Big weekend of motor sports action in central San Joaquin Valley
The big three racetracks of the central San Joaquin Valley are all in action this weekend, starting Friday night in Hanford and continuing Saturday night in Madera and Tulare.
The highlight of the weekend is the second annual Peter Murphy Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, with an $11,000-to-win main event for the King of the West 410 sprint car series. Also racing Saturday night on the third-mile clay oval are the U.S. Auto Club West Coast Sprinters 360 non-winged series (competing for a $4,000 first-place prize) and the Western RaceSaver Sprints.
The event honors Peter Murphy, an Australian racer who made the Valley his home base for many years. Murphy was forced into retirement after suffering a head injury in a 2013 crash in Antioch but continues to promote the sport. He has a connection to the top two drivers in the King of the West points standings: Murphy is the crew chief for points leader Dominic Scelzi, the 18-year-old son of former NHRA drag-racing champion Gary Scelzi of Fresno. Bud Kaeding, who sits second in the series seven points behind Scelzi, drives the Oakhurst-based Williams Motorsports car that Murphy piloted from 1997-2002.
Friday night at the third-mile clay oval at Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford, the track’s King of Kings 360 sprint car series headlines in a $3,000-to-win race that figures to attract many of the state’s top racers planning a weekend of action in the Valley. The track’s two IMCA modifieds divisions are also in action.
Saturday night at Madera Speedway, the track’s featured LoanMart Late Model Series is in action on the third-mile paved oval with round five of an eight-race series that ends each season with a $10,000-to-win race. Saturday’s main event is split into twin 50-lappers and pays $1,000 to win. Other divisions in action: Super Hobby Stock Series, Legends of the Pacific, MST, Toyota Sedans, 4-Bangers, Mini Cup and South West Trucks.
This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Big weekend of motor sports action in central San Joaquin Valley."