Pursley, NAPA No. 9 Team Achieve Bronze at Gold Cup
Daison Pursley and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9 team took to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, for the 72nd Mike Curb Gold Cup Race of Champions. The prestigious event featured a new format, with 50 competitors battling across three nights. Thursday and Friday’s preliminary programs set the field for Saturday’s $100,072-to-win finale.
On Thursday, August 27, Pursley’s first laps on track left room for improvement at a 12.607, 41st of 50, during Hot Laps. As the track improved, so did the NAPA No. 9. Pursley posted an 11.991-second lap in qualifying, fourth quickest, and earned the sixth starting position in Heat 4. Although he was unable to transfer directly through his heat, Pursley started on the pole of the B Feature. He slipped to second on the opening lap but remained in contention and secured the runner-up finish, earning a P22 starting spot in the 30-lap main event. Through determination and navigating several incidents involving other competitors, Pursley advanced to P15 in the early laps. He held P13 for 10 laps before moving forward to P12 in the final three laps, gaining an impressive 10 positions overall.
On Friday, Pursley clocked in at a 12.590 for 12th during opening Hot Laps on Friday. With a reverse qualifying order from the night before, Pursley qualified 43rd and laid down the fastest lap of the night at an 11.977, quick time for the evening! The NAPA no. 9 lined up sixth in Heat 1 and slipped back a spot for two laps before challenging back to fifth to secure a spot in the A Feature. Pursley rolled off sixth in the 30-lap event and lost positions during the early laps, falling back to P10 by lap 7. The NAPA driver continued to search for opportunities to advance while avoiding several red-flag incidents. His persistence paid off as he climbed back to finish third and earned his second podium on the season, locking into Saturday’s finale.
With the NAPA No. 9 team locked in to P3 for Saturday’s $100,072-to-win finale event by way of points, all that was left to do Saturday was practice laps, where Pursley turned a 12.801-second lap. The 40-lap event got off to a slow start with two laps completed at a time between cautions. The quick sprints and restarts initially cost Pursley, shuffling him back to seventh. Pursley kept chipping back towards his starting position, and after a late open-red-flag caution, he was able to advance to fifth, where he finished the final 6-lap shootout.
The NAPA Auto Parts No. 9 team is headed to Douglas County Dirt Track in Roseburg, Oregon, for a mid-week show on Monday, August 31st, and then to Alger, Washington, for Skagit Nationals September 3-5. Catch every lap on FloSports.
Start / Finish:
Thursday, August 27: 22 / 12
Friday, August 28: 6 / 3
Saturday, August 29: 3 / 5
Points Standing / Total: 10th / 1,725 pts.
Next Race: Monday, August 31, Douglas County Dirt Track, Roseburg, Oregon
How to Watch or Listen: Floracing.com
NAPA: @NAPARacing
Daison Pursley: @DaisonPursley
Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt
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Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR), based in Mooresville, NC, was formed in 2005 and employs more than ten people dedicated to sprint car racing. The organization competes full-time in High Limit Racing and is led by team owner and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne. For the 2026 season, KKR fields the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9, driven full-time by Daison Pursley in High Limit Racing. KKR has 7 World of Outlaws and High Limit Racing Championships (Daryn Pittman in ’13 and Brad Sweet in ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ’23 & ’24). Since its inception, KKR has earned 295+ national dirt car victories, solidifying its status as one of the most successful teams in modern sprint car racing.