RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - About 75 quarter midget racers from as far as the San Francisco Bay Area to the local Sacramento region competed in the Series Finale and California Monza events at Roy Hayer Memorial Speedway in Rio Linda from Sept. 26 to Sept. 28. 

Rio Linda’s Capitol Quarter Midget Association President Rob Becher said that having the only dirt track in California provides a critical experience for drivers to learn how to drive and steer the car through corners. He said that driving on a dirt track is nothing like driving on pavement. 

“When you get kids to come, race the pavement, race the dirt, race at different tracks; some are longer, some are shorter,” Becher said. “They’re well rounded.”

The track has always been dirt and the Capitol Quarter Midget Association is committed to preserving its educational and historic nature, Becher said. Comparing a good track to a good restaurant, Becher said that if the organization can continue to foster an attractive and engaging racing atmosphere, then teams will come back to race, bringing their friends with them. 

Tatum Kriegel, left, and Tatum Talcott pose for a photo after Kriegel used Talcott’s race car to complete a race, helping out another racer to meet the minimum number of competitors. Kriegel won her heat race and will move to race micro sprints next season. Photo by Seth Henderson

“We have to water the track, obviously. The hotter it gets, the more the track dries out. So, you’ve got to keep water on it to keep traction on the track,” Becher said. “And then by the end of the night, this track will be full of black rubber.”

The faster cars go around the track, the faster rubber begins to build up on the track, creating even more traction, Becher said. In between races, Becher and other volunteers took turns spraying down the track with water while racers and their teams prepped their cars, making last-minute adjustments and discussing strategy. 

Loomis resident Dusty Kriegel said that the Capitol Quarter Midget Association has been this and last season’s home track for her daughter, Tatum Kriegel, who is moving from quarter midgets to micro sprint chassis next season, a bigger race car also raced on dirt tracks. 

“So, she’s got this weekend and one more race weekend, and she’s done with quarter midgets,” Kriegel said. “But she ran this last race just to help another girl out so they’d have a competitor.” 

Tatum Kriegel used Tatum Talcott’s racecar, whose home track is in Rancho Cordova with the American Quarter Midget Association, to help another racer and meet or surpass the minimum number of competitors to race. 

BnR Racing stands in the staging area, ready for their next race at Roy Hayer Memorial Speedway in Rio Linda on Sept. 27. Photo by Seth Henderson

Dusty Kriegel said that Talcott and his family have become great friends throughout the years of the two family’s children racing together for several years. Kriegel said that her family has spent most of the past five years at the American Quarter Midget Association racetrack in Rancho Cordova but have focused more on dirt tracks with Tatum Kriegel’s transition to micro chassis. 

After test driving quarter midgets with her father, Tatum Kriegel was poised for her first car and Dusty Kriegel said that the family has been all in and never looked back. 

“We found this and it was something my husband can do because we have daughters,” Dusty Kriegel said. “It’s like ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can be a volleyball dad or soccer dad, but I could be a racecar dad.’”

Tatum Kriegel won her heat and main event races for the Heavy 160 class while borrowing Tatum Talcott’s car. Tatum Talcott won his heat and main event for the Light 160 Class. Talcott also won the Senior Honda Feature.

Nine-year-old James Buchanan, who raced light 160 and senior animal classes, said he won first place in both of his heat races on Sept. 27. James said he hadn’t raced since the previous weekend’s event at the Tri-Valley Quarter Midget Club’s track in Livermore, where he also won his Senior Animal heat race.

A yellow flag goes out on the track after a driver spins out during heat races at Roy Hayer Memorial Speedway in Rio Linda on Sept. 27. The Capitol Quarter Midget Association has the only dirt quarter midget track in California. Photo by Seth Henderson

Buchanan’s father, Jeff Buchanan, was at their campsite on the Roy Hayer Memorial Speedway grounds, preparing his son’s cars for the main event. James Buchanan’s mother, Kayla Buchanan, said he had three more races after his media interview.

“I’m thinking I need to get out in front,” James said, “and if I hold that position, I might just be able to win it.”

Officially announcing the event was MTFX Graphics owner and racing fan Marc Turnovsky. Growing up, Turnovsky said, he didn’t have a Nintendo Switch or a PlayStation but he had hot wheels and a slot car track, so his obligations are to the future generations of racers, nurturing them in the world of racing. 

Dirt tracks are a different beast, Turnovsky said. The event at Roy Hayer was for the local racers to represent their hometown for bragging rights. 

Becher said that the Fall Festival, an exhibition race held by the Capitol Quarter Midget Association, is scheduled for Oct. 11 and 12 at Roy Hayer Memorial Speedway in honor of Auston McClernon who passed on April 25 at age 27. 

Tons of raffle prizes line the back fence of the racetrack with opportunities for patrons and racers to win, gear, swag and more. Photo by Seth Henderson

The memorial race will be the final track day for the quarter midget season until February. Becher said that races could potentially happen at the Rio Linda track once a month during the off season under the Friday night lights to provide youth with ample seat time and practice. 

Becher said that the track thrives off volunteers and donations, saying that the track and the events it holds wouldn’t be anywhere near as successful without all of their dedicated efforts. 

To donate to the Roy Hayer Memorial Speedway or the Capitol Quarter Midget Association, visit facebook.com/capitolquartermidgetassociation and send a message or visit www.capitolqma.com. The association offers “Arrive and Drive” events in addition to training sessions for rookie drivers. 

The Rio Linda Capitol Quarter Midget Association is at 800 G St. and can be contacted by phone at 916-991-1128.

 “I know that we’re a part of this huge industry, annually, and we’re all just little cogs and little sprockets in this little world,” Turnovsky said. “Because in my world, we race cars and we go around in circles.”