7/15/2015
Silver Dollar Speedway
Allard Wins Fourth in a Row
CHICO, CA (7-17-15) - It�s been a reoccurring theme at Silver Dollar Speedway. Chico�s Jonathan Allard was two laps from not securing his 61st career main event win at his home track. However, Allard drove under sentimental favorite Chase Majdic in turn one and grabbed the lead. Allard led the final lap and a-half to secure not only the win but take over the Chuck Patterson championship point lead during the Friday night series. �I have to give credit to Chase,� said Allard. �He drove a great race but I think all of my laps around this place are what got me the win. I saw a little bit of rubber developing in turn one and I took advantage of it.� With the win, Allard now has a seven point lead over four time champion Sean Becker.
Becker�s night was filled with a roller coaster of emotions. During the first heat race his Cherry St. Mini Storage #75 motor blew up. This was devastating because the team does not have a backup 410 motor. In stepped Jim Richardson who offered up his car. The Menne Motorsports team placed all of their body panels and made the necessary changes to make Becker comfortable in a different car. Becker started the main event 11th and drove up through the field to finish third. It was a championship difference maker. If he did not start the main event, he would have missed out on big time points. With the team�s quick thinking and hard work, Becker still has a shot to win the championship.
Not to get lost in the shuffle is Majdic. The Redding driver was leading the main event with a 360 cubic inch motor. Not only was he under horse powered, but Majdic was making only his eighth career Friday night start. While he was probably disappointed to lead the race and have a chance to win, he should hold his head up high. If he could have won, it would have been the first time in 13 years that a 360 motor beat a 410 motor at Chico. In 2002, Johnny Rodriguez beat Tim Kaeding with the underpowered motor.
If anyone has a beef with the race it was Auburn�s Andy Forsberg. While his results have not been up to his standards in 2015, Forsberg was leading this race and pulling away from the competition. Yet, late in the event Forsberg went into turn three and his front tire came off causing him to spin around and stop. At this point Majdic almost wrecked into Forsberg but was able to avoid and collect the lead.
Allard collected the Tyler Wolf Fast time award with a lap of 11.857. He was the only driver in the 11-second bracket.
Always great to see Campbell�s Bud Kaeding and the #0 car at Chico. Kaeding won the first heat race while Chico�s Brad Bumgarner captured the win in heat two.
Hollister�s Ryan Bernal made a rare Friday night start at Chico and finished in the fourth spot. Bernal and his Oroville based #56 team will hopefully come back soon. Kaeding rebounded from an early crash and finished fifth.
A great turnout of 17 non wing spec sprint cars graced the Silver Dollar Speedway pit area. When it was all said and done, Santa Rosa veteran Terry Schank Jr. picked up his fourth win in five starts this season. Schank Jr. won the second heat race. Jake Morgan ran a great race to capture heat race one. Seventh place starting Cody Fendley finished in the second spot during the 20-lap main event. Casey McClain started 13th and ran all the way up to third. Tim Sherman Jr. started in the 15th spot and drove a great race to finish fourth. Twelfth place starting Jeremy Wilson finished fifth. As always, passing was a premium during the main event. Three of the top five finishers started deep in the field.
Chico�s Brandon Powell won his fourth economy winged sprint car main event of the season. With the win Powell increased his championship point lead to a whopping 24 points over Ron Wyman. Willows Doug Emery drove another solid race and finished second. Twelfth place starting Justin Henry ran up to a third place finish. Wyatt Brown brought the family owned #2 up to a fourth place finish. Powell won the first heat race. Chris Story was impressive and dominated heat two.
The limited late model main event was spectacular. Live Oak�s Matt Micheli was poised to win the race. However, he made one mistake in turn four. By doing so, he opened the door for Ryan McDaniel to shoot underneath him and take the lead. McDaniel led the final two laps and picked up his seventh consecutive feature win at Chico. Micheli finished in the second spot. Duane Cleveland, David Newquist and Jeff Olschowka delivered some great side by side racing and all three drivers finished in the top five. Cleveland won the first heat race. McDaniel got the win in heat two.
To the naked eye, Brian Compton crossed the start/finish line first. However, the transponders told a different story. Brian Cooper was awarded the win because the transponders had him ahead. It was a close win for Cooper. The win gave Cooper his fifth win out of seven starts this season while racing in the hobby stock division. Compton finished second but continues to enjoy a huge point lead over David Pierce. Shannon Collins finished in the third spot. Pierce was fourth and Mike Webster was fifth. Compton and Cooper each won their eight lap heat race.
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