Source: Alissa Geving Media Relations
Date: 04/28/2008

PETALUMA, California – Going into Saturday night, Penngrove’s Alissa Geving was faced with a big decision. Would the 16-year-old high school junior attend the prom or strap into her Pit Stop USA-Chick-O-Motorsports #3x sprint car and return to the likes of Petaluma Speedway for the weekly All Pro point series? Choosing the latter of the two options, Geving made the best of her decision, driving to her first feature victory of the season at her home town track where she leads the point standing enroute to a possible first career championship.

After qualifying in fifth on the roster with a 12.98 on the 3/8 mile, Geving started fourth in her 8-lap preliminary heat race. After holding the third position for much of the event the current series point leader overtook Pope Valley’s Jeff Parady for the second position and began closing in on Roberto Kirby for the lead before the checkered flag waved and she finished in the second position.

Following the second place preliminary heat race, Geving started on the pole of the feature with fellow teen competitor Shane Golobic of Freemont on the outside.. With the waving of the green flag Geving charged into a decisive lead over Golobic soon spun and was overtaken by veteran racer Art McCarthy prior to a caution flag which place McCarty nose to tail behind Geving for the restart.

Once the event was restarted, Geving worked her best on a rough track surface where the high line of the track was the faster line, much different that the previous weeks when running the bottom has led Geving to a top five in all but one event so far this season. Doing her best to avoid the rough portions of the track surface, Geving was forced to race through the adverse conditions like the others for much of the event as it was still the fastest racing line despite the conditions that caused a number of caution periods due to spins and crashes, many of which Geving narrowly avoided.

With only eight laps to go, Geving maintained a healthy lead over McCarthy until she struck one of the larger ruts of the track. Upon the impact smoke became apparent coming from the rear of the Gary Geving powered Maxim. The brake rotor had burned into the brake line causing a loss of brakes, adding even more adversity for Geving for the final laps of the race. With 20 laps complete such adversity led to the loss of the lead when Geving was forced to slow considerably in lapped traffic, which permitted McCarthy to overtake the lead with just five laps remaining.

Adjusting to the conditions at hand, Geving utilized her patience and smart driving skills, keeping the momentum down the straights and into the corner and then coasting to the high side of the track lap after lap to make up for the lack of brakes. With just two laps to go the teen lady racer brought the grandstands to a frenzy once again when she made a daring on the high side of turns one and two to overtake McCarthy for the lead. At the finish Geving posted her fifth career win in a full size sprint car and her first victory of 2008. McCarthy finished in second follow by Bradley Terry, Parady and David Lindt Jr.

“The A-main was a very scary race for me,” said Geving. “It was bumpy up on the top and there was a few times when I almost lost the lead because of the bicycling. After I hit the rut my left fell to floor, no brakes. So I had to take it easy and try to hold on. Of course the lapped traffic made it tough without brakes and I lost the lead and then was able to get it back. Talk about intense, I was glad the car survived and that everything worked in my favor tonight.”

Following Saturday’s event which will undoubtedly increase Geving’s Petaluma All Pro Series point lead, the Chick-O Motorsports Team will set its sights on returning to Placerville Speedway for the fifth annual “Tribute to Al Hinds” Civil War Race. This will be just third time Geving will compete on Placerville’s competitive bullring and she looks forward to the return. The entire day will include festivities in honor of the late racing promoter, including an invitational sprint car show and shine and barbecue at Family Chevrolet-Cadillac in Shingle Springs. Geving will be one of 15 different drivers that will be on hand for the event.

“We’re looking forward to coming up to Placerville for the Al Hinds race,” she added. “I wasn’t even born when Al Hinds ran that track and I never had the opportunity to meet him but I have heard so many great things about what he did for the sport from others and my dad. I think it’s really important that we continue to recognize the pioneers of this sport and make sure they are never forgotten.”

Alissa Gevings’ title sponsors include Pit Stop USA, Auto Repairs Unlimited, Matt Cordiero Enterprises and A1A Muffler. Additional sponsors include Parker Stores, Sequoia Logistics, Tillet Tool, Kalembas Tire Center, Rossi Auto Body, Afex Graphics, ALC Machine Century 21st Healthy Club, Hose Doctor, Spin Tech Mufflers, Fast Lube Plus and Kaeding Performance. ALC Machine.

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