(11/6/17) Stockton, CA … The secret to any good book is an even greater ending. So if you’re looking for an exciting nail-biting conclusion to a thrilling open wheel action adventure, then the Stockton Dirt Track is the place to be on Saturday, November 11th. That’s when the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series will write the final chapter on their ultra-competitive 2017 season with the 34th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson.
ED NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for November 4th, but was rained out.
Race fans will be treated to an action-packed night of open wheel racing on a docket that also features the popular Sprint Car Challenge Tour (SCCT). Saturday afternoon activities at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds also feature a car show, live music and great food. The festivities kick off at high noon.
Not only has the King of the West-NARC series produced 10 different winners in 15 events, it showcases a torrid championship battle that probably will not be decided until the final lap of the season. What started as a season-long three-team battle for the King of the West-NARC title, has now boiled down to a two team slug-fest between Campbell’s Bud Kaeding and 15-year old driving sensation Gio Scelzi of Fresno in recent weeks.
This duo has swapped the lead in the standings five-times this season with Kaeding currently maintaining a slim 855-852 point lead. To put that margin in perspective, the two drivers could swap positions during qualifying.
Mathematically speaking, Kaeding, a two-time feature winner this season, can wrap up his first series title with a victory on Saturday. However, that is easier said than done in a series that has produced a constant supply of entertaining sprint car performances this season. Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto was the latest driver to win on the circuit at Hanford (October 14th), becoming the third “first time” winner this year. Penngrove drivers Chase Johnson and Buddy Kofoid are the other two.
Knowing that the rest of the field is there to play the role of spoilers, both Kaeding and Scelzi know what needs to be done.
“I only have one option on Saturday night,” explained Scelzi, a three-time winner this season, who is looking to become the youngest winner in series history. “To put this thing away, I need to win the race so I can win the championship.”
“If you stop and think about it, there are way too many variables in play and that can divert my teams focus.” said Kaeding, who is chasing down his first KWS-NARC championship, after three-consecutive runner-up finishes. “I’m just going to go out and race my race.”
Also expected to compete at Stockton is Kingsburg’s Cory Eliason; DJ Netto of Hanford, and Kyle Hirst of Paradise. Hirst is also zeroing in on and can claim the Sprint Car Challenge Tour championship with a solid run with that division. He is one of many drivers who will be doing “double-duty” racing a 360 and 410 c.i. powered sprint car for both sanctioning bodies.
Others looking to improve their final positions in the standings include Bobby McMahan of Elk Grove; Atwater drivers Sean Watts and Nathan Rolfe; and Jarrett Soares of Discovery Bay.
The KWS-NARC program includes qualifying, four 10-lap heat races, the six-lap Hoosier Tires Dash; the 12-lap Flowmaster B-Main; followed by the 30-lap high stakes Fujitsu Sprint Car Series headliner.
Front gates open at 3:00 p.m. Qualifying will get underway at 5:00 p.m.
The Stockton Dirt Track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, CA. The address is 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For more information, call 209-466-9999, or go to NARC410.com
ED NOTE: Camping is available at the fairgrounds.
The Stockton Dirt Track Championship Weekend also includes these events:
Friday, November 10th – Hunt Magneto Wingless Tour, Dwarf Cars, Bombers, B4, and vintage.
Saturday November 11th – Car Show – Noon to 4 p.m. Driver Autograph Session and Live Music
The King of the West Fujitsu Racing Series – presented by the Northern Auto Racing Club is co-sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Contingency award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, ARP Racing Bolts, BMRS, Butler Built, FK Rod Ends, Flowmaster, Fuel Safe Racing Cells, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, PSC Industrial Services, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Weld Racing Wheels, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Williams Roofing, and Winters Performance Products.
2017 KWS-NARC FUJITSU SERIES POINT STANDINGS
(After 15 races in the 16-race Series)
- Bud Kaeding, Campbell (2) – 855
- Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno (3) – 852
- DJ Netto, Hanford (1) – 824
- Cory Eliason, Kingsburg (1) – 819
- Kyle Hirst, Paradise (2) – 731
- Bobby McMahan, Elk Grove – 725
- Sean Watts, Atwater – 705
- Michael Kofoid, Penngrove (1) – 695
- Jarrett Soares, Discovery Bay – 690
- Nathan Rolfe, Atwater – 651
- Chase Johnson, Penngrove (1) – 463
- Shane Golobic, Fremont (2) – 463
- Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford (1) – 454
- Willie Croft, Sacramento – 450
- Brent Bjork, Fremont – 399
- Craig Stidham, Fresno – 353
- Mathew Moles, Fresno – 315
- Dominic Scelzi, Fresno – 299
- Jason Statler, Grass Valley – 294
- Jeremy Chisum, Fremont – 251
(Feature victories in parenthesis)
