CHICO, CA (5-24-09) - For Herman Klein it was a bitter defeat. For the capacity crowd it was a finish that they will be talking about for a long time. Klein led the first 29 laps of the 30-lap feature and then it happened. Sean Becker had patiently worked his way up through the field from his eighth place starting spot. On lap 26 he passed Ricky Wright Jr. for the second spot and began to reel in Klein. As the white flag waived, Becker caught Klein and began to pressure him for the lead. As the two went through turns one and two, Klein slid up the track and Becker nailed the bottom. The two raced side-by-side going into turn three. Becker had secured the bottom groove and Klein was searching for traction in the middle of the turns. Becker was able to find the grip and pass Klein for the lead coming off turn four. He beat Klein to the finish line by a half a car length. Needless to say, the crowd was thrilled with an amazing finish and gave the two drivers a standing ovation on the cool down lap. Becker parked his car in victory lane and was very animated when he emerged. With is helmet still on Becker charged to the front fence and began to climb to the top. When he reached the top both he and the crowd were as pumped up as I had ever seen.

When Becker returned back to the car he was asked about the final lap and said, ”Well if you remember the lap before we both washed up the track in turn two and I was just hoping to not do it on the final lap.”

He continued by saying, “On the final lap Herman moved up again in turn two and I just stuck to the bottom and we drag raced into turn three and luckily for me it worked. You definitely had to be patient here tonight but pick the right times to be aggressive and make your moves. That was about as fun as I had here in a long time.” A total of 42 drivers signed into the ASA Sanctioned Silver Dollar Speedway for round number three of the Hoosier Racing Tire California Sprint Car Civil War Series.

Willie Croft got upside down at the start of the main event. He was uninjured but not able to continue. It was Klein leading the field down for the restart. He beat fellow front row starter Shain Matthews into the first turn. Klein is a seasoned veteran and he drove out to a commanding lead in the early part of the event. The only things slowing Klein down was a yellow on lap 10 for Colby Wiesz and then another yellow on lap 19 for Ryan Gomes. On the restart two local boys tangled in turn four. Chico’s Brad Bumgarner and Stephen Allard banged wheels and both of them crashed in turn four. Allard’s car ended up with his front wheels stuck on the fence while Bumgarner’s car had the front end collapsed. The final stoppage came on lap 21 when Robbie Whitchurch parked it off turn three.

Up to this point Becker had only passed a few cars during green flag racing but it’s the restarts where he shines. Becker continued to drive to the high side in turns one and two on the restarts and pass the car ahead of him before ducking back in line and diving to the bottom in three. Matthews had been chasing Klein up to this point in the race also. Matthews was just a bit off during the final few laps and drifted back to a sixth place finish. It was still a solid run for a driver working with a shoestring budget. Wright Jr. moved into the second spot on lap 21 and began to close on Klein. Yet, the real charger was Becker. He passed Matthews for third and began to chase down Wright Jr. On lap 26 Becker passed Wright and was now trying to figure out a way to get by Klein. Becker had an opportunity on lap 28 when Klein hit a rut and slid up in turn two. Yet, Becker did the same thing as Klein and was not able to capitalize. This set up the dramatic finish. Coming to the white flag Klein had a car-length advantage. Going into turn one they both dove to he bottom. Klein was unable to keep his car glued to the infield’s edge and slid up again, as he had down the previous lap. Becker was able to miss the rut and stayed on the bottom where he found more traction. The two raced side-by-side heading into turn three. Both drivers did not want to give up an inch but they also drove a smart clean finish. One mistake or chop block would have ended both of their nights. Becker had the bottom groove and that’s where you needed to be. Coming out of turn four Becker’s momentum pushed him across the line by less than a car length. Wright Jr. finished third. It was his career best at Chico.

Wes Gutierrez had an amazing run all night long. He got a little lost in the dramatic finish but should be commended for his fourth place finish. Like Wright Jr. it was a career best for Gutierrez. Placerville driver Jimmy Trulli rounded out the top five. He was able to hang around and like a cagey veteran get a top five finish. The hard charger of the main event was Greg DeCaires. He started dead last, 22^nd position and worked his way to a ninth place finish.

Andy Gregg won the 12-lap B main. He was running second to Brad Furr on lap four when Furr unexpectedly stopped on the front stretch to bring out a yellow. Furr was pushed off and did not return. Gregg went on lead the final eight laps for the win. Stephen Allard finished second.

Andy Forsberg won the 10 lap C main event. He passed Jim Richardson for the lead on lap five. Forsberg, Richardson and Bradley Terrell came across the checkered as the top three. Nicole Miller finished fourth and also transferred into the B main.

Klein won the first heat race of the night. Becker drove by four cars to get the win in heat two. Willie Croft had an impressive win in heat three. He started sixth and passed Matt Sargent on the last lap for the win. Ryan Gomes won the fourth and final heat.

Brad Furr started off the night by turning the quickest lap in qualifying. He lap time was a 12.700. Full results are available at www.civilwarsprints.com