CHICO, California — In spite of a major power shut down, at Silver Dollar Speedway, the wingless sprint cars, USAC/CRA Western Classic Racing Series highlighted the second night of racing as the 58th celebration of the Gold Cup Race of Champions continued in this four day event. Congratulations go to many this night, especially to Kyle Larson, of Elk Grove, CA, racing in the Brent Kaeding #99 sprint, who edged out the field to add yet another victory to his resume. Then you have to note that this was only made possible by the profound efforts of Dennis Gage, Promoter of the Speedway and the Silver Dollar Fair Ground staff. Using a stop watch for qualifying (instead of transponders) then managing to get enough power to light the track (the balance of the area outside the track was in darkness) this event was able to run.
"It was a good run. I started in fourteenth. "— Kyle Larson
Larson raced into the lead of the USAC/ CRA "A" Feature, with ten or so laps to go and the race was his to win.
"It was a good run. I started in fourteenth. The track was good and it's a lot of fun to race when the track is so good. A big thanks for the great track preparation. I also want to thank all of my team, they gave me a great car, it made it easy to race. The groove at the top was better than the bottom. Non-wing racing is different than racing with a wing. So racing tomorrow night in the World of Outlaw Sprint Series will be a different kind of race, than tonight. Last year we ran good with the WoO's. Hopefully, this year we'll do better." said Larson.
The WoO Sprint Series is a two day event, that is on Friday & Saturday nights of Gold Cup. (09/09 and 09/10, 2011).
Second place was reeled in by Jac Haudenschild of Wooster, OH, driving the Silva #57 wingless sprint. Haudenschild who hasn't competed in a wingless sprint in over eight years, scored a 13.60 second lap in qualifying, for fast time of the night. Then went on to race from a seventh place start in his ten lap heat race, to score this win as well earning an eighth place start in the "A".
With a heavy field of contenders, Haudenschild was in fourth by the eighteenth lap, still looking for more. With four laps to go Haudenschild raced into second and was there at the finish.
"I just ran second. It felt good racing but it's been eight years since I was in a wingless. The track was good and I could get close to Larson but it was hard to be able to pass him. I want to thank Paul Silva for giving me this opportunity to drive this event and all of the team for the good car they gave me to race." said Haudenschild.
Third place was earned by a great run from Matt Mitchell of Yorba Linda, CA. Mitchell clocked in a 13.84 second lap for second fast time, finished second in the second heat race and raced from a seventh place start in the "A" Feature into second place by the third lap but was caught by Haudenschild, towards the end. Mitchell still earned his place on the podium, crossing the finish line in third. Needless to say it was a very competitive race throughout the thirty laps on the quarter mile high banked clay oval at Silver Dollars Speedway.
Also tonight's race was dedicated to the Tiner Racing Family who have been in racing in California since 1962. Johnny Tiner was the first family member to race, competing in jalopy's (hard tops), that he got from the junk yard. There has been Tiner's involved in racing every year since, including Steven Tiner, who was behind the wheel of the #94 wingless sprint in tonight's action. Steven Tiner is Johnny Tiner's Grandson and the fourth generation of Tiner's racing and Rod Tiner is the owner of the #83 sprint that also is in competition this weekend. Through the years this family has raced, won titles, built race cars, etc. and have contributed so much to racing and they aren't done yet.
Getting back to the feature even, there were some cautions and red flags that went out during the feature, but all and all it was a good race and no injuries were reported. Fourth place went to Kyle Hirst,followed by Mike Spencer, Shane Golobic, Nic Faas, Jason York, Jimmy Trulli, Taylor Simas, Richard Brace, Jr, Steven Tiner, Geoff Ensign, Tony Hunt, Cody Myers, Cody Williams, Marty Hawkins,Scott Peevish, Shawn Wright, Austin Williams, Greg Bragg, Cody Smith, Tom Baker, Todd Miller.
Finishes for the "B" Main and Heat races are as follows:
"B" Main: Myers, Faas, Hawkins, C. Williams, Baker, Simas, Billy Wallace, Pierovich, Trent Can ales, Jeff Parady, Todd Miller, Tim Barber, Eddy Lewis, Tim Sherman, Jr., Jeff Griffin, Kirk Simpson, Herman Kline, Mark Tabor, Jr.
Heat #1: Haudenschild, York, Ensign, Bragg, C. Williams, Hawkins, Wallace, Tabor, Jr., Jeff Griffin.
Heat #2: Spencer, Mitchell, Tiner, Hunt, Faas, Kline, Miller, Baker, Sherman, Jr.
Heat #3: Larson, Hirst, Trulli, Wright, Simpson, Si mas, Andy Forsberg, Scott Hall. (Forsberg and Hall were in separate roll overs in this race, again no injuries were reported).
Heat #4: Brace, Jr., Golobic, A. Williams, Smith, Can ales, Parady, Gary Paulson, Perovich, Myers.
