CHICO — Since 1987, the Mini Gold Cup has traditionally kicked off the season at the Silver Dollar Speedway.
Through the years, the Mini Gold Cup has fluctuated between being sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series or locally led by NARC/King of the West Sprint Car Series.
This year, however, the Mini Gold Cup returns to its World of Outlaw roots, but the race is being led by one of its own drivers.
Grass Valley’s Brad Sweet is revitalizing the Mini Gold Cup and promoting the 32nd Mini Gold Cup presented by Riebes NAPA Auto Parts at Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday.
“I remember the popularity of the Mini Gold Cup growing up as a kid in Northern California,” Sweet said. “It always symbolized the start of sprint car racing in our area. This year, I wanted to get involved and bring back the World of Outlaws for the local fans.”
The $10,000-to-win Mini Gold Cup presented by Riebes NAPA Auto Parts will be the first appearance of the 410 sprint cars at Silver Dollar Speedway in 2019.
Pit gate is scheduled to open at 2 p.m. with the front grandstand gate opening at 5 p.m. Qualifying for the sprint cars will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The popular dwarf cars are also scheduled on this same night. Fans can reserve their tickets by calling (844) DIRT-TIX or by visiting https://bit.ly/2TDo4h0.
Leading the charge heading into the Mini Gold Cup is North Dakota’s Donny Schatz, driving the Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing No. 15.
Schatz won his 10th World of Outlaws driving championship in 2018.
Schatz is a former three-time winner of the Mini Gold Cup and just won his first event of 2019 at the Las Vegas Dirt Track.
Nipping at his heels will be current World of Outlaws point leader Daryn Pittman of Oklahoma.
Pittman, driver of the Roth Motorsports No. 83, has won two of the opening four World of Outlaw events this year.
Brad Sweet is currently in the third spot as he will look to get his Napa Auto Parts/ Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49 back into victory lane for the first time this season.
Carson Macedo, of Lemoore, returns to Chico for the first time as the new driver of the Kyle Larson Racing No. 2 car.
