CHICO, Calif. — While most local sprint car seasons are close to an end or have already concluded, the California circuit is set for a busy stretch all throughout October.
It begins this weekend on the final day of September as the historic Silver Dollar Speedway hosts a doubleheader for the Fall Nationals.
On Friday, the quarter-mile welcomes the Sprint Car Challenge Tour for the Tyler Wolf Memorial after weather interfered earlier this year when the event was first scheduled. Andy Forsberg leads the series with just a few races remaining, and last year’s SCCT champion, Ryan Robinson, is in the runner-up spot.
Saturday brings the Fall Nationals finale, which pays tribute to the late Stephen Allard, and concludes Silver Dollar’s Speedway’s season — first under SLC Promotions.
Kalib Henry enters the weekend as the defending Fall Nationals champion and looks to become only the fourth driver to claim back-to-back titles.
SCCT Set For Keller Auto Speedway
The following weekend the focus shifts to Hanford, Calif.’s Keller Auto Speedway as the Peter Murphy-promoted facility is set for a pair of prestigious events Oct. 7-8.
Friday’s program is headlined by the SCCT’s penultimate race of the year, which will be the 37th annual Cotton Classic.
NARC 410 Sprints Return To Action
The following night, the NARC Fujitsu General 410 sprint cars resume racing after a lengthy break in action dating back to late July. The NARC program is the Morrie Williams Memorial and will be capped by two 20-lap features with the second being lined up on a complete invert of the first’s finish.
Currently atop the NARC points is Dominic Scelzi with hopes to earn his second consecutive title, but not too far behind is the man who has been his toughest competition all season, Willie Croft.
After the Morrie Williams Memorial, it’s right back to Hanford on Oct. 14 for NARC as Keller Auto Speedway hosts the Anthony Simone Classic.Â
The event features one of the most unique format twists in sprint car racing. Once the standard NARC feature is complete, drivers have the option to show off their versatility by removing the wings and competing in a non-winged feature.
The Anthony Simone Classic kicks off a two-day weekend for NARC with the series making the quick trip to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway the next night for the inaugural Dennis Roth Classic.
The night of racing will salute the legendary car owner and the feature’s purse will serve as a nod to his iconic ride’s number with the main event paying $8,300-to-win and $830-to-start.
Trophy Cup To Commence At Thunderbowl
Following NARC’s big weekend, the attention will stay locked on the Thunderbowl as the 28th annual Trophy Cup commences just five days after the Dennis Roth Classic.
The three-day event is one of the most anticipated of the year in the Golden State as nearly 100 drivers are expected to invade Tulare. On top of showcasing the best talent of California’s local scene, this year’s roster also features the likes of Carson Macedo, Tyler Courtney, Zeb Wise and Justin Peck.
Buddy Kofoid claimed his first Trophy Cup title in 2021 aboard the Works Limited No. 57 and is currently on this year’s entry list in the Crouch Motorsports No. 11.
The busy month wraps up with NARC’s penultimate race on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The series will make its lone trip to Bakersfield’s Kern County Raceway Park of the year and the first since Justin Sanders won on the same weekend a year ago.