PLACERVILLE, Calif. –Â After suffering a rain out last weekend, Placerville Speedway is now set to kick-off the season with opening night for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards this Saturday.
This weekend’s Spring Fever Frenzy kicks-off the 13-race campaign for the tour and marks the first of two appearances at the popular El Dorado County Fairgrounds quarter-mile, which is located just a short drive from the capital city of Sacramento. A stout field of winged 360 sprint cars are expected to converge upon the red clay and help usher in the third year of competition for the tour.
The Spring Fever Frenzy will dish out $4,500 to the winner with extra support from Elk Grove Ford and the Kyle Larson Racing bonus money automatically up for grabs. Also sharing the card on Saturday will be the BCRA Midget Lites.
With two-time and defending Sprint Car Challenge Tour titlist Kyle Hirst cutting back his racing efforts this year it opens the door for a new champion.
Hirst, however, will be in the field come Saturday as he climbs into the Tiner Hirst Enterprises house car. The now 31-year-old captured an SCCT victory at Placerville Speedway last September. Sean Becker, who finished runner up last season, looks to be a favorite for the title competing for Menne/ Monhoff Racing. Becker picked up a victory at the Nor-Cal Posse Shootout last September in Placerville and would love nothing more than to get a victory right out of the box this Saturday.
After winning the car owner championship last season Joshua Bates Motorsports also returns as heavy favorites with Tim Kaeding back in the seat of the No. 42X machine. Kaeding claimed a SCCT win at the Salute to LeRoy Van Conett last July in Stockton but suffered a season-ending injury with four events remaining, which kept him from contending for the driving title. The always exciting Kaeding is back, rejuvenated and hungry to bring home a championship this year.
Justyn Cox, who filled in for Kaeding and helped Joshua Bates to the owner championship, will be looking to stand atop the ladder himself, driving the Mike Phulps owned Metal Works No. 56 this season. Cox was one of the hottest drivers in Nor-Cal over the last half of the season.
Six-time and defending Placerville Speedway champion Andy Forsberg also returns to Friends and Family Racing this season and will be gunning to get his first Sprint Car Challenge Tour victory this Saturday. Forsberg rounded out the top-five in points last year. Opening night always brings out excitement and upwards of 40 winged 360 sprint cars are anticipated to hit the track on Saturday.