Racing fans here in the north state are due for a treat this weekend, something missing from Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway for about nine years. And it’s coming fast.
The Western All-Stars DIRTcar Late Model Series is back at the dollar on Saturday and track announcer Troy Hennig described it as “NASCAR on dirt” in his weekly press release. From what it sounds like to me, these are similar to the dirt modifieds that are part of the Feather Falls Casino Friday Night Points series, only with some more oomph to them.
Click HERE to see the Western All-Stars Web site.
Defending dirt mods champ Richard Papenhausen, a Chicoan, will get his chance to take on the series’ top drivers and defend his home turf all at the same time. Papenhausen is the defending modifieds champ at SDS and often has a hard time finding places to compete in the late model races. Most take place in Bakersfield, along with stop-bys in Las Vegas, Antioch, Quincy, Santa Maria and Hanford.
Any time we can get something new and interesting to come to Chico it’s always a good thing, and I’m intrigued to see how just how fast these folks can drive on the quarter-mile dirt oval. And it would be that much sweeter for Nor-Cal if Papenhausen emerges victorious.
About Me: Leland Gordon is the prep sports writer for the Chico Enterprise-Record and a 2006 graduate of Chico State with a journalism major and French minor. His prep sports writing career began when he was 17 years old at the Mountain Democrat in Placerville and he has also done news writing for The Orion at Chico State and Silicon Valley Community Newspapers in San Jose.
Also known as “Lee,” Mr. Gordon is a fanatic when it comes to the following things: long car trips, hiking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, bowling, disc golfing and a whole bunch of other stuff. But his passion (for now, at least) is Northern Section prep sports.
Leland earned seven varsity letters at El Dorado High School and refereed prep wrestling in the north state before getting hired at the E-R.
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