9/7/2010
Sprint Source
World of Outlaws Fast Talkers: 57th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions
Chico, CA—September 7, 2010—Prior to heading to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California for the 57th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions, September 9-11, each of the 15 full-time World of Outlaws drivers shared their thoughts on the famed event which will again pay $50,000 to win this season. Joey Saldana, the current World of Outlaws point leader, snagged his second Gold Cup last season passing Jason Sides coming off turn four on the final lap. Steve Kinser, the 20-time World of Outlaws champion, who is currently second in points only six markers out of the lead, has won the Gold Cup a record 12 times. Jac Haudenschild has won the legendary race three times, while Donny Schatz and Danny Lasoski have each won the Gold Cup once. A new format will greet competitors this season with every driver competing on all three nights.
Craig Dollansky, Driver of the No. 7 Big Game Treestands Maxim:
“We always look forward to going to Chico. It’s a fun little race track. We’ve been close there in the past and this year it’s a little different format, so we’ll go in there and run as strong as we can and see what we can do. It’s definitely a different type of format than we are used to with the full field running every night. That will definitely shake things up and be a lot of cars qualifying each night. We have a great team here and we’ll go in there with everything we got.”
Ben Gregg, Driver of the No. 2B Kronik Energy Maxim:
“I’m really looking forward to going there. I’ve never run there before. I’ve certainly watched a lot of races there over the years. Our team car John Gaston ran a 360-race there earlier this year and really had a good time, so we are really looking forward to it. Without having been on it, I can’t really compare it to anywhere, but after a while they all kind of blend together by the time you get through them all. We’ll put the gears in it and go do it. We do enjoy getting to run on the West Coast. We have run Tulare (Thunderbowl Raceway) so it will be good to add another California track to it. Anytime we can run closer to home is great for us.”
Sam Hafertepe Jr., Driver of the No. 15H Lone Star Speedway Maxim:
“It’s a real fun place. There is always a lot of action going on and it’s good for the fans. That’s what we are out here for is to make the fans happy. We always look forward to going out there and always have a good time. We feel like we have been pretty good down there and have had some bad luck in years past. The first time we ever went down there we ran sixth on our prelim night and ran pretty good on the final night as well. It is a kind of’ beat’em up, thrash’em up’ kind of track, so if anything you just have to take care of your equipment a little more each night so that you are looking good for Saturday night.”
Jac Haudenschild, Driver of the No.R19 Owens-Corning Fiberglass XXX
“The Gold Cup has always been one of our biggest races and we’ve been lucky enough to have won it a few times and we’d like to win it again. We are really looking forward to it this year. We’ve been running pretty good here the last few weeks. The R19 car has been real fast and we always look forward to running Chico. It’s always good racing there. You have to run good the first two nights to get your points and you’ll be racing the same cars every night so you have to be on top of it.”
Chad Kemenah: Driver of the No. 63 Golden Flavor Sesame Sticks Maxim:
“I really like Chico. It’s always pretty racy over there. I didn’t get to go out there last year and I’m really looking to going back there. I’ve run ok there in the past and hopefully can have a strong run this year. You just go out and try to win every night and earn as many combined points as you can whether it’s two nights or this year three nights. The crowd definitely gets into it and everyone has a good time out there. A lot of prestige is involved in that event as well.”
Kraig Kinser, Driver of the No. 11K Quaker State Maxim:
“You always look forward to running the big races. I always enjoy running there and racing against the California guys. Having an extra night there this year it will be even more grueling than it normally is. You’ll need to have two good consistent nights on the first two nights to be in a good spot for the final night. The goal is to run up front every night and that’s what we’ll try to do. When you put a lot of cars on a small bullring like that, things are going to happen, so you have to try to stay out of trouble as well.”
Steve Kinser, Driver of the No. 11 Bass Pro Shops Maxim:
“It’s definitely the biggest race in California and for a ¼-mile race, it definitely pays very well and is big. It’s always fun to go up there and run. You never know what’s going to happen. It’s an exciting little race track. I always look forward to going there and hopefully we have everything ready to go when we get there and have a strong run. You are going to race an extra day whereas you used to just race two nights, so we’ll see what happens. They usually have a pretty big car count and that will make it pretty tough racing all those guys every night.”
Danny Lasoski, Driver of the No. 6 Casey’s General Store JEI:
“That’s one of our biggest races of the year and we always look forward to going out to Chico. It was pretty special to win it and we’d like to win it again. The format this year will be a little bit different and it should put on a great show. You do have to actually approach it a little different as you’ll be earning event points on two nights rather than just one and race half the field. You’ll be racing entire field each of the first two nights so we’ll have to use a little different strategy.”
