Gold Cup Race of Champions
Silver Dollar Speedway | Chico, California
Saturday, September 09, 2023
Race Recap  

THE DAY HAS ARRIVED: Corey Day Cruises to Gold Cup Win for First World of Outlaws Victory

The Sprint Car world knew a Corey Day breakthrough on the big stage was imminent. And the day arrived Saturday at Silver Dollar Speedway’s California crown jewel event.

The Clovis, CA native has shined primarily on the west coast but also in other parts of the country over the past two years. Racking up wins against California’s toughest competition and impressing as he debuted at tracks in the Midwest suggested the kid was destined for stardom. And in Chico, CA, Day made the strongest testament to that path.

In the 69th running of the Curb Records Gold Cup Race of Champions presented by Riebes Auto Parts, Day started on the pole and drove a perfect race to claim his first career World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car victory. The 17-year-old led every circuit of the 40-lap finale to collect a $25,000 payday and a special triumph in his home state.

After the checkered flag flew, Day gassed the Jason Meyers Racing #14 around the quarter mile powered by emotion. After parking in Victory Lane, Day climbed completely atop the wing to a massive applause of the crowd happy to see one of their own take California’s biggest race.

“This is kind of where I got my start and really put myself on the map with my first breakout run,” Day said. “It’s unbelievable to be there. To do it in front of you fans is unreal. The amount of Corey Day shirts I’ve seen here this weekend is awesome. I appreciate you guys so much. I’m just at a loss for words. We’ve been close a couple times. We were close at Skagit, close at Perris and Bakersfield last year and couldn’t do it. This is a relief, for sure. It’s something I’ve dreamed about for a long time.”

The win came in only Day’s 19th career Feature start with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He became the seventh different driver to notch their first Series win at Silver Dollar Speedway and only the third, joining Kyle Larson (2011) and Jonathan Allard (2014), to do so in the Gold Cup finale. Day became the second competitor to earn their first victory this year along with Brady Bacon. The World of Outlaws all-time win list now sits at 151 different drivers. He also followed the footsteps of his car owner as Jason Meyers is a former Gold Cup champ (2010 & 2013).

For Day, the win came as a culmination of a nearly perfect night. After locking in the Toyota Racing Dash through his Thursday prelim night, the teenager was able to rest easy early on while most of the others competed in four Heat Races. When the time came to draw for Dash starting spots, Day was the last one to draw, and the one was all that was left, putting him on the pole. After trading a few sliders and crossovers with Buddy Kofoid, Day went on to top the Dash.

In the Feature, the main challenge became navigating a bevy of restarts early in the night. A collection of cautions interrupted the flow in the opening laps. But Day never got rattled. Each time the green flag flew, he would pull ahead of Buddy Kofoid.

As the race neared the halfway mark, the action ramped up behind Day. Kofoid tripped up on the cushion on Lap 15, allowing Justin Sanders and Carson Macedo by to take spots two and three. Then three circuits later, Macedo slipped by Sanders to take over the runner-up position.

Macedo looked to be closing on Day, but then disaster struck for the Lemoore, CA native on the 25th lap when he went over the cushion in Turn 2 and fell to 10th by the time he regained control, effectively ending his hopes. Sanders took over the second spot with Macedo’s misfortune.

Corey Day racing at Silver Dollar Speedway
There was no catching Corey Day at Silver Dollar Speedway as he rolled to the Gold Cup title and his first World of Outlaws win (Trent Gower Photo)

As the laps faded, Day’s biggest challenge became traffic and getting smoothly through a part of the racetrack. He began to have problems exiting Turn 4 inside 10 laps to go allowing Sanders and Kofoid to close. The gap dwindled from over three seconds to less than two.

“I didn’t know if they (Sanders and Kofoid) were on me or if they weren’t,” Day admitted. “Honestly, I sucked on the bottom of (Turns) 3 and 4. I could not get off (Turn) 4 and get through the center to save my life. I’ve lost races by getting passed around the top at this place, and I’ve won doing the same thing, so I didn’t know where to be. I was just trying to get around lapped cars.”

But even with the trouble getting ahold of that part of the track, it wouldn’t matter in the end. Ultimately, Day maintained the speed he needed to take the checkered flag with more than a two-second lead and cement his name in the history books in front of his home crowd.

“It’s a dream come true,” Day said. “It’s been one of my goals for ever since I started racing. When you start racing, you want to be an Outlaw one day. To have my name on the list of winners is unreal.”

Claiming the second spot for the second night in a row was Justin Sanders. The result also marked Sanders’ second runner-up in the Gold Cup finale with the other coming in 2017. Overall, Sanders came away very satisfied with the effort of he and his Mittry 2X Racing team but did feel a tinge of disappointment with being a spot away.”

