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Hoosier Tires Civil War series here tonight
Point leader Mike Henry headlines field of top 32 point runners in series

CHICO, CA - The Hoosier Racing Tires California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series swings back into action tonight with the crown jewel event of the 13-race campaign, the 5th annual Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational right here at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico.

Mike Henry of Sacramento, California will headline the field tonight for the fifth annual Pacific Sprint Cup.

This annual event features the top 32-drivers in the current series point standings and boasts more than $50,000 in winnings and contingencies. In addition to inflated purse, this event officially opens California’s biggest week in open week racing, kicking off the 4-day-long 49th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions on the Silver Dollar Fairground and will be the 10th round of competition for the Hoosier Tires California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series.

Exclusive for 360 cubic inch powered sprint cars the 2002 campaign consists of 13-events at five different California tracks between the months of March and October.

As this competitive series enters its biggest event of the season, Sacramento resident Mike Henry will headline the field with one of the biggest points leads in the history of the series. Henry, who will likely clinch the series title prior to the end of the season baring any unforeseen circumstances, has had much success at Silver Dollar Speedway in the past, winning the last two Memorial Day events here during Civil War sanctioned event.

As he enters the Pacific Sprint Cup, Henry, the 2002 Placerville Speedway champion, now boasts a 55-point lead over Elk Grove resident Johnny Rodriguez. Rodriguez is no stranger to success on the Chico clay as well, with a track championship under his belt here as well as a multitude of top finishes during point racing events. When not chasing other venues, Silver Dollar Speedway has served somewhat as a home track for Rodriguez who has been competitive in many asphalt events this season when not running with the Civil War series.

Sitting third in the point standings is Marc Hall of Grass Valley. Hall trails by just 10-points behind Rodriguez and is always a top runner in Chico along with Ron McBride of Sacramento who ranks fourth in the standings and Steven Tiner of Elverta who rounds out the top five ahead of Billy Wallace, Greg DeCaires, Marc Mackay, Mike Monahan, Jimmy Trulli and Chad Riolo.

As the Civil War series enters its final leg of the 2002 season, silly season has recently begun as well and could ultimately change the roster in a few spots for this upcoming event. David Robinson Jr. of Auburn ranks 11th in the point standings.

During the season Robinson piloted the #1K Redi-Green Motorsports owned machine and has recently separated from the team. Entrants for the Pacific Sprint Cup are determined by driver point standings, therefore Robinson may enter the event aboard a different car while any driver within the top 32 ranks of the point standings may enter the event behind the seat of the 1K. Neither the Robinson or the Redi-Green camps have officially announced their plans but its expected both parties will be in attendance.

Drivers just making the cut on to the entry list for the event include Wheatland driver Jeremy Phillips who competes at Silver Dollar on a part-time basis throughout the season. Phillips inched up to the 30th spot after round nine and sits ahead of Oroville’s Destiny Hays.

Just one of two lady racers competing with the Civil War series, Hays is the defending Pacific Sprint Cup winner after posting the first win of her young racing career in this event last year. Also a regular top runner in the Friday night point series, Hays is the 2001 Rookie of the Year of Silver Dollar Speedway.

Sitting on the bubble for eligible entries is Chico regular Sean Becker who scored his first season win earlier this year during Friday night action. Drivers sitting just out of the top 32-ranks hoping for some declined entry forms include Jeff Parady of Pope Valley and Scott Russell of Placerville.

The September fourth event will feature qualifying, four ten lap heat races, a B-main and a 30-lap feature event to complete the program. In addition to the Pacific Sprint Cars, Wednesday’s event will also featuring the Silver Dollar Speedway dirt modifieds in their annual "Dirt Modified Cup" an event which completes the 2002 racing season for this division here.

The front gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Wednesday with warm-ups starting at 5:30. Qualifying will begin at 6:30 with heat races for both divisions following at approximately 7 p.m. All seating is general admission for Wednesday’s event and tickets will be available at the gate. Adult tickets are $15, juniors are $10, children are $3 and those under six are free.

Gold Cup Daily News
Published daily during the annual Gold Cup Race of Champions in Chico, CA
Published by John Padjen Motorsports
Design and Production - Bill Sullivan
Assistants/Contributors - Troy Hennig, Dennis Gage, Richard Day, WoO
Photographs supplied by Aron Jones, JohnPadjenMotorsports.com

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