ric Schmidt Makes Return to SRL and Redwood Acres Raceway

Bakersfield, CA – 2006 Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series champion Eric Schmidt will make his first start in the series in just over two years, as the Super Late Model touring series returns to Redwood Acres Raceway (CA) on July 27th for the “JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. Wild West Shootout – Money Talks 127 presented by Big Valley Sanitation”. $15,000 will go to the winner, thanks to the sponsorship of John Moore and Steve Schmitt, son of NASCAR Legend Bill Schmitt. Schmidt will look to build off of his previous successes at the 3/8-mile asphalt oval to grab the rich win.

Schmidt is a five-time winner in Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series competition. He has 32 top-five (sixth best all-time) and 50 top-10 (sixth best all-time) finishes to go along with three poles. His only SRL start at Redwood Acres Raceway (RAR) came in 2015, when he finished eighth. But in 2013, Schmidt won the track’s traditional “Fall Spectacular” over David Miller, Randy Houston, Mic Moulton and Jim Walker. He also finished third in 2011 with the Airport Auto Brokers Late Model Series. At the adjacent Northern California paved oval, Shasta Speedway (CA), Schmidt racked up four “Win River October Classic” victories.

Schmidt’s career with the SRL began in 2004 and encompasses 79 starts. He has five starts with the ARCA Menards Pro Series West, where he earned an impressive three top-fives. He was the 2013 Pacific Challenge Series champion and had eight career wins in only 20 starts. He has track championships at both The New Stockton 99 Speedway (CA) as well as ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA (CA). He finished second in the “Summer Showdown” at Evergreen Speedway in 2013 and was a winner in the Wild West Shootout Series for Super Late Models in 2023. The Roseville, CA driver only made five starts in the NASCAR Southwest Tour Series, but earned a top-five finish in the prestigious “October Classic” at the now defunct Mesa Marin Raceway (CA)

On July 27th, Schmidt will seek to add another RAR victory to his impressive resume with his Sierra Speed and Technology Super Late Model. The stop will be a welcome break from the heat for many of the competitors in the series. It will be Round #1 of the “JM Environmental Wild West Shootout” series paying $15,000-to-win! It will be the series fourth visit to RAR and the first since 2016.

Celebrating its twenty fourth season in 2024, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.

Story: K. Peters, SRL Media

PC: Sierra Speed and Technology, RPM Norcal