TULARE, Calif. — After 30 years of spearheading the Trophy Cup, Dave Pusateri is retiring from his leadership role. Pusateri created the Trophy Cup in 1994 as a one day event at San Jose Speedway. The event settled at Tulare Thunderbowl in 2005.
Pusateri noted, “Just can’t do it, don’t have the strength or energy to be there three days and to do all the things that need to be done during the Cup.
“Next year I will help Kevin (Rudeen) in any way he asks and my people will help Kevin in anything he needs. Age is catching up with many of the people who have been involved with the Trophy Cup since year one.”
Kevin Rudeen and his wife, Monika, have been big supporters of the Trophy Cup and the procedures for running the event will not change. When the 31st Trophy Cup event takes place there will be two foundations that will receive large donations from the event.
The Trophy Cup will donate funds to the Rayce Rudeen Foundation while the event golf tournament and the annual huge Christmas decorations show at the Pusateri home in San Jose will make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The countless hours that Dave Pusateri and his group have put into 30 years of the Cup has led to $3 million being given to Make-A-Wish Foundation.