The 56th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions kicks off tonight and runs through Saturday at the Silver Dollar Speedway featuring the best sprint car drivers in the nation, as well as plenty of the local racers you would typically see competining in Chico on Friday night's
It's easily the race of the year in Chico.
World of Outlaws Driver Jason Myers says, "The history that's behind the Gold Cup Race of Champions for over 50 years now, it's really a special race, it really has a lot more meaning than I think most people realize.
Sprint Car Driver Kyle Hirst says, "We look forward to the Gold Cup every year, I think everyone in California looks forward to it. All these people come every year and look for the best racing of the year."
And that's because the race draws the World of Outlaws, sprint cars' premiere drivers as well as a nifty little grand prize of $50,000.
3 Time Gold Cup Winner Jac Haudenschild says, "Like the short track here at Chico and we've always had pretty good luck here and you know hopefully we get the car going good and get it up front again." He adds, "It's been one of my favorite tracks over the years and you know I like short track racing and competition, you know you've got good local guys running here."
And for those local drivers there's plenty of motivation. Obviously the money would be nice, but they want to prove that they can hang with the Outlaws, especially on their home turf.
Action Sports Lee Carrell asks, "Do you feel a little responsibility to do well against the Outlaws to show them, you know this is my home track and you're not just gonna come in here and wipe the floor with us?"
Hirst responds, "Yeah I feel like it's our privilege, it's our home track, so us guys have to run up front and give our home town a good name." He adds, "The World of Outlaws, they're the best around you know they do this day in, day out. It's their job they give 110% every time they're out there, so to get to race against them it's a privilege and hopefully we can hang with them and give them a run for their money."
And if they do, it could put them in a position to join the Outlaws in the future. Reporting in Chico with the Silver Dollar Minute, I'm Lee Carrell.
