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Remembering the Past

CHICO, CA (5-4-10) - The sprint car community has always been appreciative of where the roots of our sport originated. At last years Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Rod Tiner unveiled a replica tribute to the famed Clyde Lamar owned Tri C #3jr sprint car. The fans enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane with the same car that most fans of the sport recognize as Dave Bradway Jr.'s ride. Last year, Brad Sweet was at the helm of the tribute car and he led the 40-lap main event until the very last corner. Jonathan Allard passed him coming to the checkered flag. It was an amazing pass by Allard and it provived an electric finish that had the crowd buzzing with excitement. But on the other hand, there seemed to be a sense of disappointment that the tribute car did not win the race.

This year, at the 20th Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial, another car owner and driver will try to go back in the future and maybe accomplish what Tiner and Sweet could not. Dave and Debbie Vertullo have turned back the clock and will showcase the famous DuWayne Starr/Tognotti's/Bill's Custom Machine #18. "This is something that I thought would be cool," said Dave Vertullo. "The 18 car and DuWayne influenced a lot of people in racing." Vertullo said, "We wanted to run the Bradway because I know DuWayne enjoyed being crew chief for David Jr. back in 1982 and this is the biggest race to win at Chico besides the Gold Cup." This year they hope that taking a step back into time will mean a lot to the fans of sprint car racing. They are also hoping to win the 40-lap race.

The only place to see the famous #18 ride again is this weekend at the Silver Dollar Speedway. The car will be at Friday night's point race and on Saturday for the Dave Bradway Jr. event. There might be plans to see the car once again at the Gold Cup in September but Vertullo could not guarantee that. Friday nights grandstand gate opens at 6pm with racing to start at 7pm. On Saturday night, the front grandstand gate opens at 5 pm with racing slated to start at 6:30pm. This weekend Handy Racing Promotions and the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds will offer the racing fans free camping at the speedway.

The Vertullo's have been very influential in developing young drivers too. Dave explains, "I drove for myself for 10 years and I changed everything on the car to get it faster but changing the seat was the best choice I made." The couple then decided to give young drivers a chance at proving themselves to the sprint car world. "We started with Chuck Gurney Jr., giving him his first Civil War win. Then came Brad Sweet and he also won his first Civil War race in our car," said Vertullo. "We have spent the the past few years with Kyle Larson and now Justin Sanders."

Over the winter the Vertullo's came up with the idea to race the Bradway Jr. event in the DuWayne Starr #18. The next choice was the driver. For them it made sense to call upon Kyle Hirst. "Both Kyle and I really want to win this race in honor of Bradway and DuWayne," said Vertullo. Complimenting this deal so perfectly is that Kyle's dad, Rick Hirst, won the 1986 NARC championship in this same sprint car. "It's an honor to drive this sprint car with the Tognotti's #18 on it," said Hirst, who flew back to Northern California just for this race weekend. "Not only is it one of the most famous sprint cars in the history of California but just knowing the success my dad had in it is pretty cool."

The DuWayne Starr #18 won the 1980 Gold Cup with Johnny Anderson as the driver. Hank Butcher drove the car to the 1982 Calistoga track championship. In 1990 Greg DeCaires won the Silver Dollar Speedway track championship. The car held track records at Ernie Purcell Speedway and Silver Dollar Speedway. The #18 ran for 26 years, had 42 different drivers and won 97 main events.

The Vertullo's would like to thank Cheryl Starr, Jim Abshear and Wion Power Coating for their support and help. Dave also added, "Thanks to the fans who asked me to do this and this is my way of thanking them for supporting sprint car racing."

For more detailed information about the racing action this weekend please visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com

This article is a production of Handy Racing Promotions and may not be reproduced or rebroadcast without prior written permission under copyright law 2010.

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