Open wheelers vie for Gold Cup on Saturday

The dirt will be flying in Chico on Saturday as the best open wheel drivers in the nation vie for the $20,000 purse that will be awarded to the winner of the 59th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions.

The championship, which begins at 7 p.m., is the culmination of four days of racing that began Wednesday at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. The week kicked off with the California Sprint Car Civil War Series Gold Cup Invitational and the United States Auto Club (USAC) Western Classic Racing Series.

Elk Grove's Kyle Larson took the top spot in both main events, with Andy Forsberg finishing as runner-up in each.

The three-day World of Outlaw format then kicked off Thursday with the Sprint Car Series and street stocks, with the mini stocks taking the track Friday, all leading up to Saturday's free-for-all.

Donny Schatz took the checkered flag on Thursday for his eighth World of Outlaws win of the season.

Beginning competition this week were Hall of Famers Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell and Jac Haudenschild, who share 16 Gold Cup titles between them.

Swindell came into the week third in the series standings, having won two of his last four World of Outlaws races. Kinser has won the event 12 times and entered in the fifth spot in the standings. Haudenschild, aka "The Wild Child" was seeking his fourth championship trophy.

Defending champion Kyle Larson also returned, along with drivers that include Shane Stewart, Rico Abreau, Joey Saldana and many, many more.

Pit gates open Saturday at 2 p.m., with the front gates opening at 5 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday's championship cost $50 and are still available by calling 350-7225.