CHICO, CA (7-16-10) - Chico's Brett Miller led all 25-laps to win his first main event of the year at the Silver Dollar Speedway. It was Miller's fourth career triumph at his hometown track. With the win Miller is now the new point leader of the Feather Falls Casino / Riebes Auto Parts Friday night championship series. The twenty-year old holds a four-point advantage over Jason York going into this weekend's races. York, who entered the night as the point leader, looked to have a good points night too after pulling the zero pill that placed him on the pole position. York had earlier set the fastest lap in qualifying with an 11.626. It was his third fast time of the year. However, on the first lap, York pulled a major wheelie heading towards the flag stand and when he landed the right front shock broke. This caused him to slide off track and bring out a yellow. He restarted in the rear and did his best to work his way back to a tenth place finish.

Miller was in a class all of his own. He lapped up to the fifth spot in the main event. He held over a five second advantage over the second place finisher at the checkered flag. Millers win was a popular victory at the speedway. His mother, Beth, most of the nights sings the National Anthem. His grandparents attend every event and are very well liked in the pit area. Miller himself signed up for the National Guard and will leave at the end of August for four months. This means he will miss the Gold Cup in September, but, as he puts it, this is something he needed to do to further his life skills and help him in the future. The win also showed the families perseverances. Early in the season Miller at times was the fastest car on the track, however, the finishes never justified their performance. Bad luck, mechanical failures and wrecks ended his night more times than not in 2010. With the win tonight Miller solidified himself as a threat to win the championship.

Local drivers represented themselves well tonight. Chico's Kevin Sharrah started sixth and finished second. Sharrah is one of the drivers, like Miller, that has shown speed all season and should end up in victory lane before the season ends. Chico's Brad Bumgarner finished third. Bumgarner continues to flirt with his first win of the season. Redding's Tyler Wolf finished in the fourth spot. Wolf has now scored back-to-back top five main event finishes. Grass Valley's Mark Hall finished fifth. It was Hall's second week in a row in the top five. Hard charger of the night went to Chico's Robbie Whitchurch. Whitchurch originally was shown to start in the 17th spot and finished in the sixth position.

Rio Vista's Dan Simpson won the first heat race. St. Helena's Jeff Griffin picked up the win in heat two. Nevada masher Mike Monahan scored the big win in heat three.

Kevin Lesch sure picked the right time to win his first career main event at the Silver Dollar Speedway. Lesch, racing for Mark Abouzeid and Chico Volkswagen, won the 20-lap street stock main event. It was a story book ending for Lesch since the night was being sponsored by Chico Volkswagen. Lesch had many of his friends and Chico Volkswagen employees in the grandstand rooting him on. After the races the group stayed late into the night celebrating his first career victory.

Lesch started the race as the leader. He did a solid job holding off former two-time championship Phil Marino. Marino had won three of the six main events races this year. On lap seven Marino had found the correct line and drove around Lesch for the lead. Yet, a few laps later, Marino would show signs of a mechanical failure. Lesch began to reel in Marino for the top spot once again. On lap 13, Lesch passed Marino and was the top driver with seven laps to go. A lap later Marino pulled off with what appeared to be a motor failure. Lesch continued to stretch his lead. Lesch dominated the final few laps and when he crossed the finish line, www.mylaps.com reports that he had a 10-second advantage over Scott Rogers. Rogers moved into the second spot after Marino went to the pit area. Joe Longmire came across in the third spot. Mike Slightom finished fourth while Bill Hall was fifth. The top five were all on the same lead lap.

Rogers won the first heat race while Heather Bartlett won the second heat. Bartlett continues as the point leader even after a DNF in the main event. Bartlett pulled off the track on lap eight and was officially scored with a tenth place finish.

Ryan McDaniel and his father Randy put on another epic battle in the dirt modified division. Randy is the current point leader and winner of the previous race. Tonight it was his sons turn to shine. The first ten laps of the race saw Ryan and Mark Abouzeid battle for the top spot. Abouzeid's night would end when one of his wheels got packed with clay and a suspension part broke. Abouzeid exited the track on lap 11. Randy now moved into the second spot and began to challenge his kid for the win. Ryan held off his father and officially won by less than a second. The McDaniel family continues to impress with their ability to year after year be such a big factor of wins at the Silver Dollar Speedway. Third place went to Jeff Olschowka, who also won the first heat race. Fourth spot went to Wade Kennemore, who won the second heat race. Darin Ruley came across in the fifth position.

Class was in session Friday night during the wingless sprint car main event. Jimmy Sills, the professor, won the 20-lap main event. It was Sills first win at the speedway in many years. Sills owns and operates the Jimmy Sills School of Open Wheel Racing. Sills was in teaching mode tonight. He led all but two laps of the event. Rowdy McClenon led the first two circuits until Sills made his move on lap three. Sills was able to hold off charges from BJ Martin, who ultimately finished third, and Terry Schank Jr. who finished second. Schank moved around Martin with two laps to go. Braedon Enos and Brett Youngman rounded out the top five. Sills clean swept the night by winning the first heat while Brett Youngman won heat two.