(August 27, 2019) Jim Allen, Sacramento, CA … The 60th Anniversary King of the West by NARC season comes full circle when the 410 winged sprint cars return to Calistoga Speedway to compete at the Louie Vermeil Classic on Saturday and Sunday, August 31st and September 1st. The sanctioning body, which was started in 1960 by Vermeil in Calistoga’s famous Owl Garage, will join the non-wing USAC-CRA sprint cars to provide race fans with the best of all worlds at the historic half-mile located in the picturesque Napa Valley.
The lucrative two-day show features a stout $108,000 purse. The winner of each feature event will earn a $6000 payday. There is also a $2000 bonus for any driver who can win in both a King of the West by NARC winged car and a USAC-CRA non-winged sprint car.
The Calistoga races mark the 15th and 16th stop of the ultra-competitive 19-race King of the West by NARC Fujitsu Racing Series campaign. The series just wrapped up the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports this past weekend, adding two new names to the 2019 winners list (Kyle Larson and Tim Kaeding). That makes nine for the season even though several name brand drivers are still looking for their first score.
Hanford’s DJ Netto leads the high-powered series into Calistoga Speedway as the championship point leader. Even though he has yet to score a victory this year, he has been a remarkably consistent top finisher. The ability to finish in the top ten, even on what can be best described as an “off-night” is the key to winning the 2019 crown. Netto’s current margin over 2017 champ Bud Kaeding of Campbell is only 12-points (1558-1546). Kaeding is a two-time winner this season, including last Friday at the Stockton Dirt Track. Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, a three-time winner, is another seven points back in third place.
Netto is looking forward to posting another productive weekend of racing on his resume’; this one on the high-testosterone high-speed half mile oval. “I think it’s going to be a great weekend for the Northern Auto Racing Club being back at the Vermeil Classic. It should be one that all race fans should really enjoy.”
“I hope we can run upfront and contend for wins this weekend,” said Netto. “That would represent a great two-days for my team. To have a chance to win at Calistoga, I have to be smooth and turn great laps. Qualifying is huge as well as having a good car.”
Others expected to compete include Rutherford’s Rico Abreu; Ryan Bernal of Hollister; Roseville’s Willie Croft and Colby Copeland; Nathan Rolfe and Sean Watts from Atwater; Chico’s Kenny Allen; Chase Johnson of Penngrove; Grass Valley’s Jason Statler; Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign; Hanford’s Mithcell Faccinto; Shane Golobic of Elk Grove; Sacramento’s Jenna Frazier and many others.
It should be pointed out that the Louie Vermeil Classic is more than just a couple of races. It’s an entire fun-filled weekend loaded with extracurricular activities. On Friday night at the Napa County fairgrounds, seven new members will be inducted into the prestigious Calistoga Speedway Hall of Fame.
On Saturday, there will be live music at the fairgrounds pavilion, along with wine tasting activities with 25 local vintners and vendors from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, Beer Tasting will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The King of the West by NARC racing program includes qualifying, three eight-lap heat races, a six-lap trophy dash, followed by the 25-lap Fujitsu-sponsored headliner.
The ticket booth and pit gates open both days at noon. Front gates open at 4:00 p.m. Qualifying is set to get underway at 6:00 p.m.
Calistoga Speedway is located at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, approximately 25-miles north of Napa on Highway 29. For tickets and additional information, call 916-773-7225.
The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and contingency award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, ButlerBuilt, FK Rod Ends, 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, and Winters Performance Products.
All King of the West-NARC events are available on Speed Shift TV – https://www.speedshifttv.com/
UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 5 – Kern County Raceway Park
October 12 – Keller Auto Speedway w/SCCT
November 2 – Stockton Dirt Track w/SCCT
November 3 – Championship Awards Brunch – Brookside Country Club
2019 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
King of the West-NARC Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series (8/27/19)
After 14 events in the 19-race series
- DJ Netto, Hanford – 1558
- Bud Kaeding, Campbell (2) – 1546
- Dominic Scelzi, Fresno (3) – 1539
- Willie Croft, Roseville – 1529
- Ryan Bernal, Hollister (R) – 1526
- Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol (R) – 1481
- Nathan Rolfe, Atwater – 1432
- Sean Watts, Atwater (1) – 1410
- Kenny Allen, Chico – 1375
- Chase Johnson, Penngrove (1) – 1335
- Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford – 1226
- Shane Golobic, Elk Grove – 1111
- Colby Copeland, Roseville (1) – 1104
- Jason Statler, Grass Valley – 1023
- Jenna Frazier, Sacramento – 1003
- Tim Estenson, Fargo ND (R) – 986
- Matt DeMartini, Oakley (R) – 747
- Jonathan Allard, Tracy – 712
- Stephen Ingraham, Fair Oaks (R) – 689
- Tim Kaeding, San Jose (2) – 687
Other Winners: Justin Sanders, Aromas (2), Rico Abreu, Rutherford (1); Kyle Larson, Elk Grove (1).
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