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Big Dollars at Silver Dollar Race

CHICO, CA (3-1-09) - Nearly $93,000 in prize money assures the 23rd running of the Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway will be the richest two day program ever held at the North Valley speed plant. Winged sprint car drivers from around the world will join the World of Outlaws in Chico on Friday and Saturday nights March 13 and 14.

The traditional season opener returns with the World of Outlaw sanction for 2009 to accompany the giant Gold Cup Race of Champions scheduled for September. A $10,000 winners share each night guarantees a huge turnout on the high banked � clay oval located at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Organizers are already looking at formats that will accommodate large car counts. Each nights program will be a complete race card with 40 lap main events. Timed qualifying, heat races, qualifying dashes, and transfer main events will be held as well. The program is planned with an A, B, C, and D main event. If the car count exceeds 60, a non-qualifiers race would also be held.

Three time World of Outlaw champion Donny Schatz of North Dakota leads the Outlaw standings again after early action in Florida. Schatz has already scored two victories in the early going and was the Gold Cup Champion in 2004. Tennessee's Jason Sides has already scored a pair of runner-up finishes to hold a top spot in the standings, and looks strong for 2009. Sides has five career top 10 finishes at Silver Dollar including a 5th and 7th place finish in the Gold Cup, but is still looking for his first win in Chico. Winning 25 times in Chico, including 12 Gold Cups, Indiana's Steve Kinser and his son Kraig will both be on hand for the season opener. 2007 Gold Cup champion, Joey Saldana of Brownsburg, Indiana pocketed $50,000 for his first Gold Cup win, and will be chasing two $10,000 victories.

The challengers will include three time Gold Cup champ Jac Haudenschild or Wooster, Ohio along with Oklahoma's Daryn Pittman and Minnesota's Craig Dollansky. Defending Mini Gold Cup champion and now World of Outlaw regular Jason Meyers or Clovis, CA is expected along with former California driver Terry McCarl.

Pit and competitor gates will open at 2 PM both days. The front or spectator gate will open at 5 PM each night. Racing is planned for 6:30 each evening. Tickets are currently on sale at the Track business office in Roseville. Friday night tickets are $35 and Saturday $40. All seats will be assigned and may be reserved, but any remaining tickets will be sold at the front gate each night beginning at 5 PM. The track office may be reached at 916-969-7484 or at www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

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