TULARE, Calif. — The time has arrived for one of the crown jewels of California sprint car racing.
In two days, the gates will open at Thunderbowl Raceway, signaling the beginning of the 28th edition of the famed Trophy Cup.
The autumn staple of the Golden State racing circuit features one of the most unique formats in the sport with a heavy emphasis on inverts and accumulating points by moving forward every time cars roll on the track.
Each driver will participate in both Thursday and Friday’s prelims and take their single best night as their point total heading into Saturday’s finale. The person with the most points at the end of the week emerges as the champion.
With the format and prestige the Trophy Cup has built over its nearly three decades of existence, the event draws roughly 100 entries with many states represented. This year is no different as a loaded roster of talented racers is set to compete for the right to be called a Trophy Cup winner.
The Favorites
It’s difficult to narrow down such a talent laden field to a small group of favorites, but half a dozen drivers stand out as those with a strong chance to claim the coveted event.
• Two-time Trophy Cup titlist, Shane Golobic, is still at the top of his game and could become just the fourth participant with at least three Trophy Cups.
The Fremont, Calif., native is one of the most calculated wheelmen in California and the Trophy Cup format suits his style. Golobic routinely finishes among the top-10 in the event, and this year should be no exception for the Matt Wood Racing pilot.
• Another Californian, Corey Day, will likely be in the mix as the laps fade on Saturday night.
Day finished fourth in his Trophy Cup debut last year, one of the many impressive accomplishments he’s notched in his early career. The Clovis, Calif., youngster is already a six-time winner with California’s NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car Series and owns a pair of podiums with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars.
Though he’s never won a race at Tulare, his résumé suggests he’ll contend. Corey’s father, Ronnie, won the inaugural Trophy Cup in 1994.
• A Hoosier is next on the list with Tyler Courtney journeying west from Indianapolis to compete.
“Sunshine” is hopping back in Kevin Kozlowski’s Works Limited No. 57 with Paul Silva on the wrenches.
While Courtney has little Thunderbowl experience, he proved his potency in the Works Limited ride when he won the Dirt Cup during at Washington’s Skagit Speedway in June.
Back in March the recently crowned Tezos All-Start Circuit of Champions titlist piloted Kozlowski’s car for a pair of Tulare Outlaw shows and posted a best finish of ninth.
• Also among those chasing a first Trophy Cup title is Dominic Scelzi.
The 25-year-old has hit his stride around the Thunderbowl these past two seasons with three NARC victories and four Kings of Thunder victories since the beginning of 2021 including one this past weekend.
It’s one of the few races left to check off on Scelzi’s West Coast bucket list, and he looks to finish the job in 2022.
• Three years ago, Rico Abreu became the first driver to sweep Trophy Cup after topping both prelims and claiming the Saturday feature along with the points, and he’s aiming for his second championship this year.
On top of his 2019 Trophy Cup dominance, Abreu boasts a pair of Outlaw victories at the Thunderbowl (2014 & ’15), and he’s fresh off winning the inaugural Dennis Roth Classic at Tulare with NARC.
• The Sooner State will be represented with one of the nation’s top talents in the form of teenager Ryan Timms.
Timms doesn’t have many Thunderbowl laps but was victorious last October in the Trophy Cup finale feature and finished sixth in the standings.
With another year of racing under his belt, it would be no surprise if he were to move up five spots this year.
Dark Horses
As with any roster as deep as the Trophy Cup’s, there are plenty of names capable of coming out on top despite not being those with the highest expectations.
• One of the nation’s winningest sprint car drivers this year, Justin Sanders, hasn’t traditionally been the strongest in Tulare, but he’s recently shown improvement and can’t be counted out in his pursuit for a first Trophy Cup title.
Back in April Sanders got his first Thunderbowl victory, and last year he finished eighth in Trophy Cup points.
• Silver Dollar Speedway co-promoter Colby Copeland quietly took home runner-up honors in the 2021 Trophy Cup and looks to move up a spot this year.
Copeland is a former prelim night feature winner and has become one of the steadiest competitors in California.
• While he now primarily resides in Ohio during race season, Cole Macedo is a California native back in the Golden State and set to compete this week.
Macedo won the Attica-Fremont Sprint Car championship this year with Ray Brooks Racing, and the team is making the haul to California for Trophy Cup.
Last year, Macedo narrowly missed the top-10 in points and could be a threat at the title with having the familiarity of being in the Brooks No. 18. Macedo podiumed this past weekend in the 360 portion of the Dennis Roth Classic while filling in aboard Caeden Steele’s car.
• Hanford, Calif., native D.J. Netto has described the Thunderbowl as one of his favorite tracks, and his results show why.
He’s a former winner there in both 410 and 360 sprint cars, and he’s twice been a top-three finisher in Trophy Cup standings (2016 & ’21). He’ll look to finish the job in 2022.
• Over the past few weeks Tim Kaeding has shown he still has plenty left in the tank.
The three-time Trophy Cup champion is looking to equal his father, Brent’s, record of four titles while driving a car entered by Roth Motorsports.
• The only thing keeping this next driver out of the favorites category is he doesn’t quite get the seat time he once did, but Kyle Hirst is one of the most talented drivers the West Coast has ever seen and is a threat at any race he enters.
The pilot of the Tiner-Hirst Enterprise No. 94 is still chasing his first Trophy Cup title, but he’s won just about every other major event in California. Hirst has finished in the top three in the points on three occasions.
Many More
The drivers listed above only account for a small portion of the stacked entry list, and the eventual champion may not even be among them.
• Four former Trophy Cup champions in Jonathan Allard, Willie Croft, Bud Kaeding and Craig Stidham will also be in action.
• More top talents from eastern states are entered including Zeb Wise (Indiana), Hunter Schuerenberg (Missouri) and Austin McCarl (Iowa).
• And of course, dozens more from California’s strong local contingent will be looking to keep the Trophy Cup in its host state.