From the Positivity column, September 2003.
Nick Rescino Jr. will be trying some USAC sprint car pavement racing soon. His dad, Nick, a West Capital Raceway champion, and all around HammerDown! driver, is putting together the car for "Nicky" to run the Turkey Night at Irwindale. I still recall "Quick Nick" winning at West Cap against the sprint cars, while he was in his super modified #96. Nick was in the pit grandstands at the Gold Cup, sitting in a three row area that included Chuck Gurney, Craig Smith, and RC Ron Horton. Many thanks to Gaye Carmichael, John Padjen Motorsports, Pat Ponzo, Brian Sperry, and Steve Turnross for their gracious hospitality at the Gold Cup. ...Mike Zieske, and John Gibson were good friends helping this dummy look for his lost car key after the Chili Feed. It could only have been Jesus that helped us find the single key in the dark Chico pit parking lot near the Old Chico Fun World. Congrats to my main man, Matt "Bob Uecker" Hoffman, and Satomi on the birth of number one son, Jacob.
...James Fisher of Fisher Engines (Ohio) flew out to California to work with Jac Haudenschild's Woodward #4 team. Fisher also helped Destiney Hays who had John Steck tuning the #20D.
Among the heroes roaming the pits at Chico, we saw Chuck Miller, Jimmy Boyd, Larry Burton, Ed Wilbur, and Johnny Anderson. Jason Sides is headed for World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year honors. The Bartlett, TN. driver impressed many Californians with his performances at Calistoga, Tulare, and Chico. Sides told HammerDown!, "This is just like home!" The short tracks of Arkansas, and Tennessee are where Sides cut his racing teeth.
...Tim Kaeding and Steven Tiner handled emcee duties with Troy Hennig at the Chili Feed Bikini contest. A group of drunken festers lifted a engine-less sprint car to the top of the pit bleachers in the wee morning hours following the feed. The sunrise revealed the sprinter as the first to claim a seat for Saturday's action.
From the Positivity column, December 2002.
Best of 2002: The Gold Cup - Steve Kinser won his 10th Gold Cup in a intense race with California's Tim Kaeding, a favorite of the Chico fans. The 40-lapper was an epic battle between the master, Kinser and the upstart, Kaeding gunning for his biggest win ever. They swapped the lead, and raced hard through traffic on the high-banked, fenceless Silver Dollar Speedway clay. After the race, Kaeding did donuts that rivaled the best we've ever seen. Said Kinser, "Tim will win this race many times if he sticks with it". ...The Friday night Bikini contest adds to the 'show'. The Gold Cup is not just a race, it is an event. Held each September in Chico, California, the Gold Cup Race of Champions is a must for any sprint car fan.
Silver Dollar Speedway
Chico, CA.
"plant the root, get the fruit."