Toni Lutar, Driver of the No. 4X Northwest Used Auto Parts KPC:
“That’s a great race and a really fun place to race at. It’s a little ¼-mile bullring and we’re looking forward to it. They have Chili Feed and there is always a lot going on surrounding the race, so the atmosphere is pretty neat. The track is kind of similar to Haubstadt (Tri-State Speedway) in Indiana or even like Cottage Grove (Speedway in Oregon). The weather is always nice down there and it’s a good time. I can’t wait to get over there.”
Paul McMahan, Driver of the No. 91 Great Clips Maxim:
“It’s the biggest race on the West Coast and the race that any kid growing up or that has raced in California wants to win. We’ve been close a couple of times and this year I have a pretty good race car and probably my best opportunity to win it that I have ever had. It’s neat for the fans to see all the drivers every night racing. In a sense it will be different racing all three nights and a new experience. I’ve been going to the Gold Cup since 1975 or ’76, so to win that race would mean the world to me.”
Jason Meyers, Driver of the No. 14 GLR Investments KPC
“Being from California it’s certainly a race we want to put on our resume. The last two years we won our prelim night and two years ago we were leading the race and had it under control until we got together with a lapped car. It’s a race that we want to win. We want to win them all, but that race holds a special kind of memento to us since we are from California. I think it will be really good for us with it being points each of the first two nights because we run well there. We’re looking forward to the trip and the new format. You go there and you race hard every night and I think it will be even more challenging this year with the format. Chico is a place that you can get in trouble at really easily, so you have three nights to try to stay out of trouble, whereas you used to have two and kind of relax and enjoy the other night. Hopefully the new format adds to it for the fans, because that’s what we do this for.”
Joey Saldana, Driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Maxim:
“It’s a great event and Chico defiantly supports it. The fans support it and it’s a great atmosphere out here. As a sprint car driver it’s definitely a race you want to win. It’s up there with all the other big events. We’re been pretty lucky there a few times. Having a different format there this year will change things up quite a bit. It will be a lot better for the drivers getting to race three nights instead of two. For the drivers, we make a living racing, so the more we can race the better. Having an extra night will be a little tougher on the crews though, especially with how hard they have been working this season. Hopefully we run well and can get another Gold Cup.”
Donny Schatz, Driver of the No. 15 Armor All/STP J&J:
“It’s the West Coast’s biggest race and we have been fortunate to have won it. That year we did everything right from the prelim night right down to Saturday night. With event points like it has, everything is important. The Gold Cup is fun. It will be a little racing all three nights this year. In the past you always looked forward to having that one night off. I can’t to get there. I’ve kind of had a mild presence there since I won it and will try to get a victory this year. You just have to approach it and race it like you do every other race. We’ve been pretty good there a few times there and have passed some cars, but just haven’t had that winning performance and that’s what we want now. We’ve been a lot better on the short track and better in some of the conditions that we weren’t good at in past. We’ll try to get ourselves as good as we can when we get there and try to get a Gold Cup victory.”
Jason Sides, Driver of the No. 7S Wetherington Tractor Service Maxim:
“It’s always good to down to Chico. It’s a very racy track. They always do a good job preparing the track and that makes for a good race. Each night is a point night, so you have to get through those to be in a good spot for Saturday night. It would be great to win that thing and get our name on the trophy with all of the others that have won it. It’s definitely one of those races that you’d like to win.”
Lucas Wolfe, Driver of the No. 5W Allebach Racing Maxim:
“I’m really looking forward to getting back down there to Chico. They always have some nice weather down there and it’s great to be in the state of California racing. I’m definitely excited to go and looking forward to heading down the stretch this season. I’m looking forward to getting to race all three nights and it will be like a normal race night for us now running all three. It’s always a pretty entertaining track with close quarters and a lot going on. There is always a lot of action and it’s a fun place to watch a race and fun to be part of that.”
On Thursday, September 9 at Silver Dollar Speedway, tickets will be $40. Three-day tickets are available for $130. For tickets call (916) 969-7484.
On Friday, September 10 at Silver Dollar Speedway, tickets will be $40. Three-day tickets are available for $130. For tickets call (916) 969-7484.
On Saturday, September 11 at Silver Dollar Speedway, tickets will be $50. Three-day tickets are available for $130. For tickets call (916) 969-7484.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series is brought to fans across the country by many important sponsors and partners, including: Armor All (Official Car Care Products), Chizmark & Larson Insurance, Goodyear Tires (Official Tire), SuperClean (Official Cleaner-Degreaser), VP Racing (Official Racing Fuel); in addition to contingency sponsors, Jake’s Custom Golf Carts, KSE Race Products, Penske Shocks, R2C Performance, Racing Electronics, S&S Volvo; Engine Builder's Challenge participants Don Ott Racing Engines, Kistler Engines, Shaver Specialties and Speedway Engines; and Chassis Builder’s Challenge participants J&J Auto Racing, Maxim Racing and XXX Race Company.
Submitted By: Tony Veneziano