APTOS, Calif. – The King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series has officially released its 2014 schedule, which showcases 16 dates at 10 different tracks throughout California.
The schedule includes a number of special events that have been synonymous with the tour over the years, as well as a few new additions to the slate. Along with the 16 events already locked up, there is also currently a TBD weekend on the schedule for Sept. 12-13.
The upcoming season will mark the fourth campaign held under the King of the West Sprints banner and the 29th overall year since the Golden State 410 Series came into existence back in 1986. It will also be the first full season contested with the direction and leadership of John Prentice and Brent Kaeding, who took over helm of the KWS Series this past September.
For the first time the King of the West 410 Sprint Cars will kick off the season at the Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare during the inaugural Spring Thunder Nationals presented by KRC Safety Company on April 12. The one-third mile clay oval has become one of the most popular venues on the west coast over the last handful of years and will also host KWS on May 17 for what will be the annual Chris & Brian Faria Memorial. The Faria Memorial will also include the always entertaining USAC West Coast Wingless 360 Sprints that night.
The high-banked bullring of Placerville Speedway once again plays host to a pair of KWS 410 events next season, with those occurring on April 19 and July 19. The famed Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico will hold two King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series events in 2014, with both being special shows. The first will be on May 3, which marks the always prestigious 24th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. The second will be on June 6 and be known as the second annual David Tarter Memorial.
Kings Speedway in Hanford will feature two dates during the upcoming season, including the return of the prestigious Pombo/Sargent Classic as a King of the West 410 event on June 14, which also coincides with the Kings County Fair for the first time. The 29th annual Cotton Classic on Oct. 11 is another surely can’t miss show, with the KWS Winged 410’s paired with the wingless 410 sprint cars of the AMSOIL USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series.
Hosting a pair of events in 2014 is the always pristine Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, with the first coming on June 20 and the second on July 12, which will be the fourth annual Howard Kaeding Classic. California’s newest dirt venue, the Stockton Dirt Track, will also see the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series on two occasions, including Aug. 2 and Nov. 1, which marks the season-finale for the second year in a row.
The finale will also be the 31st annual Tribute to Gary Patterson and was a very successful one last season, with this coming year expected to be even bigger and better as it also marks championship night for the Civil War 360 Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster.
Holding single-night KWS showcases in 2014 will be the Petaluma Speedway on May 10, Marysville Raceway Park on June 7, Calistoga Speedway on June 21 and Antioch Speedway on July 26.
“It’s going to be a great year for the King of the West Sprint Car Series,” said John Prentice of the Prentice Motorsport Group. “If you look at the schedule you’ll see a number of big events and that’s a major focus. Having special shows is a key for any traveling series and next season you’ll see we have quite a few of them. The schedule worked out great with no conflicts between KWS, Civil War and the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo, so I can’t thank all the promoters enough for working together to make it happen. There’s a lot of positive energy going on throughout the Sprint Car community in California right now and that is definitely a great thing.”
2014 King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series
April 12 – Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, Calif.
April 19 – Placerville Speedway – Placerville, Calif.
May 3 – Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, Calif.
May 10 – Petaluma Speedway – Petaluma, Calif.
May 17 – Thunderbowl Raceway – Tulare, Calif.
June 6 – Silver Dollar Speedway – Chico, Calif.
June 7 – Marysville Raceway Park – Marysville, Calif.
June 14 – Kings Speedway – Hanford, Calif.
June 20 – Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, Calif.
June 21 – Calistoga Speedway – Calistoga, Calif.
July 12 – Ocean Speedway – Watsonville, Calif.
July 19 – Placerville Speedway – Placerville, Calif.
July 26 – Antioch Speedway – Antioch, Calif.
Aug. 2 – Stockton Dirt Track – Stockton, Calif.
Sept. 12-13 – TBA – TBA
Oct. 11 – Kings Speedway – Hanford, Calif.
Nov. 1 – Stockton Dirt Track – Stockton, Calif.