McMahan will return to Placerville this Saturday night with teammate Kyle Harris of West Sacramento for the Hoosier Tires Civil War Series opener. For McMahan, Placerville Speedway is the track where he first raced a winged sprint car. For Harris, Placerville is one of many tracks that the young driver is learning to hone his skills in becoming a competitive sprint car driver in hopes to one day maintain a resume similar to that of McMahan.

The year was 1982 and very few area tracks were open to the idea of permitting newly licensed teens to compete in auto racing events. Today it is much different, many drivers begin racing as soon as they are tall enough to reach the pedals. For McMahan, Placerville Speedway played a key role in the launch of his successful racing career that continues to flourish today.

"I had raced quarter-midgets and wanted to move up to sprint cars but there weren't many tracks around here that would let a 16-year-old kid race," said McMahan. "Then we found out that Placerville Speedway was ok with it so my Dad got us a sprint car and we went racing at Placerville Speedway."

That same year McMahan drove his way to the Rookie of the Year title in the sprint car division at Placerville. The time was just the beginning of a very successful racing career for McMahan. He went on to become one of the track's most competitive drivers along with similar accolades at Baylands Raceway three years later.

In 1986 McMahan began competing with the Northern Auto Racing Club. While the California tour would draw him away from Placerville on a weekly basis the foothill quarter-mile was always a favorite to return to when the campaign made it's annual stops here. He then went on to become a successful competitor with the USAC Western States Sprint Car Series before he stepped away from racing from 2003 until 2008 to spend time with his family and focus on the racing career of his son Sean.

Anyone who followed the racing scene last year is well away that McMahan is back in a very big way. He claimed the 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway Championship while his Racing for the Troops teammates Sean Becker and Harris each finished in the top ten as well. Becker claimed 5th in the track point standings and Harris finished 8th in his first full year of racing.

But 2009 wasn't all about the numbers for McMahan and the entire team. It was the final year both McMahan and Harris raced in the company of their car owner Steve Harris who was battling cancer. During the off season Harris lost his courageous battle and this Saturday night will mark the team's first time back on the track since his passing.

"It's always special for me to go back to Placerville, that's where I started racing," said McMahan. "This is tough for all of us to be going back to racing without Steve by our side. He was a great man not only in racing but in business and as a husband and Father. Continuing on is what he wanted us to do and here we go. Last year we didn't do real well at Placerville, it wasn't Steve's favorite track. Maybe he will be helping us out a little bit this time."

Even more so than McMahan, Harris will be returning to the driver's seat Saturday night with an incredible void in his life. For his entire childhood life Steve Harris supported his son's racing career and kept him focused on a future in the sport. Beginning Saturday, Harris is ready to follow that lead.

"Last year was crazy for us, we were going in all different directions doing all different things," said Harris. "We had to, my Dad was already beating the odds. But in that time he taught me to sit back and look at the big picture. He taught me to follow my dreams and look into the future and my future is in racing. I'm ready to follow that now."

Becker will be in competition Saturday night as well but he will not be behind the wheel of a Racing for the Troops ride in this event. For the Civil War Series Becker will continue to pilot the Scott Miller #2sb sprint car but both teams are sure to confer and work together in the pit area.

Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team have a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises and Redline Oil.

The team is proud to continue it's support of military veterans and active duty service members, educating the public on the needs of those returning from war and supporting activities which provide resources to America's active military, veterans and their families. They invite all the race fans to their pit area following the races where both McMahan and Harris will have new t-shirts for sale. They look forward to meeting fans of all ages.

This weekend, McMahan will face one of his most challenging races when he takes to the banks of Silver Dollar Speedway for the season opening Mini Gold Cup. However, it's not the competition that will be in McMahan's mind. Nor is it the fear of being rusty after a long winter. Friday will be the first time McMahan climbs behind the wheel of a Racing for the Troops #26b sprint car since the passing of Harris last month.

"Steve had the biggest heart of anyone I've known," said McMahan. "He would do whatever he could to help out his friends. He gave us all the tools we needed with this racing team and he loved this sport. It's going to be hard to go back to Chico knowing he is gone but I know he'll be watching over us from a great vantage point."

Last season, McMahan returned to full time racing after a several year layoff to spend time with his family and his kids as they grew into their teen years. After jumping back behind the wheel part time in late 2008, the former Northern Auto Racing Club and USAC top runner agreed to make it a fulltime effort in 2009 as one of three drivers from the Racing for the Troops' stable. However, the decision to return to the seat wasn't all up to McMahan and the invitation from Harris illustrated the late businessman's true spirit and will always be a memorable moment to McMahan.

