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Silver Dollar Speedway
Mini Gold Cup Night One
Golden State Challenge King of California Series Round #1
Media contact: Troy Hennig – [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Jonathan Allard Wins Opening Night of Mini Gold Cup at Chico_
(Chico, Ca 3/9/07)...The defending champion of the Golden State
Challenge showed everyone else that he is poised to keep the crown to
himself. Chico's Jonathan Allard passed Andy Forsberg on lap two and
went on to lead the final 28 laps to win the opening night of the Mini
Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. “I owe a lot to my guys
tonight, they really were watching the track and made some changes
after
the dash,” said Allard in victory lane. “We've had a tough past
couple
of races and I'm just glad I can put the Morrie and Katie Williams, GT
Trends car in victory lane tonight.”
Tonights win was number 14 in Allard's career during the Golden State
King of California Series. One more win will place him in a tie with
Tim
Green for third spot on the most wins list for the Golden State
Challenge. “Wow, I did not know that, he's a heck of a racer and
that's
quite an honor,” said Allard.
The surprise of the night was Sacramento's Kyle Hirst who finished
second. Less than two weeks ago, Hirst did not have a ride for this
race. However, in stepped the McMillen family along with Tom Rolfe and
Gary Perkins. Hirst drove an old schoo1 #2 McMillen with help from JF
McCray and ART Enterprises, and gave the car, team and fans quite a
show. “It was good, I'm glad they brought me out here this
weekend,”
said Hirst. “Tonights track was tricky. It had two different corners
to
it tonight, in one and two you had to miss the ruts and in three and
four you were playing in the sand,” said Hirst.
Finishing third was no stranger to Silver Dollar Speedway. Enjoying a
weekend off from the World of Outlaws, Tim Kaeding started 13^th in the
Taco Bravo #72w and moved himself to the front. With more laps he might
of be a challenger for the lead. “I didn't have any power steering
tonight to I was hanging on for dear life tonight,” said Kaeding.
“I
know one thing, I'm going to need a massage tonight.” He later added,
“I
love this place, the past couple of Gold Cups I haven't been able to
make it past one lap, so tonight I'm just glad to get some laps and
bring this car home third.”
The main event started with dash winner Andy Forsberg on the pole.
Forsberg took the early lead but on lap two he bobbled coming out of
turn four. This allowed Allard to sneak to his inside and take the
lead.
The race was marred with numerous yellow flags in the early moments.
Brett Miller and Zack Mason each had issues on the speedway and by lap
two, both were disqualified for two yellows. On lap three, Bud Kaeding
spun in turn four. Kaeding had been running near the top five when the
accident occurred. His brother Tim, later apologized on the microphone
for taping him from behind and causing him to spin.
Racing resumed with Allard the leader and Jason Meyers in second.
Meyers
was rapidly catching the leader until something out of his control took
him out of the hunt for the win. Jason Botsford had just got lapped by
Allard when he lost control of this car and spun coming out of turn
four. Meyers had nowhere to go and slammed hard into Botsford. Meyers
car went upside down and the red was needed. Meyers crew did a great
job
to fix the beat up race car. He restarted in the 18^th spot and raced
his way back to a seventh place finish.
On the restart start things took a nasty turn for Brent Kaeding. Going
into turn two the 12-time champion of the series took a scary ride that
catapulted Kaeding high into the air and landing hard back on the
track.
He was shaken up but able to walk away under his own power.
After Kaeding's misfortune it was back to racing. The final 20 laps
went
non-stop. Allard pulled out to a half a straight advantage over Hirst.
Forsberg rode around in third until Tim passed him with a few laps to
go. The top four stayed the same at the finish.
The movers of the night included Jason Statler and Sean Becker. Statler
started 19^th and finished fifth. Becker matched Statler's move. He
started 20^th , right a long side Statler, and finished sixth. Statler
is now driving the #10 Tom Rolfe Trucking Special while Becker is back
in the familiar #35m of Tom Fisher and Kyle Main.
Willie Croft lead all 12 laps to win the B main event. Roger Crockett
followed close behind. Chuck Gurney Jr. came home third while Greg
DeCaires was fourth. Matt Shelton and Brett Rollag grabbed the final
two
transfer spots into the main event.
Tim Kaeding won heat race number one. Orland driver Zack Mason looked
sharp in winning heat two while holding off Jonathan Allard. Brett
Miller won heat race number three. Jon Maiwald scored an impressive win
in heat four. Maiwald won the most improved driver award last year for
the Golden State Challenge.
Willie Croft set the night's fastest lap in qualifying by turning a
11.774. A total of 44 drivers entered the pit area tonight.
RESULTS
Qualifying: Willie Croft – 11.774
Heat One: Tim Kaeding, Jason Meyers, Bud Kaeding, Jim Richardson, Brett
Rollag
Heat two: Zack Mason, Jonathan Allard, Brent Kaeding, Sean Becker, Greg
DeCaires
Heat Three: Brett Miller, Craig Stidham, Andy Forsberg, Johnny Gray,
Stephen Allard
Heat Four: Jon Maiwald, Jason Statler, Kyle Hirst, Jason Botsford, Matt
Shelton
C Main: Willie Croft, Chuck Gurney Jr., Ronnie Day, Carl Droivold,
Shawn
Wright, Pat Harvey Jr., Kevin Sharrah, Mike Stallings, Mark Workentine,
Jim Skinner
B Main: Willie Croft, Roger Crockett, Chuck Gurney Jr., Greg DeCaires,
Matt Shelton, Brett Rollag, Evan Suggs, Robert Stice, Robbie
Whitchurch,
Jeff Delte, Mike Monahan, Eddy Lewis, Taylor Malsam, Mason Moore, Dan
Simpson
Dash: Forsberg, Allard, Hirst, Richardson, Gray, Meyers, Brent Kaeding,
Bud Kaeding
A Main: Allard, Hirst, T. Kaeding, Forsberg, Statler, Becker, Meyers,
Croft, DeCaires, Stidham, Rollag, Gurney Jr., Botsford, Shelton,
Maiwald,
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