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BRADEN CHIARAMONTE RETURNS TO ACTION SATURDAY AT STOCKTON - LEAVES FOR TEXAS ON SUNDAY

2024-04-06 01:16

(El Cajon, CA, April 4, 2024) After a couple of weeks off, things are about to get busy for teen racing star Braden Chiaramonte. This Saturday he heads north for the opening round of the Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Series at the Asparagus Cup on the recently renovated Stockton Dirt Track. Sunday morning he plans to catch a flight back to So Cal and then drive straight to Texas for Monday's practice for the Third Annual TMS Micro Mania KKM Motorsports Challenge at Lil' Texas Motor Speedway. However, potential rainy weather in the "Lone Star State" may force postponement of the important outlaw micro race.

If the schedule sounds busy, it was even busier until Thursday afternoon. Chiaramonte had planned on racing with the winged 360 sprint cars at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday night. However, the famous track was pummeled by rain on Thursday. Mother Nature's tear drops left the facility completely saturated. Combined with a sunless forecast and cold temperatures, there was no chance to get the facility dried out for Friday night and promoters were forced to pull the plug.

Last week's rainout at Placerville means Saturday's race at Stockton will be the first of the year for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour. It will also be the first appearance at Stockton for Chiaramonte. While it will be his initial time at the facility, he will be on level footing with all of the other drivers as the track underwent a major renovation over the winter. Formerly a 4/10 of a mile track, the size has been reduced to a quarter mile with 9-degree banking in the turns. The reduction in size should make the racing much tighter and thus, more exciting for the fans. In addition, the racing surface has been brought closer to the grandstands giving spectators a much better view of the action.

The plan as of now is for Chiaramonte to fly home early Sunday morning after Stockton. The team will then head out with their car for the Micro Mania in Texas. Practice is scheduled for Monday with preliminaries taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. The finals are slated for Thursday. However, predictions of possible thunderstorms and rain starting late Monday afternoon and lasting until the early morning hours of Thursday are putting the event in jeopardy. A decision should be made on Friday on whether the race will take place next week or be moved to a date later in the year.

Last season Chiaramonte shined at the Micro Mania race that is sanctioned by POWRi. Held in September, he dominated opening night by scoring a clean sweep being fastest in time trials, winning his heat, qualifier, and the main event. Going into the finale 24 hours later, he was the highest point driver of the 86 competitors on hand. That put him in the King of Texas Trophy Pool Shootout. The personable racer kept his perfect batting average intact when he started the night off by winning that short race to earn the right to start on the pole for the main.

Chiaramonte led the first six laps before slipping to second. From there he hounded the eventual winner all the way to the checkered flag. Thus, in six events (including qualifying) over the two days, he had five wins and a single second place.

On Saturday in Stockton, the gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and racing will begin at 6:00. Tickets for those aged 18-64 are $30.00. It is $25.00 for those from 5-17, seniors and military with i.d. It is free for kids 4 and under, and parking is free, too. The track is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton. The track's website is StocktonDirtTrack.com and the office phone is (916) 370-9417.

For full details on next week's Micro Mania, please visit the event website at https://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/events/micro-mania/.

Good news from the Chiaramonte team is the fact that it has purchased a 410 engine from Sterling Cling Racing. The bullet, which should arrive on Friday, replaces the one that was damaged in the crash at Perris Auto Speedway on March 16th. The engine will be installed and ready when the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Series races at Perris on April 27th.

Chiaramonte would like to thank all his sponsors who have made his racing efforts possible. RTL Traffic Control, AM Ortega, Hyper Racing, Chop Design, Adams Motors, Hacienda Casa Blanca Fine Mexican Dining, Evil Plus Injection, King Racing Products, Tyner, and Keizer Wheels. If you would like to be a partner with one of America's fastest-rising racing stars, please contact Daniel Chiaramonte via email at mailto:dchiaramonte@rtltraffic.com or by calling (619) 988-7563.

Braden Chiaramonte's 2024 Results

2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 8th A Main

3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 5th A Main

3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 1st A Main

3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars DNS

This release was produced by Scott Daloisio. You can contact him online at mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com or by calling (909) 226-7768.