Tickets on sale now for the much anticipated 30th annual “Tribute to Gary Patterson” at the Stockton Dirt Track November 2
By Gary Thomas
Stockton, CA – October 16, 2013…Tickets are on sale now for the fast approaching “Tribute to Gary Pa…tterson” at the Stockton Dirt Track on Saturday November 2 featuring championship night for the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series, a special open 360 Winged Sprint Car event and a large fireworks show to cap the evening.
To purchase your tickets contact (916) 370-9417 and to view a seating chart log onto http://stocktondirttrack.com/grandstands.pdf to find the seats you want. There will also be a car show and live band during the day from noon to 4pm behind the grandstands so make plans to arrive early and enjoy the festivities with us. The front gate will open at 3:30pm on November 2 with the ticket booth opening at 2pm.
Premium reserved grandstand seats cost $30, with general admission bleachers being $20. Kids 6-12 in the bleachers cost $10 with children five and under free. Box seats in sets of six will be sold for $180 and sets of eight for $240. There will also be a $5 convenience fee for each ticket purchased. Tickets will be left at will call on November 2 and can be picked up at 2pm that day.
A number of drivers are expected to pull double duty at the event on November 2 event in Stockton, including defending “Tribute to Gary Patterson” winner Rico Abreu of St. Helena. The high-flying 21-year-old has scored two King of the West 410 victories so far this year and has had a solid season racing throughout the country in both Sprints & Midgets. Abreu’s win last season at the “Tribute to GP” came in dominating fashion and he’ll look to duplicate that once again this year.
Sacramento’s Kyle Hirst will be gunning to wrap up the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series title at Stockton and join his father Rick as a Northern California Sprint Car 410 champion. Hirst has claimed three KWS wins this year, as has his teammate Tim Kaeding of San Jose, who is another one looking to pull double duty on November 2. Kaeding has also ripped off nine World of Outlaws victories in 2013 and is coming off a thrilling win at the “Cotton Classic” this past weekend aboard the famed Roth 83.
The purse for the Winged 360 Sprint Car portion of the “Tribute to GP” is going to pay $2,200-to-win and $400-to-start. The runner up in the feature will earn $1500, with third place paying $1200, fourth place $1,000 and fifth place $900. Initial plans are to have the 360’s run a KWS style format during the night, which includes qualifying, heat races, a dash, LCQ and main event. For any info regarding the Winged 360 portion of the event, which will follow Civil War/ Rebel Cup rules contact 707-816-9901.
Three-time Civil War 360 Sprint Car Series champion Sean Becker of Roseville is expected to bring the Dan Monhoff owned No. 35 machine to Stockton looking to cap the 2013 campaign in style. The “Shark” recently won the “Gold Fever Open” at Marysville Raceway Park and also picked up opening night of the “Fall Nationals” in September at Silver Dollar Speedway. Princeton’s Mason Moore, who captured the “Fall Nationals” finale this year is another that will be gunning to take home the 360 portion of the “Tribute to GP” as is multi-time Civil War Series champion Andy Forsberg of Auburn and more.
Known as the “Dancing Phantom from Stockton,” the “Preacher,” the “Hostile Hippie” or just simply “GP,” Gary Patterson was one of the most colorful characters of his time and captured a number of major wins in his career, including the Gold Cup Race of Champions, the Super Dirt Cup in Washington and the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ascot Park among others. Patterson unfortunately lost his life in a Sprint Car crash at Calistoga Speedway on Memorial Day weekend 1983 and an event in his memory has been held every year since. “GP” moved to Stockton, California in 1957 and actually began his career at the Stockton 99 Speedway.
The Stockton Dirt Track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California and is built inside a one-mile horse track. For information on the speedway visit www.stocktondirttrack.com
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