“This is awesome to run second at a big race like this,” Sanders said. “It’s kind of a bummer being just one spot short both nights. I would’ve liked to at least get one of them, but we’ll take it. Like I said, congrats to Corey. He’s going to win a lot of them. Hopefully we can get one one day.”

Completing the top three was Buddy Kofoid to give California natives a podium sweep every single night of this year’s Gold Cup. Like the two ahead of him, Kofoid landed on the podium both of his nights after topping Friday’s prelim. The Penngrove, CA native felt his Roth Motorsports #83 was strong enough to contend for the victory had circumstances presented him with the right opportunity.

“I felt like we had a really good car,” Kofoid said. “I moved up early to try the top, and it was just super dirty because the bottom was so good. I just tried to work it in and probably got tight a couple times and launched myself off and would fall back to fifth. I’d drive back to third, get second, fall back to fourth, and get back to second. So, I thought we had a really good car. I feel like even towards the end with Justin and I racing we were catching the leader a little bit. It would’ve been nice to have a yellow, or if the top would’ve come in a little bit better I feel like it would’ve created an even better race.

Dominic Scelzi and Brad Sweet rounded out the top five.

An 18th to ninth effort gave Chase Randall the KSE Racing Hard Charger.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to Spencer Bayston. NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Dominic Scelzi, Carson Macedo, and Logan Schuchart.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars complete the west coast swing with two more nights in California. First up is Kings Speedway in Hanford, CA on Friday, September 15 for the $21,000-to-win Tom Tarlton Classic. The next night takes the tour up to Placerville Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts 49er Gold Rush Classic. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all of the racing live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (40 Laps): 1. 14-Corey Day[1]; 2. 2X-Justin Sanders[3]; 3. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[2]; 4. 41S-Dominic Scelzi[7]; 5. 49-Brad Sweet[9]; 6. 17W-Shane Golobic[5]; 7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[6]; 8. 5-Spencer Bayston[8]; 9. 57W-Chase Randall[18]; 10. 24X-Chase Johnson[12]; 11. 24-Rico Abreu[14]; 12. 41-Carson Macedo[4]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[20]; 14. 17M-Kalib Henry[11]; 15. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[16]; 16. 2-David Gravel[10]; 17. 42X-Justyn Cox[24]; 18. 83-James McFadden[21]; 19. 20G-Noah Gass[15]; 20. (DNF) 18-Giovanni Scelzi[17]; 21. (DNF) 0-Jonathan Allard[23]; 22. (DNF) X1-Michael Faccinto[13]; 23. (DNF) 92-Andy Forsberg[19]; 24. (DNF) 22-Ryan Bernal[22]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11014Corey Day 400.00040Running90$25,000
23+12XJustin Sanders 40-2.629Running90$10,000
32-183JRMichael Kofoid 40-3.200Running90$6,000
47+341SDominic Scelzi 40-3.474Running90$5,000
59+449Brad Sweet 40-4.097Running90$4,000
65-117WShane Golobic 40-4.521Running90$3,500
76-11SLogan Schuchart 40-5.502Running90$3,200
8805Spencer Bayston 40-6.633Running90$3,000
918+957WChase Randall 40-8.066Running90$2,800
1012+224XChase Johnson 40-8.416Running90$2,500
1114+324Rico Abreu 40-8.571Running90$2,300
124-841Carson Macedo 40-9.703Running90$2,250
1320+715Donny Schatz 40-10.344Running90$2,200
1411-317MKalib Henry 40-12.231Running90$2,100
1516+117Sheldon Haudenschild 40-12.577Running90$2,050
1610-62David Gravel 40-12.767Running90$2,000
1724+742XJustyn Cox 39-1 LapsRunning90$2,000
1821+383James McFadden 39-1 LapsRunning90$2,000
1915-420GNoah Gass 39-1 LapsRunning90$2,000
2017-318Giovanni Scelzi 24-16 LapsDNF90$2,000
2123+20Jonathan Allard 24-16 LapsDNF90$2,000
2213-9X1Michael Faccinto 19-21 LapsDNF90$2,000
2319-492Andy Forsberg 16-24 LapsDNF90$2,000
2422-222Ryan Bernal 6-34 LapsDNF90$2,000
KSE Hard Charger: Chase Randall
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11083James McFadden 00.000Running90$0
22022Ryan Bernal 0-1.785Running90$0
3300Jonathan Allard 0-5.623Running90$0
48+442XJustyn Cox 0-6.475Running90$0
513+81TTanner Holmes 0-6.900Running90$0
614+85VColby Copeland 0-7.110Running90$0
711+488ND.J. Netto 0-7.829Running90$0
84-43Kaleb Montgomery 0-8.876Running90$0
97-26Tim Kaeding 0-8.916Running90$0
101009Kasey Kahne 0-10.824Running90$0
119-21Chance Grasty 0-11.361Running90$0
1215+37BSean Becker 0-12.243Running90$0
1316+346JRJoel Myers Jr0-12.286Running90$0
146-883VDylan Bloomfield 0-12.856Running90$0
155-107Ashton Torgerson 0-13.705Running90$0
1612-451Shane Hopkins 0-14.315Running90$0
1717083TTanner Carrick 0361.902Running90$0
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11014Corey Day 00.000Running0$0
22083JRMichael Kofoid 0-1.036Running0$0
34+12XJustin Sanders 0-3.681Running0$0
45+141Carson Macedo 0-4.917Running0$0
53-217WShane Golobic 0-6.060Running0$0
68+21SLogan Schuchart 0-7.242Running0$0
76-141SDominic Scelzi 0-7.770Running0$0
87-15Spencer Bayston 0279.259DNF0$0
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1105VColby Copeland 00.000Running90$0
23+17BSean Becker 0-2.462Running90$0
32-146JRJoel Myers Jr0-3.782Running90$0
45+183TTanner Carrick 0-4.515Running90$0
513+821Cole Macedo 0-5.250Running90$0
69+321MMichael Ing 0-7.428Running90$0
78+112JJohn Clark 0-10.062Running90$0
84-42KGauge Garcia 0-11.540Running90$0
