than two decades since the 46 year old dirt track in the Sierra Foothills has hosted any type of national competition. That statistic is about to change in a very big way as the quarter-mile clay oval at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds welcomes the Inaugural Bullring Nationals featuring the Nation's best 360 sprint car drivers of the Lucas Oil National American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) presented by K&N Filters.
The Bullring Nationals is the brainchild of Placerville Speedway promoters Alan and Diane Handy. Since taking over the management of the facility two years ago, the Handy's goal has been to bring something special to the dedicated race fans and the business community that has supported the sport of auto racing here since the summer of 1965. With that vision, the Bullring Nationals was born and is sure to be far bigger than the last nationally recognized event that took place at Placerville which was the World of Outlaws all the way back in 1991.
" Placerville Speedway has some of the most dedicated and passionate race fans that I have ever seen in all my years around this sport," said Handy, who has made many improvements to Placerville over the last two years ranging from safety lighting to the installation of a state of the art electronic scoreboard nd more. "Diane and myself have wanted to bring a big show back here and this is the year we are making it happen. I don't think a lot of people really know just how powerful this tour is. It's going to be an outstanding two days of racing."
Did Handy say "Two days of racing?" Yes, the Inaugural Bullring Nationals is a two day event that is expected to bring hundreds of campers to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds to witness the best drivers in the nation that range from young guns to decorated veterans of the sport. With the incredible racing will come two days of additional activities on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds that will make the Bullring Nationals more than just a race, it's an experience. It marks the first time in decades that a two day show comes to Placerville which will be a welcome sight for the surrounding business community that benefits from the auto racing population by the millions each season here.
"We felt it was time to put Placerville back on the racing map nationally," said Handy. "Emmett Hahn has done quite the job with the ASCS and with the popularity of the series the timing was just right. I've known Emmett for some time so a phone call just before the promoters workshop last December resulted in a meeting that was done in about 10 minutes and national racing was coming back to Placerville."
Once the ASCS Tour was set to come to Placerville Speedway the next challenge was the billing of the event that would best suit the characteristics of the speedway and at the same time be attractive to and lure both race fans an area residents. Hence, the Bullring Nationals became Placerville Speedway's newest title race, joining the annual local favorites like the Forni Classic and Tribute to Al Hinds.
"It's pretty simple equation, Placerville is a small racey track with the best fans anywhere, the Bullring Nationals was a perfect fit," added Handy, who went head first into the giant undertaking while many other tracks are cutting back special events. For Handy the classic theory of "If you build it, they will come" plays out here as thousands of race fans are expected in El Dorado County.
"It's a pretty big risk financially for us. The purse totals $66,000 and some change and for Placerville that is huge," said Handy. "We hope it works and the fans and racers love it so it can become an annual event. We hope it means a lot of people patronizing the businesses in town to boost the local economy. If it doesn't work out we still have the best championship racing and the Civil War Sprint Car Series right here in Placerville to brag about. I think it's going to be a big hit though."
The high octane racing action will begin at Placerville Speedway on Friday night, July 29th at 6:30 p.m. as the ASCS stars take on the Northern California heroes on the high banks of Placerville for the first time in the history of the series that is currently trekking through the Pacific Northwest on its journey to El Dorado County. Following Friday night's full racing program the action continues on Saturday night with the first green flag at 7:30 p.m.
On a regular basis, Placerville Speedway features some of the most talented 360 drivers in California and the Western States. However, on this particular weekend those talented locals are going to be joined by the elite drivers of the sport.
Among the many entries will be ASCS point leader Shane Stewart of Bixby, OK. Stewart is one of the few drivers on the traveling campaign that has a good amount of Placerville Speedway experience. The former World of Outlaws' regular has had numerous podium finishes here in cameo appearances when he became the hired gun behind Paul Silva's #57 sprint car that is now chasing a second $60,000 Lucas Oil Sprint Car National championship in three years.
Additional top names that will be joining Stewart include Johnny Herrera of Albuquerque New Mexico. Herrera has made two recent appearances at Placerville to prepare for the upcoming Bullring Nationals. Herrera is a decorated champion with two Knoxville Raceway Championships, his most recent in 2009 and won last year's Western World Championships at USA Raceway.
Four time ASCS champion Tim Crawley of Benton, AK will be another new face to Placerville Speedway but is no stranger to the national headlines when it comes success in a winged sprint car. Crawley has more than 325 starts to his name and over 170 top five finishes at tracks throughout the nation. Crawley is one of just four drivers to earn multiple ASCS National Championships with three titles to his name.
Sprint Car Hall of Fame Inductee Gary Wright of Hooks, Texas will be on the Placerville roster. Wright is the winningest driver in series history with 126 career National wins. Known as "The Texan," Wright has over feature starts and is a four time National Driver of the Year that has scored victory a minimum of two times every season for the last 16 years.
National Sprint Car Driver of the Year Jason Johnson is another name that will grace the red clay for the first time in history. The Eunice, LA driver that is better known as "The Ragin Cajun" is a foirmer ASCS Speedweek Champion, a Brodix Tournament of Champions winner as well as the victor of the Short Track Nationals, Eagle Nationals and the Fred Brownfield Memorial. At the end of the 2010 season Johnson had 77 overall ASCS wins in 217 starts.
Brady Bacon of Broken Arrow, OK will use the Placerville banks in an effort to work his way closer to the $60,000 series championship this season. The two time Tulsa Shootout champion began racing with the ASCS in 2009 and became a true contender in 2010 with his first National win and matching champion Jason Johnson with 23 top ten finishes in 32 events, 14 of which were in the top five ranks.
After spending nearly two decades on the Outlaw trail, Jeff Swindell of Bartlett, TN is now one of the ASCS fulltime contenders. The 2002 Knoxville Nationals Champion is chasing his first ASCS Championship after racing close to home last year to win the Riverside International Raceway Championship. Swindell is another one of the confirmed names on the rapidly growing Placerville Speedway entry list that is boasting with more talent that words can convey.
"The fans here are use to seeing some really good close racing almost every week at Placerville, the weekly show and the Civil War Series," said Sacramento's Kyle Hirst following his recent win streak at Placerville Speedway. "They haven't seen anything yet until they have seen an ASCS race at this place; it's going be awesome as these guys come face us locals on one of the best racetracks around. Nobody should miss this race."
An additional 1000 seats have already been added to the pit area of Placerville Speedway to cater to the large crowds that are expected to flock to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds for this historical night of racing. All grandstand seating for the event is by reservation only and two day tickets are on sale for $55 through the office of Handy Racing Promotions at (916) 783-DIRT. For a seating chart and additional information visit the track website at www.placervillespeedway.com.
In addition to the racing action,, a post race party will be presented on Friday Night, July 29 in the Forni Building at the Fairgrounds. This event will feature a free concert and dance after the checkered flag waves to the music of The Pick Ups. Ice cold beer and soda will be on tap along with the active 20/30 club tacos and a mechanical bull.
On Saturday a pre race festival will take place on the grounds beginning with Bloody Mary Morning and breakfast followed by a concert on the green by the pick ups, lunch featuring the 20/30 club tacos, corn hole tournaments that offer cash winnings, a classic car show and an autograph session featuring all of the local drivers and the National ASCS touring pros. Watch www.placervillespeedway.com for further in depth information on these special events. Camping is available at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds reservations can be made by calling 530-621-5860.
- Bill Sullivan on Jul 19, 2011
- Article Date: 7/19/2011 by Bill Sullivan/ Handy Racing Promotions Media