By Gary Thomas Image courtesy of Paul Trevino
Watsonville, CA…For the first time in its brief history the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards is geared up to collide with the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo at this Saturday’s 61st “Johnny Key Classic.”
Not only is it the Ocean Speedway debut for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour, but it also marks the start of just four races to go before a champion is crowned. Parity has reigned supreme thus far with nine different winners in the nine SCCT events contested this season.
The Johnny Key Classic originally started out at the paved San Jose Speedway following the passing of driver Johnny Key during a racing crash in 1954. It then moved to the fairgrounds dirt track in 1978 and had been a staple at the speedway until the closing of the dirt oval in 1999.
After several years sitting idle the Ocean Speedway decided to bring the event back in 2007 and this year will mark the 15th consecutive season that it is held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds facility. On Friday night the Ocean Sprints will also have an event at the quarter-mile, creating a double header weekend for teams and fans to enjoy at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
With the championship season slowly winding its way down Foresthill’s Ryan Robinson has built his Sprint Car Challenge Tour point lead up to 24-markers heading into the Johnny Key Classic. Robinson has been “Mr. Consistency” as of late, having finished among the top-five in five consecutive races with SCCT. The ultra-consistent stretch has also included a trio of podium finishes for he and the Weiher Racing No. 14W team.
Clarksburg’s Justyn Cox heads into Ocean Speedway in search of his second Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards win of the year to help close the gap between himself and Robinson. Cox has routinely gotten around the Watsonville bullring in solid fashion. Most recent tour winner Colby Copeland has been another consistency machine and now finds himself third in points, just 29-behind Robinson for the top-spot.
Opening round winner Tanner Carrick and popular veteran Sean Becker complete the top-five in points going into Saturday. Rounding out the top-10 are Chase Majdic, Isaiah Vasquez, 2015 Key Classic winner Andy Forsberg, Petaluma Speedway SCCT winner Kaleb Montgomery and Blake Carrick.
Two-time Johnny Key Classic winner Justin Sanders of Aromas heads into the weekend sitting atop the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo standings. The winner of the “David Tarter Memorial” with SCCT is fresh off his ninth Ocean Speedway victory of the season last Friday.
Adult tickets this Saturday August 21st at Ocean Speedway cost $30. Juniors 11-16 cost $15, kids 6-10 are $10, while children five and under are free. Tickets for the event will be available at the gate on race day or online at https://www.eventsprout.com/event/johnny-key-classic-night-2 The pit gate for competitors opens at 1pm, while the front gate for spectators opens at 3:30. The drivers meeting will be held at 3:45, with track packing shortly after. Hot laps, Bianchi Farms qualifying and heat races will follow. Saturday’s Key Classic feature will be 35-laps in distance. The Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California with the physical address being 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076. Info on the track can be found at www.oceanspeedway.com
The Sprint Car Challenge Tour would like to thank Elk Grove Ford, Abreu Vineyards, Hoosier Racing Tires, Kyle Larson Racing, Pit Stop USA, Bianchi Farms, Bullard Construction, D&D Roofing, Garth Moore Insurance and Financial Services and High Sierra Industries for their support this season.
More information on the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards can be found at our official website www.sprintcarchallengetour.com – Be sure to also like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sprintcarchallengetour and follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/360SCCT for the latest breaking news regarding SCCT. You can also find us on Instagram by searching scct360. ------- Remaining Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards Events
Saturday August 21: Ocean Speedway in Watsonville (61st Johnny Key Classic)
Friday October 8: Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford (Cotton Classic)
Saturday October 16: Petaluma Speedway
Saturday November 6: Stockton Dirt Track (38th annual Tribute to Gary Patterson w/KWS-NARC)
Wednesday November 24: Merced Speedway (Non-Point Special Event w/USAC National Midgets)
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