ROSEVILLE, Ca — The competitive Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series has released its tentative schedule for its 2009 campaign. The exclusive series for 410 cubic inch powered sprint cars is set to compete at 11 different facilities in the season to come, three of which are in the Pacific Northwest after several years of requests by racing teams and spectators.
“We’re very excited about the upcoming season for the Golden State Challenge Series. We’ve managed to streamline the campaign and at the same time, take it to new places in 2009,” said Bill Sullivan of Handy Racing Promotions Incorporated, promoters of the Golden State Challenge Series. “This series is California’s premier race series. Although tough economic times are ahead for all of us, we remain optimistic that we will see great numbers in the year to come on the track and in the stands of each event.”
The 2009 Golden State Challenge Series will open this year at Placerville Speedway. In years’ past the series opened with a two-day event at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico known as “The Mini Gold Cup.” This year the World of Outlaws will return to California to sanction the annual spring classic north of the central valley, therefore, the action packed bullring on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds will be the site of the first championship point racing event for the series that annually crowns “The King of California.”
Placerville Speedway will be one of 24 events on the upcoming Golden State Challenge tour. The series will compete at the foothill track on two occasions during the campaign, returning on August 22 for the final event of the tour and the crowning of the series champion.
Following the opener at Placerville, the Golden State Challenge will compete at a variety of stellar dirt track facilities. Antioch Speedway is slated to host the second event of the series on April 4th which will mark the first of two visits during the year. Petaluma Speedway is due to host two events, the first will be April 18th and the second will be August 1st. The popular Tulare Thunderbowl will host the fire breathing winged warriors for five different events throughout the season. The southern based track is one of great popularity by fans and competitors and will surely draw record numbers in the season ahead.
Ocean Speedway on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds will host three Golden State Challenge events this season with first as early as April 25. Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico will be home to the campaign on four different nights this year while the famed Calistoga half mile will host the series for the classic two-day event that takes place over Memorial Day weekend.
The series will travel to American Valley Speedway in Quincy for a sole appearance on June 6th. The campaign will return to Santa Maria Speedway for a single event as well on July 11th.
One of the most interesting aspects of the 2009 Golden State Challenge Series will be the extension into the Pacific Northwest for a total of three events. The first event will be Saturday, June 13 at Southern Oregon Speedway. The second leg of the northern portion of the series will be a Monday night event on June 15 at Cottage Grove Speedway. The two point races will lead up to the prestigious “Dirt Cup” at Skagit Speedway which will not award points to the Golden State Challenge Series. In past seasons numerous drivers would travel north to prepare for the Dirt Cup. The expanded schedule draws is an addition that many competitors have been asking for over the years.
As the Golden State Challenge Series heads into the 2009 season, sponsorship opportunities are available for title and co-title sponsorship of the campaign. Members of the business communities throughout California are invited to become a part of one of the country’s most recognized spectator sports, auto racing. The Golden State Challenge Series offers a multitude of advertising opportunities where even the slightest investment will receive quality exposure and surely increase revenue for one’s business while improving California’s classic traveling series for winged sprint cars simultaneously.
Those interested in becoming a part of the Golden State Challenge sponsorship program can learn more about the opportunities available by visiting the contacts section of the official series website www.handyracingpromotions.com. Inquiries may also be emailed direct to Bill Sullivan, Director of Communications for HRP at bsullivan@placervillespeedway.com. The series business office is located at 100 Harding Blvd in Roseville, California and can be contacted by phone at (9160 969-7484 Monday through Thursday.