912+325SSeth Standley 0-12.034Running90$0
1010045Jake Morgan 0-12.684Running90$0
111103AUKarl Hoffmans 0-13.472Running90$0
126-6115Nick Parker 0186.718DNF90$0
137-63ZBrock Zearfoss 0186.718DNS90$0
D Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11025SSeth Standley 00.000Running90$0
23+121Cole Macedo 0-1.152Running90$0
38+555DDawson Hammes 0-4.748Running90$0
45+121SJesse Schlotfeldt 0-6.551Running90$0
56+17SRobbie Price 0-7.878Running90$0
62-487Ashlyn Rodriguez 0-8.437Running90$0
710+37XEddy Lewis 0-13.620Running90$0
89+177Ryan Lippincott 067.417DNF90$0
94-515SMichael Sellers 0225.088DNF90$0
107-356CCarson Hammes 0225.088DNS90$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1105Spencer Bayston 00.000Running
22049Brad Sweet 00.000Running
330X1Michael Faccinto 00.000Running
44018Giovanni Scelzi 00.000Running
58+30Jonathan Allard 00.000Running
67+16Tim Kaeding 00.000Running
76-188ND.J. Netto 00.000Running
85-35VColby Copeland 00.000Running
9902KGauge Garcia 00.000Running
1010012JJohn Clark 00.000Running
1112+125SSeth Standley 00.000Running
1213+121SJesse Schlotfeldt 00.000DNF
1311-277Ryan Lippincott 00.000DNF
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041SDominic Scelzi 00.000Running
2202David Gravel 0-0.971Running
33024Rico Abreu 0-2.455Running
44057WChase Randall 0-3.157Running
5503Kaleb Montgomery 0-4.202Running
67+142XJustyn Cox 0-5.163Running
711+451Shane Hopkins 0-8.687Running
810+246JRJoel Myers Jr0-9.608Running
96-383TTanner Carrick 0-9.821Running
1013+321MMichael Ing 0-12.186Running
119-287Ashlyn Rodriguez 0-0.291Running
128-47SRobbie Price 0-0.291DNF
1312-17XEddy Lewis 0-0.291DNF
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 00.000Running
23+117MKalib Henry 0-2.858Running
35+220GNoah Gass 0-5.716Running
47+392Andy Forsberg 0-6.219Running
59+47Ashton Torgerson 0-8.220Running
68+21Chance Grasty 0-9.026Running
74-322Ryan Bernal 0-10.673Running
82-683James McFadden 0-14.054Running
910+1115Nick Parker 0-1.744Running
1011+145Jake Morgan 0-2.085Running
116-521Cole Macedo 0-7.081Running
1212056CCarson Hammes 0-7.081DNF
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1101SLogan Schuchart 00.000Running
22024XChase Johnson 0-3.379Running
34+117Sheldon Haudenschild 0-5.160Running
43-115Donny Schatz 0-7.660Running
55083VDylan Bloomfield 0-9.049Running
6609Kasey Kahne 0-9.439Running
7701TTanner Holmes 0-10.244Running
89+17BSean Becker 0-11.018Running
98-13ZBrock Zearfoss 0-11.381Running
1011+13AUKarl Hoffmans 0-6.879Running
1112+115SMichael Sellers 0-9.592Running
1210-255DDawson Hammes 0-9.592DNF
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
12017Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH12.8490.000
257BSean Becker Roseville, CA12.895-0.046
3172David Gravel Watertown, CT12.989-0.140
44415Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.006-0.157
5161Chance Grasty Suisun City, CA13.010-0.161
6497Ashton Torgerson Glendale, AZ13.022-0.173
7343Kaleb Montgomery Templeton, CA13.094-0.245
81392Andy Forsberg Auburn, CA13.153-0.304
9461SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.210-0.361
10397SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC13.218-0.369
11622Ryan Bernal Hollister, CA13.267-0.418
122624XChase Johnson Penngrove, CA13.275-0.426
131955DDawson Hammes Marysville, CA13.318-0.469
14883TTanner Carrick Lincoln, CA13.350-0.501
15783VDylan Bloomfield Oakley, CA13.414-0.565
162117MKalib Henry Sacramento, CA13.432-0.583
173141Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.439-0.590
18289Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA13.453-0.604
19231TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR13.487-0.638
20503ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.488-0.639
214715SMichael Sellers Sacramento, CA13.494-0.645
223545Jake Morgan Fair Oaks, CA13.523-0.674
231142XJustyn Cox Sacramento, CA13.528-0.679
244057WChase Randall Waco, TX13.543-0.694
25324Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.547-0.698
263221Cole Macedo Lemoore, CA13.617-0.768
271856CCarson Hammes Marysville, CA13.634-0.785
281520GNoah Gass Mounds, OK13.664-0.815
2938115Nick Parker Tucson, AZ13.700-0.851
3015Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.706-0.857
31249Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.755-0.906
32223AUKarl Hoffmans Bundauba, QLD13.791-0.942
33276Tim Kaeding San Jose, CA13.823-0.974
34105VColby Copeland Roseville, CA13.832-0.983
354318Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.917-1.068
362521MMichael Ing Chico, CA13.944-1.095
374241SDominic Scelzi Fresno, CA13.981-1.132
38142KGauge Garcia Lemoore, CA13.982-1.133
394521SJesse Schlotfeldt Arlington, WA14.066-1.217
402451Shane Hopkins Placerville, CA14.099-1.250
414187Ashlyn Rodriguez Wilton, CA14.159-1.310
423646JRJoel Myers JrSanta Rosa, CA14.330-1.481
4312X1Michael Faccinto Hanford, CA14.418-1.569
44297XEddy Lewis Chico, CA14.580-1.731
454825SSeth Standley Yuba City, CA14.590-1.741
463788ND.J. Netto Hanford, CA14.737-1.888
47912JJohn Clark Windsor, CA14.785-1.936
483077Ryan Lippincott Minden, NV14.831-1.982
4940Jonathan Allard Chico, CA15.234-2.385
503383James McFadden Alice Springs, NT0.00012.849
Lock-In Hot Laps Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+183JRMichael Kofoid 00.000Running0$0
24+214Corey Day 0-0.042Running0$0
31-22XJustin Sanders 0-0.051Running0$0
43-117WShane Golobic 0-0.482Running0$0
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  
Gold Cup Race of Champions
2023-09-09
Silver Dollar Speedway
2343 Fair St.
Chico, California 95928 