"Steve called Linda, my wife, before he even asked me to drive for him. He wanted to make sure it was ok with her and the family before he made the offer," said McMahan. "So everyone pretty much knew about it before I even did. Then he came to me and told me it was ok with her if I drove for his team and he wanted me in the car. He always had a plan in his head."

During the 2009 racing season, Harris was battling cancer in his final stages. In fact, according to his son Kyle, McMahan's teammate, he was beating the odds of the illness far longer then doctors had ever predicted. During the year, McMahan and the younger Harris raced together with fellow teammate Sean Becker in the Friday night championship at Silver Dollar Speedway in a season they all will long cherish. McMahan claimed the title, Becker finished in fifth place and Kyle placed eighth in his first full year of racing. Steve Harris was then presented with the track's Humanitarian Award for his contribution the sport and his community support to America's Troops and Veterans.

"It was a bittersweet year for us, we all knew how ill Steve was," said McMahan. "But to see him continue on the way he did was inspiring for all of us. He never gave up and he fought all the way to the end. He lived life to its fullest one day at a time."

Despite the heavy heart he will carry along with his teammates, McMahan is ready to lead the team back to the battlefield for the high paying season opener. While he greatly misses Harris he will look to continue the legacy of Harris in the sport of area sprint car racing at the arena that meant so much to them in 2009.

"We will be there and ready to race," said McMahan. "It's what Steve wanted us to do and what he planned for. If one of us can get to victory lane or a podium finish that would be a great tribute but just being there, racing, is tribute in itself to the man that never gave up. We're not giving up anytime soon."

In the wake of Harris' passing, the entire team has been very busy in recent weeks relocating their racing operations and preparing all three of the team cars and back up cars for the year to come. McMahan's #26b ART chassis is assembled and waiting for the talents of area graphic artist Matt Fontaine to apply the finishing touches in the coming days.

"I've always driven a Maxim car but Steve really wanted me to run an ART car late last year," said McMahan. "So that's taken some time to get everything positioned in the car with the new chassis but we will be ready, we pretty much just need to make it pretty now."

Following the Mini Gold Cup, McMahan and Harris will begin traveling the state for their outlaw style campaign. Some of the larger races they plan to commit to include the annual Mark Forni Classic at Placerville Speedway and the Louie Vermeil USAC event at Calistoga Speedway in August. They plan weekly appearances throughout the year at Silver Dollar, Marysville, Placerville, Ocean Speedway, Petaluma, Antioch, Quincy and more. Becker will compete along with the team as his schedule permits; he will also be driving for championship car owner Scott Miller in the Civil War Series.

"It's taken a lot of work to get ready for this weekend," adds McMahan. "We've had a lot of help and I really want to thank our entire team, Scott Miller's team and everyone who pitched in. I can't possibly list them all. It was great."

Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team has a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises and Redline Oil.

With three very competitive drivers already in their stable and a fourth one waiting in the wings, the odds of a victory in the upcoming high dollar Mini Gold Cup in Chico could be very good for the trio, all of which have won their share of racing championships in various venues. One such driver stands out from the others when it comes to victory at Silver Dollar Speedway, however. Sean Becker will pilot the Racing for the Troops – Brian Sperry fielded #51 and is looking to lead his team to the winner's circle in honor of Harris.

Becker has championship titles in the California Civil War Sprint Car Series, the Golden State Challenge Series and at Silver Dollar Speedway back in 2005. In addition to the championship trophy he posses from the famed track, he has won some of the facilities most prestigious races there. Once of the sports most respected winning drivers, Becker admits that returning without Harris in their company is going to be difficult.

"Steve Harris was a great man with an enormous passion for the sport of racing and winning," said Becker. Brian Sperry and Steve had become close friends in recent years. Knowing how heavily Steve's memory will weigh on the hearts and minds of this 51 team, it's going to be a privilege to not only compete, but hopefully win some races in his honor."

Becker will pilot the Racing for the Troops #51 sprint car for numerous events during the years, including a number of Friday night events at Silver Dollar, select Golden State Challenge events and more. Additionally, Becker will return to the seat of the Scott Miller owned #2sb in the regional Civil War Series.

"Basically, when he isn't Scott Miller's car he will be in the 51 with us," said Sperry. "We will be running a lot of Chico races and we might even run some Placerville races to be ready for the Forni Race if he doesn't do that with Scott. We plan to run several venues during the year together."

