When the Civil War Series comes to the Napa County Fairgrounds to compete for the Calistoga Cup this Saturday, series’ points leader Andy Forsberg will try to make up for the one that got away last year.

The multi-time champion and second-generation driver from Auburn had dominated the race in Northern California’s premier traveling circuit for smaller-engined 360 cubic inch sprint cars, and was within a few laps of accomplishing a lifetime dream of winning on the huge half-mile oval.

But with the checkered flag almost in sight, Forsberg had to make an emergency dash to the pits as his sprint car gasped for fuel.

“That night the track had good traction and I was almost flatfooting the car all around the track,” Forsberg said of last year’s race, which drank up more fuel than he and his crew had planned on. “This weekend, we’re going to Calistoga with a bigger fuel tank.”

Forsberg grew up watching his dad — two-time winner Richard Forsberg — race at Calistoga, and his dream is to follow in those tire tracks right into victory circle.

“As a kid, when I dreamed of winning races, it was always at Calistoga, all my daydreams were there,” recalled Forsberg of the track that is still the largest and fastest oval that the series runs on all year.

Because Calistoga Speedway is only a special events track without a weekly racing show, Forsberg said each opportunity to win a race there is special.

“We don’t have many chances to go there and win races,” he said. “Last year could have been our night.”

But this Saturday, at least 30 teams have reason to believe it could be their night to win in what has become one of the most competitive sprint car series in the state. Last year, Forsberg didn’t cement the title in the season-ending race until he barely rolled into victory circle with a tire going flat. Meanwhile, his closest challenger, Colby Wiesz of Colfax, sat sidelined by a tire that had gone flat just a few laps from the checkered flag.

“This is more competitive than the series with the 410-cubic-inch motors,” said Wiesz, referring to the Golden State Challenge series that crowns the state sprint car champion. “On any given night, there’s 20 guys running in the ‘B’ race that could win the main event.”

Among the top teams is hometown racer Mike Bensen of Calistoga, who has been struggling with engine problems during the early part of the season and needs a win on the half-mile oval to turn his racing luck around.

“I grew up at this place and there’s nothing I want more as a driver than a win at Calistoga Speedway,” said Bensen, who ranks 28th in the Civil War point standings as he divides his racing schedule between two different series this year. “You’ve really got to be on your game to win at Calistoga.”

“The key to going fast there is driving smooth and keeping up your momentum,” he said of a track well known for its long straightaways and 120 mph speeds.

Calistoga is the Civil War Series’ fifth of 15 races this season. Forsberg holds a narrow seven-point advantage in the championship standings over Brett Rollag of Rohnert Park.

Tickets are available by calling the Napa County Fairgrounds office at 942-5111.

Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. with a full racing card beginning with qualifying at approximately 6:30 p.m.