Forsberg, Merritt Win Marysville Raceway Main Events

Marysville, CA...July 3...Reigning Chico and Civil War Sprint Car champion Andy Forsberg won the 25 lap Winged 360 Sprint Car Main Event Tuesday night at Marysville Raceway. The special Tuesday night show, which included a Fireworks Display at the end of the night's activities, attracted a 23 car field for the Sprint Car portion of the program. The race had three different incidents that forced restarts and eliminated Michael Ing, John Carney II, Peter Paulsen, Ryan Souza and Kyle Stanley before racing finally got going. Billy Wallace raced into the early lead ahead of Mike Monahan. Forsberg raced past Mason Moore for third on lap five and took second from Monahan on lap eight. On lap 10, Forsberg put the moves on Wallace to take over the lead. Monahan gained second on lap 22 when Wallace retired from the event. A lap 23 caution flag bunched the field, but Forsberg led the final two laps for the victory. Monahan settled for second, followed by Moore, Tanner Carrick, Kenny Allen, Rowdy McLennan, Kyle Hirst, Kory Lovell, Justin Henry and Brett Rollag.

Carney surprised the 23 car field with the quick lap of 12.970. Allen was second quick at 13.205. Wallace won the first eight lap heat race ahead of Forsberg, while Ing outran Monahan to win the second heat. Moore outran Hirst to claim the victory in the final heat. Paulsen won the 12 lap B Main ahead of Carney and Alec Justeson.

Point leader Damian Merritt scored the victory in the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Scott Savell led the opening lap before Keith Brown Jr took over on a lap two restart. Merritt raced into second on a lap three restart, but reigning champion Philip Shelby passed both Brown and Merritt to take the lead on lap five. A lap five caution flag again bunched the field, and Merritt raced past Shelby for the lead on the restart. Driving the Marty Burdine car, Geoff Ensign moved into second ahead of state championship contender Austin Manzella on a lap eight restart. Damian Merritt ran a smooth race down the stretch and was rewarded with a satisfying victory, followed by Ensign, Manzella, Savell, Hunter Merritt, Mike Smith, Shelby, Jim Waller, Jimmy Ford and Brown. Brown won his eight lap heat race in front of Damien Merritt, while Manzella picked up the other heat win, followed by Ensign.

Darren Johnson won the 15 lap Crate Sprint Main Event. Johnson led from the outset, followed by Cameron Haney Sr and past champion Mike Sayre. Even a yellow flag slow down on lap four and a red flag on lap six for a Chad Thompson flip did not alter the Top 3 as Johnson won ahead of Haney, Sayre, Jalen Deas, Jerry Douglas, Wade Lumsden, Thompson and Cameron Haney Jr. Johnson also won the eight lap heat race in front of Haney Sr.

Point leader Chris Warner collected the victory in the 15 lap Super Stock Main Event. Driving the Jerry Bartlett owned entry, Richard Vanderploeg raced into the early lead ahead of Warner and Rod Oliver. Oliver pitted on lap seven, moving reigning champion James Castleberry into third. Castleberry slipped past Warner for second on lap nine, but moments later, he and Vanderploeg tangled for a lap nine caution flag. Warner held the lead on the restart ahead of Brett Lawrence. Warner stretched his lead to nearly a straightaway at the checkered flag as Lawrence settled for second, followed by Casselberry, Late Model veteran Leroy Perry, Vanderploeg and Rod Oliver. Oliver won the eight lap heat race ahead of Warner.

After a one-week break, racing action resumes on July 14th with Dollar Night. All tickets for admission are $1. Winged 360 Sprint Cars will be competing that night along with IMCA Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Super Stocks. For further information, go to www.marysvilleraceway.com.