Sacramento, CA – 10/1/18 … The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series swings back into action this Saturday, October 6th, when the highpowered open wheel teams return to the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield.
With only three races remaining on the 2018 schedule, the season is essentially on the line for those with championship aspirations. Leading an all-star contingent of drivers will be current point leader Kyle Hirst of Paradise, CA. Hirst is attempting to zero in on this fourth King of the West-NARC crown in six years and currently leads Elk Grove driver Shane Golobic by a 1197-1163 margin.
Golobic is mathematically still in the hunt, but must post top podium finishes the rest of the way, and hope for some DNF’s on Hirst side to have an honest shot.
On the other side of the coin, if Hirst can score a top ten finish at Kern County on Saturday, followed by another at Hanford on October 13th, he would effectively clinch the title the second he took the green flag in qualifying at November 3rd season finale in Stockton. The incentive is a $10,000 winner share from the $60,000 championship point fund.
“I try not to think about those things,” admitted Hirst, when asked about future results. “There’s already enough pressure to succeed in this business without having that added to the mix. However, I know that if stay focused and go out and race my race, then I’ll be in position to produce a good night for my team. If I get away from that premise, things tend to go sideways, and not in a good way.”
Hirst is the most prolific winner this season, claiming five feature events at five different tracks, giving him 28 for his King of the West-NARC career. To date, there have been six different winners. Golobic is next in line this season with three victories.
“It’s seems like it gets harder and harder to win out here all the time,” continued Hirst. “I can name at least five drivers right now who should have already won at least once this season. All they needed was a small break or a split-second advantage in qualifying – but that doesn’t always happen.”
Also making the trip to Bakersfield is 2017 driving champion Bud Kaeding of Campbell. Kaeding is currently third in points.
Others expected to compete include Penngrove driver Chase Johnson; Roseville’s Colby Copeland and Willie Croft; Atwater drivers Nathan Rolfe and Sean Watts; Dustin Golobic of Fremont; Sacramento’s Jenna Frazier; Hanford drivers DJ Netto and Mitchell Faccinto; Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi; and Grass Valley’s Jason Statler. Up for grabs will be more than $20,000 in prize money and contingency awards.
The King of the West-NARC racing program will feature qualifying, three heat races, a trophy dash, and the 30-lap Fujitsu-sponsored headliner. The racing card is loaded with action. It also includes Mini-Stocks, American-Stocks, Mod-Lites, and RaceSaver Sprint cars.
Front gates open at 3:00 p.m., qualifying at 6:30 p.m. and racing kicking off at 7:00 p.m.
Pit gates open at noon. The drivers meeting is at 4:45 p.m.
The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd. in Bakersfield (I-4 and Highway 43 Interchange.) For more info, go to www.kernraceway.com or NARC410.com
NOTE: There will be a driver autograph session behind the main grandstands beginning at 4:00 p.m.
NOTE: If any driver can beat the KWS-NARC qualifying record of 12.406 seconds, they will earn a $1000 bonus from Croft Racing.
2018 KWS-NARC FUJITSU SERIES POINT STANDINGS
(After 13 events in 16-race Series – 10/1/18)
- Kyle Hirst, Paradise (5) 1197
- Shane Golobic, Fremont (3) 1163
- Bud Kaeding, Campbell (1) 1134
- Chase Johnson, Penngrove 1096
- Colby Copeland, Roseville (1) 1068
- Dustin Golobic, Fremont ® 1030
- Nathan Rolfe, Atwater 941
- Jenna Frazier, Sacramento ® 912
- DJ Netto, Hanford 890
- Willie Croft, Roseville (1) 861
- Jarrett Soares, Discovery Bay 790
- Bobby McMahan, Elk Grove 769
- Sean Watts, Atwater 754
- Jason Statler, Grass Valley 716
- Tanner Thorson, Minden NV 667
- Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford 580
- Richard Brace Jr., Auburn 578
- Matt Dumesny, Sydney, Australia 520
- Justin Sanders, Aromos (2) 513
- Mark Barraso, Merced 484
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 13 – Keller Auto Speedway, Hanford, CA – Cotton Classic
November 3 – The Stockton Dirt Track, Stockton, CA – Tribute to Gary Patterson Championship Night.
November 4 – Brookside Country Club, Stockton, CA – Championship Awards Banquet
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires and HydrochemPSC. Associate and contingency award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Butler Built, FK Rod Ends, Flowmaster, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Weld Racing Wheels, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Williams Roofing, Winters Performance Products and Croft Racing.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Website: www.NARC410.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingofthewestsprints
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NARC410
Instagram: www.instagram.com/narc410
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