Sacramento, CA --- Cal-Expo has set the dates for the third annual East-West Invitational Driving Challenge to be hosted at the California oval on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and April 5.

Cal-Expo has invited "Team East" which will be comprised of five of the nation's top C.K.G. Billings Drivers. "Team West" is made up of five California-based drivers that finished atop its 2007 Spring Series.

Bob Troyer (Ohio), George Casale (New York), Steve Oldford (Michigan), Scott Woogen (Virginia) and Howie Gelfand (Ontario, Canada) round out the geographically diversified East team. This team, loaded with experience, will take on the relatively inexperienced upstarts from the Golden State -- Sabrina Shaw, Susan Boyce, Jason Maier, and Rick Bertrand.

In the first two installments of the "Challenge," the home field advantage prevailed over experience with the West Team nudging out the East Team for top honors in 2006 and 2007.

The winners will be determined by a point system. The six-race series will feature a random driver draw and a variety of classes.

California amateur racing, which was reborn in 2005 during the California State Fair, has enjoyed much interest from the wagering public, and have averaged equal or higher handles than similarly slotted non-amateur events.

"We are excited once again by the 'Challenge' coming next month," commented California Amateur Driving Club (CADC) president David Siegel. "We have enjoyed the resurgence of amateur driving here on the left coast and are eternally grateful for management's and the horsemen's ongoing support despite otherwise challenging times. We are lucky to have horsemen who clearly understand both the short-term and long-term benefits of a solid amateur program, namely some variety to the racing program."

Siegel went on to say, "The highlight of our program is now the annual East-West Challenge. The public will get to see and wager on six very interesting races with a great new twist. Our guests get to experience driving on a new track in a different neck of the woods. Our professional drivers get to watch and be excited or amused, whatever the case might be as we try to upset these Billings pilots, but most of all, five of us get to drive in an awesome event.

Cal-Expo's General Manager Dave Elliott commented, "We are pleased to continue supporting what has become an annual event. We love the concept and expect it to be very competitive once again this year and provide for great viewing and wagering."

C.K.G. Billings president and former Challenge participant, Peter Gerry, commented, "We appreciate the California Club's efforts and management's cooperation with this great program. We continue to have more drivers that wish to participate than we have available slots. What a nice problem to have!"

To help promote the event, TrackMaster, provider of harness racing information to the wagering public and USTA partner, will be offering free handicapping products for the race days of the Challenge. In addition, purses for the event will be augmented through outside funding.

For information about the 2008 Challenge and the CADC, please visit www.thecadc.com.