(6/6/2022) Sacramento, CA… This weekend a pair of big events will jumpstart a loaded June schedule for the NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Cars. On Friday, June 10th Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway hosts the 34th Annual Pombo-Sargent Classic, and the next night Saturday, June 11th the 31st Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial will take place at Placerville Speedway.
The races are the first two of seven slated June events for NARC that will see the series appear in three different states. It’s the series’ first of two 2022 visits to Ocean Speedway and the lone trip to Placerville Speedway.
Both nights pay tribute to legends of California racing history. The duo of Al Pombo and Marshall Sargent were super-modified rivals who won many races in the mid-20th century, often needing to battle each other for victory in their heyday. Dave Bradway Jr. was a rising star of West Coast sprint car racing until he sadly lost his life in a racing accident in 1987. Bradway was a multi-time NARC feature winner, won the 1984 track championship at Baylands Raceway Park, and had many more accomplishments in his career that was cut short.
Courtesy of generous support from C&H Motor Parts, the 40-lap Bradway Memorial Fujitsu Feature will award $5,000 to win. Contributions from other supporters have also boosted the pay of Carwash Mike Avilla Fast Time, the Hardcharger award, lap money, heat races and more.
With racers wishing to honor fellow racers in the best way, winning the two events have become some of the most coveted on the NARC circuit with each’s win list featuring some of the sport’s best names.
On Friday at Ocean Speedway NARC will be joined by IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, and the Western Midget Racing Midgets.
Saturday will be a complete night of sprint car action as the Sprint Car Challenge Tour 360 sprints will accompany NARC in Placerville
Championship Chase
Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi continues to lead the way in his quest for back-to-back NARC titles. The Dominator is yet to miss the podium through eight races in 2022, but he does have a few competitors not too far behind ready to pounce should he slip up.
Courtesy of four consecutive top-fives including his first series win since 2018, Colfax’s Willie Croft has jumped to second in the standings.
Completing the top-five in points is a trio of consistent drivers in Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto, Campbell’s Bud Kaeding, and Aromas’ Justin Sanders. Sanders may be the hottest of the three after not missing the podium during the Pacific Northwest swing as he continues to rebound from a tough Peter Murphy Classic weekend.
The drivers situated second through fifth in the standings are currently separated by a mere 14 points.
Who to Watch
The bullrings will provide a prime opportunity for Fremont’s Shane Golobic to snag his first series win of the year of perhaps even sweep the weekend. The Matt Wood Racing driver has earned four of his 13 career wins and 14 of his 52 career podiums at Ocean Speedway. Golobic is a one-time series winner at Placerville, and he’s been very consistent with 11 top-fives in 17 attempts. He’s also the most recent World of Outlaws winner on the red clay oval.
When quarter miles are on the calendar Justin Sanders is always a name to pencil in as a favorite. Ocean Speedway is his home track, and his dozens of victories at the Santa Cruz county facility are highlighted a pair of NARC triumphs. Sanders also owns two series wins at Placerville, meaning four of his 11 career victories have come at the bullrings.
Ryan Robinson returns to the seat of the Mike Phulps No. 56 this weekend and should compete for his first series victory. Last year the Foresthill native set the 410 track record at Ocean Speedway in the Phulps machine, and he finished runner-up in NARC’s August Watsonville appearance. He also finished a respectable seventh in the 2021 edition of the Bradway at Placerville.
Other drivers expected to compete at least one night include Sebastopol’s Joel Myers Jr., Redding’s Max Mittry, Benicia’s Billy Aton, Idaho’s Logan Forler, Clovis’ Corey Day, Penngrove’s Chase Johnson, and many more.
Fan & Competitor Info
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire Format on Friday at Ocean Speedway will feature ARP Fast-Time Qualifying, 10-lap Heat Races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi if necessary, and the 30-lap Fujitsu Feature.
The NARC-King of the West Hoosier Tire Format on Saturday at Placerville Speedway will feature Carwash Mike Avilla Fast-Time Qualifying, 10-lap Heat Races, a six-lap Sunnyvalley Bacon Trophy Dash, a Kaeding Performance Semi, and the 40-lap Fujitsu Feature.
The Placerville Speedway pit gate will open at 2:00 P.M. with the front gate following at 3:00 P.M. Racing will begin around 6:00 P.M.
On Saturday in Placerville Adult GA tickets will be $40. Seniors (ages 62+), military, and juniors (ages 12-17) can purchase tickets for $35. Kids (ages 6-11) are just $20, and kids 5 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or via the following link: https://www.eventsprout.com/event/king-of-the-west.
Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2601 E Lake Ave Watsonville, CA 95076. For more information visit oceanspeedway.com or call (831) 688-7223.
Placerville Speedway is located at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville, CA. For tickets and other information, visit www.placervillespeedway.com
The Pombo-Sargent Classic and Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial can be viewed live on floracing.com along with the entire NARC Fujitsu General Sprint Car schedule.
The Northern Auto Racing Club would like to thank Pacific Highway Rental, Jess & Tami Gallagher, Gary Scelzi Motorsports, Roseville Precision, the Bradway Family, Chicks in Crisis, the Mike Murphy Family, and the many lap sponsors for their generous support of the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and helping make the night all the more special for the competitors.