Rather than sit home and watch the money drain from his bank account, sprint car owner Paul Silva wanted his car in Chico this weekend for the annual Gold Cup at the Silver Dollar Speedway.
His regular driver, Shane Stewart, has other commitments in Michigan on Saturday and couldn't race. So Silva, 28, wracked his brain and thumbed his phone book looking for a replacement driver to compete against some of the best dirt-track drivers in the country this weekend.
If his Rockstar Energy/Makita Tools/Lucas Oil No. 57 race car isn't running, Silva isn't making money. So he called upon World of Outlaw icon Jac Haudenschild, who has run a limited season on the World of Outlaws series because of the tough economy. Haudenschild said yes and flew to Sacramento on Wednesday from his Wooster, Ohio, home.
"I've been watching Jac race since I was a little kid," Stewart said of the three-time Gold Cup champion (1998, 1999 and 2008). "He's a (national sprint car) Hall of Famer for a reason."
Haudenschild was scheduled to make his first start Thursday night in a United States Auto Club non-wing sprint car competition. Tonight and Saturday they'll bolt the wing back on and battle the World of Outlaws drivers, including Elk Grove native Paul McMahan.
Stewart drove Silva's car to a second-place finish at the Knoxville Nationals on Aug. 13, earning $75,000. The Knoxville Nationals is considered the Super Bowl of dirt-track sprint car racing.
So could putting Haudenschild, who's won 52 World of Outlaws events, into the No. 57 car earn Silva more money this weekend, especially so close to home?
"I don't know, I hope so," Silva said. "All I know is I was sitting here at home bored and needed something to do."
Hydroplanes on Folsom – The Air National Guard Hydroplane Series held a four-boat exhibition on Folsom Lake on Thursday, the first time hydroplanes have skipped on the lake in 44 years.
"We are eager to showcase the sport and the goal is to garner enough support from the community so we can return there in 2012 for a full series race," Sam Cole, chairman of the Air National Guard Series, said in a news release. "Sacramento successfully supported the ChampBoats for several years and has always been receptive to racing events. It is a top-20 market area and this venue is ideal for our boats."
Cole, who lives in the Sacramento area, also wants to show local officials potential race courses on the lake and demonstrate the tour's commitment to ecology and safety.
One of the boats in the exhibition is owned by Billy and Jane Schumacher. As a driver, Billy Schumacher won the last unlimited hydroplane race at Folsom Lake, in 1967.
The hydroplanes are capable of speeds of 200-plus mph, and drivers face G-forces in turns similar to those experienced by fighter pilots.
Guarantee delivered – Bill McAnally took a lot of grief after guaranteeing one of his three drivers would win a K&N Pro Series West race before season's end.
But McAnally made good on that promise when Eric Holmes won the Spokane 200 at the Spokane (Wash.) County Raceway on Saturday. Bill McAnally Racing drivers Moses Smith and Cameron Hayley finished fifth and 18th, respectively.
McAnally, of Antelope, made the guarantee in The Bee last week and heard from race fans, employees and fellow team owners. But the best way to quiet the chirping is to bring home the checkered flag.
It's been quiet this week around the BMR compound.
His regular driver, Shane Stewart, has other commitments in Michigan on Saturday and couldn't race. So Silva, 28, wracked his brain and thumbed his phone book looking for a replacement driver to compete against some of the best dirt-track drivers in the country this weekend.
If his Rockstar Energy/Makita Tools/Lucas Oil No. 57 race car isn't running, Silva isn't making money. So he called upon World of Outlaw icon Jac Haudenschild, who has run a limited season on the World of Outlaws series because of the tough economy. Haudenschild said yes and flew to Sacramento on Wednesday from his Wooster, Ohio, home.
"I've been watching Jac race since I was a little kid," Stewart said of the three-time Gold Cup champion (1998, 1999 and 2008). "He's a (national sprint car) Hall of Famer for a reason."
Haudenschild was scheduled to make his first start Thursday night in a United States Auto Club non-wing sprint car competition. Tonight and Saturday they'll bolt the wing back on and battle the World of Outlaws drivers, including Elk Grove native Paul McMahan.
Stewart drove Silva's car to a second-place finish at the Knoxville Nationals on Aug. 13, earning $75,000. The Knoxville Nationals is considered the Super Bowl of dirt-track sprint car racing.
So could putting Haudenschild, who's won 52 World of Outlaws events, into the No. 57 car earn Silva more money this weekend, especially so close to home?
"I don't know, I hope so," Silva said. "All I know is I was sitting here at home bored and needed something to do."
Hydroplanes on Folsom – The Air National Guard Hydroplane Series held a four-boat exhibition on Folsom Lake on Thursday, the first time hydroplanes have skipped on the lake in 44 years.
"We are eager to showcase the sport and the goal is to garner enough support from the community so we can return there in 2012 for a full series race," Sam Cole, chairman of the Air National Guard Series, said in a news release. "Sacramento successfully supported the ChampBoats for several years and has always been receptive to racing events. It is a top-20 market area and this venue is ideal for our boats."
Cole, who lives in the Sacramento area, also wants to show local officials potential race courses on the lake and demonstrate the tour's commitment to ecology and safety.
One of the boats in the exhibition is owned by Billy and Jane Schumacher. As a driver, Billy Schumacher won the last unlimited hydroplane race at Folsom Lake, in 1967.
The hydroplanes are capable of speeds of 200-plus mph, and drivers face G-forces in turns similar to those experienced by fighter pilots.
Guarantee delivered – Bill McAnally took a lot of grief after guaranteeing one of his three drivers would win a K&N Pro Series West race before season's end.
But McAnally made good on that promise when Eric Holmes won the Spokane 200 at the Spokane (Wash.) County Raceway on Saturday. Bill McAnally Racing drivers Moses Smith and Cameron Hayley finished fifth and 18th, respectively.
McAnally, of Antelope, made the guarantee in The Bee last week and heard from race fans, employees and fellow team owners. But the best way to quiet the chirping is to bring home the checkered flag.
It's been quiet this week around the BMR compound.
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