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Third annual Peter Murphy Classic coming to Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway on July 22 & 23
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA – June 22, 2016….On July 20, 2013 the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series had one of its toughest nights in recent memory when popular driver Peter Murphy suffered injuries during a main event crash at the Antioch Speedway.
The result of the accident ultimately forced Murphy to retire from Sprint Car racing as a driver, having suffered a traumatic brain injury, ligament damage in his neck, shoulder and knees, along with a compressed T-3 vertebra.
Despite that however, he has said time & time again that he has no ill feelings towards the sport. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find someone that has a bigger passion for the sport of Sprint Car racing than Peter Murphy. With that in mind the last two season’s he has worked extremely hard to put on the Peter Murphy Classic at Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway. It has certainly turned out to be a huge success and this year for the first time it expands to a double header weekend on Friday & Saturday July 22 & 23.
Murphy’s goal is to once again make the weekend a special one that people will remember, along with getting as many cars & fans to come out as possible.
“I really want this weekend to be a special one for all the fans & teams,” Murphy said. “The King of the West Sprint Car Series has seen some of the best drivers & teams you’ll find anywhere come through it and Tulare is a great place to host an event like this. I still can’t thank everyone enough for all that they did for me after my accident. It’s been so humbling to have the support from people all over the world. This is a way for me to give back and show how much I appreciate the sport we all love. I couldn’t be happier to have the Peter Murphy Classic as a two-day event and I hope everyone can come out to support both nights.”
Along with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series also competing on July 22 & 23 will be the wingless warriors of the USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series. It makes for a perfect tie-in, as Murphy spent time running both with and without the wing in his career. The Murphy Classic gives Sprint Car fans the best of both worlds at one of the most exciting race tracks in the country. The weekend as a whole will also benefit the NARC Benevolent Fund, which aided Murphy following his accident.
“The Northern Auto Racing Club Benevolent Fund is something that I definitely hold close, because it really kept my family & business going following my accident,” he commented. “We’re getting event shirts made once again and all the proceeds will be going to the benevolent fund. We’ve been fortunate enough to raise over $14,000 the last couple years, so I really want to thank everyone for supporting it all. I also want to encourage everyone to bring a friend to the races that hasn’t been before. The best thing we can do is bring new people into our sport and I hope the Classic is an event that can get them hooked.”
Murphy will again have a victory podium made up with champagne to help celebrate the winners in style. It will surely be a victory lane presentation that fans want to stay for. The Australian/ New Zealand style Pole Shuffle will also return both nights, with the top-four in Friday’s feature locked into Saturday’s shuffle. We will have numerous fan giveaways during the weekend, along with the Williams Roofing of Fremont, CA Royal Fan Draw both nights.
Friday night following the races on the fairgrounds there will be a post race party with a live band, plus food & drinks available. Everyone is encouraged to stop by and enjoy the evening with us. Camping is available on the fairgrounds with info found by calling 559-686-4707 or at www.tcfair.org
Reserved grandstand seats for the Peter Murphy Classic on July 22 & 23 cost $20 each night, with general admission bleacher tickets $18. To reserve your seats contact (559) 688-0909. The front gate will open at 4pm with racing expected to get underway around 7pm.
The Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway is located at the Tulare County Fairgrounds on the corner of Bardsley and K Streets in Tulare, California. From the junction of SR 99 and SR 137, go west on SR 137. At South K go south one-half mile to the Fairgrounds. More info can be found at http://www.thunderbowlraceway.com
Info on the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series can be found at www.racepmg.com
Steve Lafond & Tim Holland Photos
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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