By Steven Blakesley / Golden State Racing

Roseville, CA – 2006 SRL champion and Frank Jordan-owned Golden State Racing with driver Eric Schmidt, turned its first laps on the new All American Speedway in Roseville, CA on Friday.

The track, which has been resized to a tricky 1/3^rd mile layout, will be the center piece in the team’s plans on chasing the 2007 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series California State Championship.

“It’s great to be back,” Schmidt said of returning to Roseville. “We’ve been traveling for three to four years and it’s great to be at my hometown track.”

Schmidt last competed on a frequent basis at the speedway in the late 90s and made select appearances there in 2000 and 2002. His roots to the speedway date back to the 1994 Mini Stock championship.

“With our friends, family, and sponsors being in this area, it means a lot to race here.”

Golden State Racing will tour in the Western Late Model division around the three major NASCAR Whelen sanctioned ovals in 2007, competing at Roseville for much of the season and occasionally adding dates at Madera Speedway and Altamont Motorsports Park.

Points can be accumulated at multiple tracks under the new NASCAR weekly series rules, and the team will chase large car counts throughout the year.

 

This marks a major shift for the team, after touring with the Stockcar Racing League for three full seasons and claiming the title in 2006.

The California State Championship attack accents a new Grand National program that the team is hopeful will yield a full-time schedule in 2008.

“We’re resetting our goals,” Schmidt said. “We wanted to keep racing while still building the Grand National program.”

Golden State Racing will tentatively compete in both 200 lap Grand National events at the Altamont Motorsports Park on the paved half-mile.

“Financially the Western Late Model is more viable but you just simply can’t compare it to an SRL car; as a driver you have to love the speed and power (of the SRL).”

Golden State Racing will open its season on April 7^th at the All American Speedway. Fans can follow the team by logging onto www.goldenstateracing.com

 

Golden State Racing is sponsored and supported by: AT&T, Yellowpages.com, Hugin Components, Higgins Hardwood, Inventory Sales Company, Ramos Oil, Long Engine Systems, Prestige Gunite, Joiner Motorsports, Racing Stripes, Sew-Cal Monogramming, Blakesley Sports Media, Holiday Inn Express, and Oxford Suites.