Hirst, Shelby, Earl Win Silver Dollar Speedway Fourth Of Jul

Chico, CA...July 4...Current King of the West Sprint Car Series point leader Kyle Hirst paid a surprise visit to Silver Dollar Speedway on Wednesday night and won the 25 lap Sprint Car Main Event. The track held a special Fourth of July celebration, complete with Fireworks Show to end the evening. Hirst had the front row for the Main Event and pulled into the lead at the start. Kenny Allen was an early second until surrendering the position to past Placerville champion Mason Moore on lap three. Through three yellow flags, Hirst continued to set the pace and brought it home to victory ahead of Moore. Michael "Buddy" Kofoid finished a strong third ahead of Kalib Henry, Mitchell Faccinto, Korey Lovell, Shawn Conde, Brad Bumgarner, reigning Petaluma and Watsonville champion Geoff Ensign and Chelsea Blevins.

The Sprint Cars produced a strong 24 car field for the special event, and Hirst was the only driver in the 11 second bracket with the fast time of 11.997. Faccinto was second quick at 12.032, edging the 12.038 of Kofoid. Petaluma Speedway championship contender Jake Haulot outran Ensign to win the first of three eight lap heat races. Moore bested Michael Ing in the second heat, and Henry outran Kofoid to claim the third heat win. Driving for Ted Finkenbinder, Australian Jamie Cobby won the 12 lap B Main ahead of Brad Bumgarner, Alec Justeson and Ryan Souza.

Reigning IMCA Sport Modified champion Philip Shelby battled current State point leader Austin Manzella to win the 20 lap Main Event. Manzella raced into the early lead ahead of Mike Ficklin. Brian Cooper and Shelby shuffled Ficklin back to fourth on the second lap, and Shelby charged past Cooper for second on lap six. Two laps later, Shelby grabbed the lead from Manzella, and he proceeded to lead the rest of the way for the win. Manzella settled for a close second, followed by Cooper, American Valley Speedway star Craig Nieman, Jimmy Ford, Keith Brown Jr, Brent Curran, Ficklin, Tuesday Marysville winner Damian Merritt and Tuesday night Yreka winner Jimmy Lipke. Mike Merritt outran Tyler Rogers to win the first of three eight lap heat races, and Jimmy Ford outran Shelby to win the second heat. Manzella won the final heat ahead of Cooper.

Clinton Earl had a little luck on his side in winning the 20 lap Street Stock Main Event. Scott Rogers paced two laps before point leader Corey Hall grabbed the lead. Earl settled into third, and Hall's run up front ended for a lap 12 caution flag. Rogers led one lap before surrendering the lead to Earl on lap 14. Brent Lawrence gained second on a lap 15 restart and gave Earl a little late race pressure. However, Earl kept his cool and scored the well-earned victory, followed by Lawrence, Fritz Zanker, Gary Newman, Rogers, Kenny Allen, Ken Micheli, Devin Koranda and Hall. Richard Workman had crossed the line in third, only to be disqualified in post-race tech. Hall won the first of two eight lap heat races ahead of Rogers, while Earl outran Workman to win the second heat.

Reigning champion Kyle Allen picked up the victory in the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. Kyle Cheney did a stellar job in pacing the first 16 laps of the race. Shannon Collins ran second for two laps before surrendering the spot to Orland point leader Jeremy Langenderfer. It was Allen moving past Langenderfer for second on lap 11 and setting his sights on Cheney. On the 17th lap, Allen found his opportunity and raced past Cheney for the lead and eventual victory. Cheney settled for second, followed by Langenderfer, James West, Colin Ferguson, Shayna Nieman, Thomas Pavlik, Jimmy Ray Huffman, Mel Byers and Collins. Allen won the first eight lap heat race ahead of Huffman, while Cheney outran Nieman to win the second heat.

The speedway will be dark this Friday night, but racing action continues on July 13th with $1 ticket night. The Winged 360 Sprint Cars will be back along with the IMCA Sport Modifieds, Street Stocks and Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

Chico, CA...June 29...Reigning champion Andy Forsberg scored the victory in the 25 lap Winged 360 Sprint Car Main Event Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway. Forsberg had the lead, lost it to Tanner Carrick and gained it back in an unlikely and wild last lap finish.

Forsberg sprang into the lead at the start, followed by Kalib Henry and Carrick. Carrick slipped past Henry for second on lap two, and a lap five caution flag slowed the pace. Forsberg continued to lead Carrick and Henry on this and a lap eight restart. Forsberg was leading the way until a lap 16 pass put Carrick in front. Tanner Thorson settled into third on lap 18. Carrick was leading the way with Forsberg still close behind in second when a final caution flag waved on lap 23. Carrick led the restart lap, but all hell broke loose on the final lap. Contact between Forsberg and Carrick sent Carrick flipping. Forsberg won a drag race back to the line for the victory ahead of Thomson and Michael "Buddy" Kofoid. Mason Moore finished fourth, followed by Jamie Cobby, Korey Lovell, Colby Wiesz, Kenny Allen, Chelsea Blevins and Henry.

Thorson set the fastest lap in qualifying with an 11.860 effort, beating Moore's 11.949 and the 11.953 of Shawn Conde. The 18 car field ran three eight lap heat races. Carrick outran Thorson to win the first one, while Cobby beat Moore to the checkered flag in the second one. The third heat went to Conde ahead of Blevins.

Brian Cooper picked up another win in the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Reigning Street Stock champion Phil Marino set the early pace with Cooper slipping into second on lap two. Cooper and point leader Andrew Peckham exchanged second, but Cooper settled the matter by regaining the position on a lap five restart. Cooper finally raced into the lead just prior to a lap 15 caution flag. Cooper led reigning champion Philip Shelby on the restart as Marino retired late. Cooper went on to a satisfying victory. Peckham made a last lap pass on Shelby to take the second place position. Tyler Rogers was a close fourth, followed by Damian Merritt, Jake Van Tol, Jimmy Ford, Mike Ficklin, Hunter Merritt and Mike Merritt. There were two heat races, won by Mike Merritt ahead of Marino and Peckham in front of Shelby.

Point leader Corey Hall led all the way to win his third 20 lap Street Stock Main Event of the season. Brent Lawrence was a race long second and kept it reasonably close at the front of the pack. Clinton Earl finished about half a lap back in third, followed by Richard Workman and final lead lap finisher Gary Newman. Fritz Zanker, Leif Berglund, Phil Marino and Matt Micheli completed the finishing order. Earl outran Hall to win the 8 lap heat race.

Ron LaPlant led all 20 laps to win the Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event. Casey McClain kept it close all race long in second. Heat race winner Terry Schank Jr was the one making the passes as he ran fifth on the opening lap and took fourth from Braden Enos on lap three. Schank finally got past point leader Tony Richards for third on lap ten and reeled in the lead two cars to finish a close third. Richards settled for fourth, followed by Enos, Brent Youngman and Kelly Hicks. Schank won the eight lap heat race ahead of Enos.

The track returns to action with a special Wednesday, July 4th, Fireworks Display. The competing divisions include the Winged 360 Sprint Cars, Street Stocks, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.silverdollarspeedway.com.