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Mason Moore Wins Second Main of Year
by: Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 8-15-08)...With a star studded 410 sprint car field it was second year driver Mason Moore who showed the rest of the field the way to the checkered flag. Silver Dollar Speedway hosted point race #20 during the Feather Falls Casino Friday night point series. Four divisions equaled 75 drivers on a hot, muggy night at Chico. The wingless sprints, dwarf cars and street stocks all competed at the speedway. Taylor Simas won the 15-lap Joe Hunt Magnetos wingless main event. Redding driver Scott Rogers won the 20-lap street stock race. Kevin “Hollywood” Bender won an exciting 20-lap dwarf car main event. Jessee Heating and Air along with Four Seasons Roofing sponsored the night.
Danny Lasoski made a rare appearance during the Friday night races at Chico. He is expected to race in Placerville tonight and then return for the next weekend at Chico. Tyler Walker also returned from Knoxville to race. Australia driver Robbie Farr made his first start of the year at Chico. Danny Reedy, another Australian masher, was also racing. Brad Sweet was also in attendance fresh of his USAC midget wins. It was a diverse group of drivers to say the least.
Sean Becker came into the night just five-points behind Andy Forsberg for the champion. The night started off amazing for Becker. In qualifying, Becker blistered the track and on his second lap recorded an 11.203. With the lap, Becker is now the fastest sprint car driver in the history of the speedway during qualifying.
The 25-lap sprint car main event started with two cautions that resulted in a few drivers not returning to the track. Once the green was out, Mason Moore started from the pole and led the first lap. He went on to lead every lap of the race. Moore was able to hold a three to four car length lead most of the night. Sitting in the second spot was Robbie Farr. Farr has had experience at Chico in the past and seemed to pick up right where he left off years ago. Farr was holding down the second spot but was being contested by Tyler Walker. Walker was faster than Farr but unable to find the racing room and traction to make the pass. Behind these two was Andy Forsberg. Forsberg was holding off Danny Lasoski for the fourth spot. The track was fast but the top groove disappeared and the track became a dive towards the bottom in the turns. The only one trying to make the top work was Walker, Sean Becker and Brad Sweet. Sweet was in the top five before getting checked up by a slower car and he drifted off the race track. Becker was stuck deep in the field and tried the top but was not able to move around the bottom running cars. Moore continued to lead and lap after lap hit his marks and got the popular win. “I love these dry slick tracks,” said Moore in victory lane. “I have to thank my family and crew for always giving me a great car.” Farr finished second and Walker was third.
Jeff Olschowka had quite the night in the street stock division. Olschowka started on the front row and lead the first 10 laps. However, coming out of turn four he and Mike Slightom made contact and the two got hooked together. The momentum of both cars carried them into the infield and the yellow came out. Scott Rogers was now the leader. Rogers led Phil Marino back to the green flag on the restart. Yet, going through turn two Joe Longmire spun and he collected Marino. This moved Heather Bartlett into the second spot. The race resumed and Rogers pulled away. Moving through the field was Olschowka. He soon moved around Bartlett and was back into second. His charge would end there. Rogers won his third main of the year and holds his slim two point lead over Olschowka.
Bartlett finished third. Kevin Pendergrass was fourth and Steve Hammett fifth.
The Dwarf Cars are always very professional and the racing exciting at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Kevin Bender is a perfect example. “Hollywood” as he is known started from the front row and held off a charging Gilbert Toste for the win. Even though Bender led all 20-laps he was challenged by drivers right on his bumper. “I want to thank John and the fans here at Silver Dollar,” said Bender. “Even though it's our last race of the year here we look forward to coming back next year.” Brian Quilty stayed in the top five all night and wound up third. Dan Youngblood drove a solid race to finish fourth. Mike Grenert rounded out the top five. It was the fourth and final appearance for the Dwarf Cars in 2008 at Silver Dollar Speedway. We look forward to having them back again in 2009.
The final main of the night was the wingless division. The track had wore out and the drivers struggled with the slick conditions. The race stared with 13 drivers, however, in the end only five cars remained. Leading all the laps were Taylor Simas. The semi-pro basketball player and Chico St. student won his fourth main event of the year. “I know the race was a little boring but I am still happy to get the win,” said Simas. “But I think that was the longest 15 laps in the history of a main event.” The race was halted for 15 minutes when a three car pile up in turn one resulted in Cody Myers fuel cell leaking. The fuel spilled onto the speedway and officials were in clean up mode for a while. Terry Shank Jr. made the race interesting as he tried the top and wanted to challenge Simas but there was not enough traction. Kenny Webber had a solid race to finish third. Brian Southers drove hard for his fourth place finish. Reyna Krueger finished fifth.
Racing continues tonight with the Western All Star Late Models and Street Stocks. This is an added race and not on the original schedule. Front gates open at 5 pm, racing set to start around 7 pm.
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