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California's Jason Meyers Looks to Defend Mini Gold Cup Title

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] HRP Photo by Steve La Mothe[/caption]

CHICO, CA (3-4-09) - Even though Clovis, CA driver Jason Meyers spent most of 2008 chasing the World of Outlaw Series, he was still able to take the time and compete in last years Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway. On the Saturday night finale, Meyers passed Paul McMahan with 14 laps to go and went on to win the race. It was his second career Mini Gold Cup victory, the first one coming in 1999. The 1999 win is still very memorable for Meyers because it also marked his first sprint car career win. This year the two-time champion of the event will also lead in his fellow World of Outlaw stars into the tricky quarter-mile clay oval race track as they all compete under the World of Outlaw banner for the first time in 17 years at the Mini Gold Cup.

It is certain that Meyers will be one of the favorite's to grab the lions share of the some $93,000 in purse money available over the two nights of racing. Friday night's event is scheduled to run on March 13 while the following night, March 14, will conclude the two-night event. Last year, 65 cars attended the Mini Gold Cup. This year's event marks the 23rd year that the Mini Gold Cup has been held at Silver Dollar Speedway.

Last year was another excellent year for Meyers and his Elite Racing, GLR Investments, DDNi, Media Tile, Tri-Access Technologies, Elite Landscaping, Tarlton and Son Inc., Garrett's Racing Engines and KPC Chassis #14 team. For the second time in his career, Meyer's finished in the runner up spot during the World of Outlaw championship. Meyers led the World of Outlaws in a number of statistical categories last season. He had the most top five main finishes and fast time honors in time trials. He also won a career-best eight A-main feature events along with one preliminary feature, which was at Chico in the September edition of the Gold Cup Race of Champions. He had strong runs at the prestigious Knoxville Nationals and the Gold Cup Race of Champions. Both events he was leading the Saturday night finale and could of won but strange happenings prevented the possibility of winning. He described both incidents as, "part of racing, sometimes you get lucky at a track and sometimes you are not so lucky."

The 2009 World of Outlaw season has not started exactly the way Meyers and his team has wanted. After four races Meyers sits eighth in points. "We're not happy with the way we've started but I can guarantee you that my team has and will continue to work their tails off to get us back on track," said Meyers. The next destination on the schedule may just help the team kick start their season. "I have raced there a lot and that certainly helps because of all the laps I have at that track," said Meyers when asked about returning to Chico. "I used to go there so much and had so many fans that I missed racing up there once we decided to hit the road full-time," said Meyers. "It's a neat deal that the Outlaws and the Padjen's were able to put together this program and let us become a part of the Mini Gold Cup once again."

Joining Meyers will be all the favorites. Three time World of Outlaw champion Donny Schatz of North Dakota, three time Gold Cup winner, Jac Haudenschild, of Wooster, Ohio, 2007 Gold Cup victor, Joey Saldana, of Brownsburg, Indiana and 12-time Gold Cup champion, Indiana's Steve Kinser. Local favorites will include San Jose's Tim Kaeding, Chico's Jonathan Allard, Auburn's Andy Forsberg and Loomis driver Kyle Hirst.

Track event ticket information can be found by calling the track office at (916) 969-7484.

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