May 28-29th, Memorial Day weekend, a time to give thanks’ to America’s greatest heroes and head to Calistoga Speedway, where auto racing has been part of a traditional celebration of this great American holiday since 1937. The historic ½ mile dirt oval is the last of its kind in California and with renewed interest from the racing community and the Napa County Fair Board and a lot of effort on their part, it is headed back to becoming “The Shrine for Speed” that it once was. Calistoga Speedway is the place, to watch the Indianapolis 500 on the big screen, then hit the Big Daddy’s Race Center slot car track for the second annual “King of Calistoga” 1/32 scale race. The 40 lap a main, a tribute to the 410” “King of California” sprint cars that ran Saturday and Sunday night was convincingly won by the new “King of Calistoga”, veteran dirt track slot car racer Mark Sublett.

After hot laps (following the finish of the Indianapolis 500) and several 5 lap “crash and burn” heat races and several unsuccessful attempts at starting the race, the kids got the 20 lap Jr. A main race rolling. The thunder cars put on a good show with some old fashioned door slamming wheel to wheel action. Picking up his first big win and the Jr. A Main trophy, in his first appearance this year at the B.D.R.C. speedway, it was Jeremiah "Was a Bullfrog” Wherlty out of Oakley CA. over brother Donovan Wherlty, Kyle and Jason Riley and Kevin.

After several failed attempts the 40 lap “King of Calistoga” A Main started off in double file order with Mark Sublett setting a furious pace in his 3db outlaw slot car in lane 5. An unexpected spin–out by the leader on lap 3 saw 12y.o. Macie Hammond out of Clovis CA in the R19 car taking over the top spot for the restart in lane 8. Hanging on for a couple of laps till she also lost it, it was Mr. Hammond, Macie’s Dad in lane 7 snatching away the lead on the restart. Next it was his turn to slip-up and track “Mastermind” Fuller took over the lead until he also blew it. Setting the pace now was 14y.o. Tyler Hammond’s turn to lead it. Blazing up through the field, the # 3db car took the lead again with several close calls along the way. About mid race the 2 spin rule took effect due to the time factor. At that point things settled down with a hungry Mark Sublett driving the 3db car for all it was worth fending off several challenges and everyone else trying to keep up. About 10 laps clicked off smoothly towards the end with Mark surviving one more restart on lap 38 for a green, white, checker finish. A great slot car racer, Mark Sublett was proclaimed the 2010 “King of Calistoga” in victory lane. Mark runs real good out there and has worked hard to help B.D.R.C. A huge win Mark! But not unexpected! Congratulations! All you hot shot dirt track slot car racers out there common, common out for the Gold Cup and see if you can beat, the “King of Calistoga”! Bet you can’t!

Thanks’ for supporting Calistoga Speedway and bringing the kids out to the races Stan, you guy’s are the best bunch of rookie drivers we’ve had in a while! We’ll be looking for you at the Gold Cup or Trophy Cup. What happened to the rest of you slot car racers? Got sucked into watching the boob tube? Common you geeks get off the couch and a real life at the races! Special thanks goes out to CEO Charlene Moore and The Napa County Fair Board for this opportunity to bring the very best dirt track slot car racing to you and for the very best ½ mile sprint car racing on the west coast at the great “Shrine for Speed” Calistoga Speedway and last but not least, our friend, the very best sprint car driver around Calistoga, # 77 Mike Benson. Don’t worry Mike, we’ll have that 1/32 scale # 77 ready for you about Gold Cup time! See you at the races!