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Santa Maria Speedway, the "west's best short track" andBandit Sprint Car Series proudly announces $2000.00 to win purse for May 24^th 2008 Memorial Week-End race.  Dedicated as the 17^th annual Don Roberts Memorial, the Bandit Series sprint cars will be the featured attraction to the famed ultra fast 1/3 mile banked clay oval as the best western sprint car racers compete for the big prize money.  This is going to be one of the premier 360 sprint car shows of the season and one of three larger purse events held for the Bandit Series at Santa Maria Speedway.  The other two are the 3^rd annual Bud Stanfield Memorial Grand Slam event on July 26^th and also the 1^st Annual Bandit Sprint Car Nationals season grand finale on October 11th.

The Bandit Sprint Car Series is in its 14^th year as a series and is stronger than ever.  Competing at four tracks, the Bandits feature the likes point leading veteran ace Peter Murphy who is being challenged by young guns Justyne Hamblin, "Fast Albert" Pombo, and the amazing VanderWeerd brothers, Jace and Richard.  The banner Rookie contending crop include Hanfords own Jared Little, Gilroy Gasser Wes Gutierrez, Ricky Kirkbride, Michael Faccinto and the popular "Quick" Rick Eberhardt. Also chasing the prize money will be veterans Rusty Carlile and Davey Knott along with former champion's Jesse Mack, Jonathon Logan and multiple champ Greg Porte among a host of other strong contenders.  The Bandit Sprint Cars are the fastest weekly show where ever they compete and their thrilling slide-ways wheel-to-wheel nerf rubbing action leaves fans breathless.

This event will be dedicated to the memory of Don Roberts who was a long time Santa Maria Speedway track announcer that succumbed to cancer far too young.  He was a popular local radio personality and was a fan of sprint cars calling many great CRA and NARC events of the 70's and 80's at the 1/3 mile clay oval. He was the legendary radio voice of many local sporting events, and called Cal Poly football and baseball broadcasts as a school alumnus. His sometimes gruff and scruffy appearance covered a gentle and classy individual who left a mark on the hearts of those of us who remember him fondly. Don is missed.

Also on the card will be the D&S Automotive Championship Series IMCA Modifieds featuring hammer-down and elbows-up Kenny Kirkpatrick and the versatile Jimmy Reeves( He has feature event wins in Bandit, IMCA Modifieds and Street Stocks).  Sandy Simkins' great East vs. West Super Street Stock Challenge featuring the Santa Maria's own battling Randolph brothers Timmy and Toby, plus the door banging excitement of Champion Kirk Morgan again pacing the Speedway's Factory Stock Car division.  This powerful show will entertain and thrill with ground pounding power.  It is a great way to beat the heat and enjoy a week-end by the beach by day and fast paced racing at night.

The Speedway features free parking, free camping, a non-drinking/smoking family section, handicapped seating and reserved hill side seating for lawn chairs. For Information call 805-922-2233

All Banditos in attendance will be eligible for the double secret award by a mystery fan. This fan is a person who chooses to remain annonymous for no other reason I know than humbleness and shyness. I won't even know specifically what this prize or prizes are until tomorrow. I was told it is meaningful and significant so am passing it along.

This is a fan who approached me several weeks ago. This is person who attends races as he/she is physically able. He/she has followed our racing from the Super Modified era through Sprint Cars and I have had the privilidge of meeting this person in the past few years.

I will let those not in attendance know what this meaningful award is/was with next weeks posting.

The person let me know the prize he is donating is a special American Flag that was flown over Bagdad, Iraq and also Arlington National Cemetary.   This person is a vertran and thought it would be a good thing to do for the winner of this Memorial Week-end race.  He is to bring the flag tonight and it will be presented to the feature winner.

It is thoughtful, appropriate and we appreciate the sentiment.

Pete