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John Padjen Motorsports
Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, CA
Contact: Troy Hennig
For Immediate Release: Shane Scott Returns to the Cockpit
Big Money Up For Grabs on Bill Brownell Night at the Speedway
(Chico, CA 4-07-08)...Winged sprint car drivers will be geared up and ready to take home one of the largest prizes of the year at Silver Dollar Speedway this Friday, April 11. On the line is $3,000 for the main event winner and a prestigious trophy in honor of Bill Brownell, a local Chico Motorsports business man who passed away in 2006. Helping sponsor the nights racing is Chico Custom Cycles and Pro Pool Tile Cleaning. Also racing this weekend during the Feather Falls Casino Friday night championship series will be the wingless sprints and dirt modified's.
Brownell was a local familiar face who spent countless hours around Silver Dollar Speedway as a spectator and friend to John Padjen. Brownell's other close friends decided to pay tribute to this great Chico legend by hosting a race in his honor. This race was scheduled to kick off our season in March, but rain washed it away. Padjen decided to schedule the race again and picked this April 11th to remember his friend. This race will be an annual event with the perpetual trophy being handed down each year to the winner. Thanks to the The Awards Company in Chico for supplying the Bill Brownell trophy.
Joining the 410 sprint cars this weekend will also be seven-time track champion Shane Scott. The local Chico legend was one of Brownell's best friends and to honor his pal Scott is racing for one night only. Scott was able to hit the track last Friday night and get some practice laps. It has been six years since Scott race competitively in a sprint car.
Brownell was a fierce motorcycle competitor and champion. His life revolved around owning motorcycle's and selling them in Chico. He was one of the original owners of Cycleland Speedway. Many of the local residents know Brownell through his motorcycle fame but around Silver Dollar Speedway he blended in a sprint car fanatic. He loved all racing but there was something about watching the younger outlaw karts drivers moving into a sprint car at Silver Dollar Speedway that Brownell really appreciated. He is sorely missed around the race track.
Front grandstand gate will open at 6 pm. Racing is scheduled to start at 7 pm. Adult general admission is $11.00. Seniors and Juniors are $9.00 and children are $5.00.
A total of 88 drivers suited up for the first point race last Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway. San Jose masher Tim Kaeding won the 410 sprint car main event. Santa Rosa driver Terry Schank Jr. won the wingless main event. Marysville dirt modified champion Ryan McDaniel went back to his roots and won the street stock feature. Grass Valley resident Patrick Weger was the class of the field wining the Dwarf Car main event.
Placerville's Andy Gregg is committed to running the Brownell race this weekend. Gregg started his racing career in the motorcycle's. Gregg had National recognition as a top rider as a youngster and traveled all over the States chasing the motocross dream, He raced against eventual multi-time champion Ricky Carmichael as a kid. But after 18 broken bones it was time to trade in the motocross goggles and get into something with four wheels. “I loved motocross but after awhile I just got too banged up,” said Gregg. “When we moved into the sprint cars I absolutely loved the speed and racing. I just wished I had got into sprint cars a little earlier because I was behind the learning curve compared to most of the other drivers my age,” said Gregg. I guess he is a quick learner because Gregg just broke the all-time 360 track record at Placerville this year and is one of the top drivers at Chico on Friday nights. “I wasn't going to come this weekend to Chico but when I heard the Brownell night got rescheduled we decided to race,” said Gregg. “Us motorcycle guys need to stick together.”
For more information please contact the office at 916-969-7484 or through the Internet at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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