---

Bradway Memorial will remember one of the sports' most beloved wheelmen

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image Courtesy of F&F Racing[/caption]

CHICO, CA (5-5-10) - When the stands fill at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway on Saturday night and California's best 410 sprint car takes to the track many eyes young and old will be focused on the colorful machines and the fanfare that comes with this very special annual event.

While the impressive fan following and impressive tributes in the way of boosted winnings and tributary paint schemes are a true honor to the late Dave Bradway Jr. this is a time where race fans, competitors and track promoters must remember how this race started and what is really all about. The Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial is an event to pay tribute to one of sprint car racing's most beloved local drivers that lost his life far too soon doing what he loved, racing behind the wheel of a sprint car.

In was June 21st, 1987 when the sprint car racing community lost Dave Bradway Jr. when he suffered fatal injuries while competing at Skagit Speedway in Washington for the Super Dirt Cup. For Bradway, dirt track racing was a way of life from the day he was born. For the first 17 years of his life he watched his father wheel modifieds around the old West Capitol Speedway in Sacramento with great success.

After beginning his racing career behind the wheel of a street stock and earning the Rookie of the Year award at the old Ernie Pursell Speedway in Grass Valley, Bradway entered the open wheel racing world in 1978 behind the wheel of a modified where he gained the respect as a respectful, yet fierce driver by his many colleagues. In 1981 Bradway advanced into the ranks of the Northern Auto Racing Club when he was given an opportunity to drive a car owned by Walter Ross that was formerly wheeled by the great Gary Patterson. One year later, he scored his first sprint car victory in a NARC event at Petaluma Speedway. That success was just the beginning for the driver who became best known to everyone as simply "Junior."

For Bradway, the accolades of his great, yet short racing career are endless. He drove for a number of successful car owners and gave thousands of dedicated race fans great memories that will last a lifetime. One such night that many will remember was when he became just the second driver of Calistoga Speedway's "100 Mile Club" on his way to his 13th career victory aboard Mike Murphy's #5n sprint car. In 1984 he earned the Baylands Raceway Championship in a season where he scored 20 top five finishes out of the 38 races in which he competed.

In 1985 Bradway put Roseville, California on the map with a 7th place finish in the annual Knoxville Nationals. Bradway went on to numerous impressive victories over the next two years. One of the most memorable drives to the checkered flag for Bradway was in April of 1987 when Bradway drove the popular Tri Machine sprint car owned by Clyde Lamar to a victory in the World of Outlaws' preliminary feature event at Silver Dollar Speedway. That special night will long be remembered by fans and competitors of the famed Chico track that Bradway loved so much. Sadly, it became the last prestigious win of his decorated career at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds as he lost his life less than two months later.

When the news hit the sprint car community it was a time when nearly every race fan, driver and car owner will remember exactly where they were when they learned that "Junior" was gone. Much like fans of Elvis remember the exact moment when they heard the news the king had passed, the racing community will long remember those moments when they learned this very special friend to the sport was gone.

While the void left behind by Bradway could never be filled entirely, a few years after his death Silver Dollar Speedway began honoring Bradway with what became the annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. To this day the race continues to be the highest paying one day race on the annual Golden State Challenge Series tour at racing veterans and young guns race wheel to wheel on the track that Junior truly loved and where his fans truly loved to watch his artwork behind the wheel.

Last year the Bradway memorial will be a race long remembered by Chico racing veteran Jonathan Allard and one that Grass Valley resident Brad Sweet may want to put behind him. For both drivers the night was one of great pride, Sweet flew back to the track he calls home to climb into a Rod Tiner built sprint car that was an exact replica of the blue and white #3c that Bradway thrilled so many fans aboard.

Sweet brought the fans to the edge of their seats when he fueled to the front of the field in the feature event and led the majority of the laps. Allard also brought the fans into a frenzy when he stole the glory from Sweet with last lap pass in the fourth turn to secure the win. Sweet finished in second followed by Brett Miller, Tyler Walker and Brent Kaeding.

With the win, Allard made history as the only driver to win four Bradway memorial events in a career. The former King of California champion admitted in victory lane that passing the #3c as they approached the checkered flag was bittersweet. Bradway was a driver that most admire and see as a role model. Allard is no exception to that at all as today he finds himself as a fan favorite on the same track where Bradway did much the same.

In 2010, the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial is sure to be memorable in many ways once again. This weekend the Silver Dollar Speedway offers two big days of racing with championship point racing on Friday night and the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial on Saturday. Camping is free for fans and competitors over the weekend, courtesy of the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds and Handy Racing Promotions. For further information visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

Back to News