In 2009, Becker drove the #51 in 11 of 13 championship events at Silver Dollar Speedway, the track the Oroville native still calls home. During the year the duo had 10 top ten finishes, seven top five finishes and a feature event victory. They finished fifth in the championship point standings overall. Becker also won his second straight Civil War championship of his career and second $5,000 Mark Forni race in a row at Placerville with the Miller team.

The Racing for the Troops sprint car team will hit the track beginning Friday, March 12 in Chico. Along with Becker will be Bobby McMahan in the #26b team car. McMahan is the 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway champion. Kyle Harris will return to action in the #33 mount. Last year Harris made a stellar run in Chico, finishing 8th in the standings in his first full year of sprint car racing after much success in quarter midgets and micros.

In the wake of Steve's passing, McMahan and Sperry have assumed the role of managing the race team operations in the year to come. The entire team is geared towards continuing their winning ways while continuing it's support of military veterans and active duty service members, educating the public on the needs of those returning from war and supporting activities which

Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team has a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises and Redline Oil.

As the entire team will don their uniforms with heavy hearts, the youngest active member of their troop will be carrying the biggest load on his shoulders as he lost far more than a team owner recently. But Kyle Harris is ready to follow the road his late father led him to during their final year together.

"Last year it felt like we were running in every different direction trying to do everything that we wanted to do. At times it was pretty challenging with racing and school and my Dad's illness," said Harris. "But my Dad taught me something. He taught me to slow down and look ahead to what the future holds. He believed I had a future in racing and I'm ready to follow that lead this year."

At just 56 years of age, Steve Harris lost a courageous battle with cancer in early February. A successful West Sacramento businessman, Harris had a love for supporting the active and inactive military. He also had a love for auto racing and he found a way to bring the two entities together with the Racing for the Troops Sprint Car Team.

The Racing for the Troops team consists of three talented sprint car drivers, 2009 Silver Dollar Speedway Champion Bobby McMahan; two time Civil War Series Champions Sean Becker and his own flesh and blood, 19-year old Kyle Harris who made his debut in winged sprint cars last season.

After advancing from a successful career in quarter midgets and micro sprints, Harris jumped into 410 cubic inch powered sprint cars full time in 2009, competing at Silver Dollar and various venues along with McMahan who shared his many years of victorious knowledge with the you8ng talent as they competed side by side throughout the season.

In the 2009 championship campaign at Silver Dollar Speedway, Harris had a strong first year showing with four top ten finishes in the year, one top five and three heat race wins. He finished runner up to the season Rookie of the Year title and joined his father at the stage of the season awards banquet. Steve was presented with the first ever Humanitarian Award by the track as a car owner who went to great extents to support sprint car racing while recognizing America's soldiers and their families in each and every event where they competed.

"I'm ready to get back on the track," said Harris. "I feel this is where my future is, in racing and I need to follow that. It's not going to be easy going back without my Dad but at the same time it's what he wanted and it's a great way to honor him for what he led me to."

Harris will return to the track he knows best for his first race of the year, the high banked Silver Dollar Speedway on the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. The event is the season opening Mini Gold Cup, a high paying open competition event for 410 cubic inch powered sprint cars. He will be joined by the entire team as McMahan and Becker will join in the action. The team plans to travel to various venues throughout the year, many of which include the banks of Silver Dollar on Friday nights.

"For Kyle to advance as a driver, he needs to get out and race on different tracks and different surfaces," said McMahan, who will somewhat takeover as manager of the team along with the likes of Brian Sperry. "We think that's the best plan for us, a California Outlaw schedule is what we like to call it."

While Steve Harris will be sorely missed member of their team, the Racing for the Troops sprint car team is sure to succeed in 2010 as their leader's spirit will carry them to the forefront. Championship titles will not be the name of the game, winning races will be the number one focus for Harris, McMahan and Becker.

"If I could go out there and get a win for my Dad that would be huge," said Harris. "That would be a great way to honor him. I'm going to do what I can to do it. All of us are."

Steve Harris Racing and the Racing for the Troops sprint car team has a number of marketing partners for the 2010 racing season. Proud supporters of the team include World Environmental Energy Incorporated, C & H Service Disabled Veterans Enterprises, Benic Enterprises, Butler Built Seats, SS Racing, Art Enterprises and Redline Oil.

The team is proud to continue it's support of military veterans and active duty service members, educating the public on the needs of those returning from war and supporting activities which provide resources to America's active military, veterans and their families.