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Meet Sprint Car driver Kenny Allen at Thursday Night Market in Chico this week

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo by Steven Cox[/caption]

CHICO, CA (8-18-10) - Handy Racing Promotions Inc. will continue to bring Silver Dollar Speedway to the streets this Thursday night in downtown Chico. It's Thursday Night Market time in the city and this week race fans can meet one of Silver Dollar Speedway's brightest young stars.

Chico's own Kenny Allen will be on hand along with his #7k Sprint Car at the Silver Dollar Speedway booth at the popular street fair that draws hundreds of people weekly in downtown Chico.

Fifteen-year-old Allen is currently fifth in the point standings of Silver Dollar Speedway's Feather Falls Casino 410 sprint car standings. With just two events left on the season schedule prior to the upcoming Gold Cup Race of Champions, Allen is just 31-points out of the lead.

A 2009 Rookie of the Year at Placerville Speedway and the Civil War Series, Allen has had a solid season so far at Silver Dollar Speedway. The former kart racer has scored two top five finishers this year, eight top ten finishes and a pair of heat race victories.

Allen will be on hand Thursday evening for autographs and photo opportunities. Area youngsters are welcome to sit in the driver's seat of his competitive winged sprint car, but beware the experience can become addicting. Silver Dollar Speedway will offering various discount promotions to visitors of the booth as well.

Held weekly April through September from 6-9pm, the Thursday Night Market is a street festival and certified farmers' market in Chico. Spanning on Broadway from 2nd to 5th Streets, the area is closed to vehicle traffic to allow for the festivities Those who attend this weekly event are known to browse a wide variety of unique shops with extended hours on Thursday nights or dine at one of Downtown's wonderful restaurants or quaint cafes.

The Chico streets are lined with more than 150 popular vendors. Authentic crafts and artwork, handmade clothing and jewelry, mouth-watering foods, personal services and community organizations are just some of what they will find. Plus, certified farmers offer the season's freshest assortments of fruits & vegetables, bouquets of garden-grown flowers, nuts & honeys and more. Now, families and residents of Chico can attend the Farmer's Market and learn about the areas most affordable venue of great family entertainment, the weekly auto races at Silver Dollar Speedway located on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds.

Silver Dollar Speedway's community outreach is all part of the countdown to the 57th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions, "the biggest little sprint car race in world that is taking place September 8, 9, 10 and 11th at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. This annual event brings millions of dollars in revenue to the Chico area as the best drivers in the world converge at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds for an event which awards over $213,000 in prize money.

It all starts Wednesday night with the Civil War Sprint Car Series Invitational, the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Shootout and the Bay Cities Racing Association Western Midget Spectacular. Then Thursday through Saturday high octane racing lights up the Silver Dollar Speedway with the 410 sprint cars and the nationally known World of Outlaws in an event that culminates with the $50,000 to win Gold Cup Race of Champions.

In addition to the racing, the 57th annual Gold Cup brings a variety of entertainment venues to the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Thursday night after the races the popular California band "Double Funk Crunch" will kick off Gold Cup After Hours in an electrifying concert presented by Kronik Energy Drink. The family friendly event will feature a happy hour environment combined with discount tacos, soda and beer on tap. On Friday night the Joe Hunt Magnetos Chili Feed and Miss Gold Cup Bikini Contest returns with the addition of live music by the flammable rock band from right here in Chico known as "HotFlash!"

Three day and single day tickets for the upcoming Gold Cup Race of Champions are on sale at the track business office for $130 per person for all three nights. Fans may purchase single day tickets as well. Tickets for Thursday night and Friday night are $40 each, tickets for Saturday are $50 and can be obtained by calling (916) 969-7484. For further information visit the upcoming Thursday night Farmers Market in Chico or go to the track's official websites at www.handyracingpromotions.com or www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

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