California’s Big One; Civil War Series heads to famed Calistoga half mile Saturday
by Bill Sullivan

The Civil War Series heads to the scenic yet intimidating Calistoga Speedway this Saturday night, June 16. Photo by Steve Hardin

CALISTOGA, CA (6-11-07) - The Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Sprint Car Series is bound for the biggest track on the annual tour this Saturday night, the famed Calistoga Speedway. Nestled in the heart of the Napa wine country, this monster half mile track is the largest dirt track in California. A track for many that is described as frightening. For others its intimating. But for race fans is the perfect combination of speed and beauty.

Saturday night will mark the fourth running of the annual “Calistoga Cup” for the traveling Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Series. Thirty or more of California’s top teams are expected to compete on the track that is twice the size of those they are accustomed to and will be traveling at speedway in the neighborhood of 100 miles per hour.

“Calistoga Speedway is no track to take lightly,” says former race winner Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove. “There is no doubt this place is far more dangerous than the others with the speeds we are traveling. She is an intimidating old place and if you respect her you’ll be alright. If you don’t she can bite you harder than you can imagine.”

Entering Saturday’s event, DeCaires is one of the few drivers that has claimed victory at Calistoga Speedway. In addition to the veteran driver’s days with the Northern Auto Racing Club, DeCaires has a Civil War victory at Calistoga in 2003. For point leader Andy Forsberg of Auburn, the place commonly called “Stoga” is one of the the few tracks in California that has eluded the man they call “Mr. Excitement.”

Racing this year of the eve of Father’s Day, a victory in the 2007 Calistoga Cup would rank high on Forsberg’s racing resume as his father, Richard Forsberg turned many laps on the special Napa County Fairground’s track. In those early days, Andy Forsberg was many years from championships in the Civil War Series, Silver Dollar Speedway and Placerville Speedway but there was one thing he knew back then that he one day wanted to do, race and win at Calistoga.

“I’ve won some pretty special races, like the Fall Nationals, the Pacific Sprint Cup and the Al Hinds Memorial,” said Forsberg. “Those races are up near the top of the list of my favorites. But a win at Calistoga would go right up there with them, this place is special.”

As a youngster, Forsberg watched his father perform in many races. One of the places that stands vividly clear in his memory is Calistoga Speedway where his father spent many Saturday nights heating up the rich Napa clay on the track that has the scenic backdrop of Mt. Saint Helena.

“I saw a lot of races but I remember watching my dad race here more than the others,” said Forsberg. “This place is special and I can’t of a better Father’s Day present then a victory here. We all have to use our heads though, because this isn’t just any other race track.”

Forsberg enters Saturday’s event in the point lead of the Civil War Series. As the defending series champion, Forsberg sits with a 7-point advantage over Rohnert Park’s Brett Rollag. Rollag is a driver that can fare well at a track like Calistoga as he is a young driver that uses great patience and poise to secure a top finish, something that is surely a prerequisite for a top finish here.

Colby Wiesz of Colfax is third in the standings of the series, 14-points from the lead. For Wiesz a Calistoga victory would have special meaning as well. Wiesz is the driver of the FnF Racing #X1 co owned by Steve Tuccelli and Alan Bradway. Bradway’s brother, the late Dave Bradway Jr. had a great deal of success at Calistoga during his life that was cut short due to a racing accident.

Sacramento’s Mike Henry is fourth in the Civil War standings. Henry has been on fire with multiple wins this season in non series events at Ocean Speedway and Petaluma Speedway and is sure to be on the gas in big fashion along with DeCaires who rounds out the top five in the John Taylor Motorsports #35 car. Andy Gregg of Placerville is sixth in the standings ahead of Brandon Wimmer of Fairmount, Indiana, Matt Petty of Jackson, Carl Droivold of Grass Valley and Mark Hall of Nevada City.

Sitting one spot out of the top ten is Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, at just 14-years of age, Larson is making headlines this season with successful runs at Placerville Speedway and Silver Dollar Speedway. Larson is currently the top runner in contention for the Civil War Series Rookie of the Year awad with Mason Moore being his closest rival for the title just five points back.

Local driver Mike Benson will be a driver to watch Saturday night. A resident of Calistoga, Benson is one of few drivers that can claim the famous speedway as his hometown track. For Benson, a win at “home” would be the highlight of his racing career.

“I grew up at this place, there is nothing I want more as a driver than a win at Calistoga Speedway,” said Benson, who ranks 28th in the standings with 2 starts in the series this season. “I remember the old days here when this place was the talk of the town, they had a parade at the start of the season with all of the cars. This place saw many big names in racing. I would love to win this deal and this is one of the few races where we actually have that ability unlike when we run here with the Outlaws each year.”

The gates of the Napa County Fairground will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The pit gate will open at 3:30 to allow all race teams to unload on the infield before parking their transporters in the parking area. Qualifying is set to begin at 6:30. All seating is general admission at $20 for adults and $10 for children. For additional information on the Civil War Series visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.