Event Description
The 69th edition of the Gold Cup Race of Champions is here to bring the Silver Dollar staple back to nationwide prestige.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Event Schedule
Gates at 3PM, Racing at 6PM
*All times Pacific

Ticket Options  
Ticket Phone
(530) 350-7275

Grandstand Type
bleacher with some seat backs

Reserved Seating
reserved seats may be purchased by calling 530-350-7275

Handicapped Seating Location
Below the main grandstand with the box seats, turn four. A reserved seat is required. Companion seating is available.

Pit Age Requirement
All persons must be at least 14 years of age to enter the pits. Persons 14-17 years of age need a signed and notarized parental consent form submitted to the office prior to entering pit area.

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
Call 530-350-7275

Frequently Asked Questions  
Reserved Seating
reserved seats may be purchased by calling 530-350-7275

Type of Grandstand
bleacher with some seat backs

Handicapped Seating
Below the main grandstand with the box seats, turn four. A reserved seat is required. Companion seating is available.

Pit Age Limit
All persons must be at least 14 years of age to enter the pits. Persons 14-17 years of age need a signed and notarized parental consent form submitted to the office prior to entering pit area.

Personal Coolers
No personal coolers allowed

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
alcohol is available for purchase

Smoking Policy
no smoking in the grandstands

Parking Cost
Free

Camping Availability
electric hookup, non-electric, onsite

Camping Cost
Call 530-350-7275

Track Info  

Silver Dollar Speedway
2343 Fair St.
95928 

Track Phone
(530) 891-6535

Ticket Phone
(530) 350-7275

Track Type
0.250; High-banked

Sprint Car Track Record
10.918 seconds by Daryn Pittman on 3/22/13

Closest Airport
Chico, CA (CIC / KCIC) Chico Municipal Airport

Other Airport
Sacramento, CA (SMF / KSMF) Sacramento International Airport

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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