By Troy Hennig
What a way to kick off the new season at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Night one of the Silver Cup Race of Champions presented by Feather Falls Casino, Riebe’s Auto Parts, Pepsi, Hoosier Tire and Coors Light saw an impressive 101 cars line the pit area Friday night. Three divisions were in attendance led by 40 cars in the winged 360 division, 39 dirt modifieds and 22 wingless sprints. Auburn’s Andy Forsberg won the 20-lap sprint car main event. Marysville driver Ryan McDaniel earned a hard fought win in the dirt modified feature. Biggs driver Kody Smith won his first career wingless sprint car main event.
The night started off with Sacramento driver Herman Klein turning the quickest lap in qualifying. In fact, his time was 11.621 and it was good enough to break the all-time 360 track record held for the past five years by Jonathan Allard. Allard’s old mark was 11.665. Qualifying was so good that 17 drivers turned in 11-second laps.
Andy Forsberg led the 22-car starting field into turn one of the winged sprint car main event. Robbie Whitchurch started on the pole but fell into the second spot at the start. It was a spot that he held onto for most of the night. Sean Becker brought out the first caution of the night when he stopped in turn two on lap five. Becker struggled tonight and finished in the 18th spot. Colby Wiesz stopped in turn one with a tire issue on lap ten. He pulled the H.A.M. Construction #35a in to the pit area and was done for the night. The red flag was needed on lap 12 when Willie Croft got upside down in turn four. Croft was battling for a top five position at the time of the accident.
On the restart Brett Miller drove around Whitchurch for the second spot. But before the field completed a lap Brad Furr had spun in turn two. On the restart, Whitchurch held to the top groove and did a good job of holding off Miller. To his credit, Miller was relentless tonight, and tried to make a daring pass in turn four. Things did not go smooth for Miller and he spun into the turn four wall. His race car was tore up and he was done for the night.
Racing resumed with Forsberg leading the way. Whitchurch held onto the second spot until a charging Roger Crockett made an improbable pass on the final lap to take the runner-up spot. Crockett originally started in the 12th spot. Mike Henry had a solid finish and wound up fourth. Fifth spot went to Hawaii driver Dean Freitas. Steven Tiner had a great charge from 16th to 6th. John Michael Bunch had a strong run too. Bunch started 18th and finished seventh. Brad Bumgarner came home in the eighth spot. Rounding out the top ten was Mason Moore and Brad Furr.
“It feels good to get this monkey off our back, “ said Forsberg. “We’ve been fast all year and should of won other races this year but bad things happened. I’m just happy to get this win for Brian, Steve and Scott. They are the reason that this team came together over the off season.”
Willie Croft won the 12-lap semi-main event over Herman Klein. Sean Becker won the first of four heat races. Justyn Cox led all eight laps to win the second heat race. Washington driver Logan Forler won heat three. Steven Tiner was victorious in heat four.
Eric Turner led the dirt modified field to the green flag. The race was quickly slowed when Mark Abouzeid was spun around by another driver in turn four. Abouzeid was done for the night after the shove and go. Turner led on the restart only to be passed by Jeff Olschowka. For the next 16 laps it was Olschowka dominating the race. On lap 12 disaster struck for second place Turner. Going into turn one he was racing with a slower car and had to check up. In doing so he had contact with another car that resulted in him going upside down in turn one. The red flag was waived and Turner got out of the car uninjured.
Olschowka led the charge back to the green flag. Randy McDaniel was all over Olschowka for the lead. However, on lap 15 McDaniel clipped the inside white tire that bent his left front tire. For the final laps McDaniel literally drove with three tires pointed in the right direction. With problems to his dad, Ryan McDaniel saw an opening. He drove around Kellen Chadwick and his father to move into second. He used the high line to perfection and drove around Olschowka for the lead. Ryan McDaniel led the final two nights to get the opening night win. “The track was rough tonight and I’m wore out,” said McDaniel. “Every part on this car will probably need to be tightened before tomorrow nights race.” Olschowka finished second. Kellen Chadwick ran up to the third spot. Richard Papenhausen had a strong run to finish fourth while Jeff Chew rounded out the top five.
Eric Turner dominated the first heat race. Randy McDaniel picked up the win in heat two. Duane Cleveland won the third heat race and Mark Abouzeid ran away with the win in heat four. Former NFL player Jeremy Newberry won the 12-lap B main event. Travis Peery finished second while John Sloan was third. The final transfer to the main event was fourth place finisher Jeremy Martin.
It was a night that the Smith family will surely never forget. Kody Smith drove the wheels off his car and won the 15-lap wingless sprint main event. For Smith and his family it was their first sprint car win. This year the Smith family has teamed up with the Vermeil family. The car number for this season is 2vs. Jay Youngman started off the race as the leader. He led up until the fifth lap when Smith made his move around the top of the track. Lap two saw Clayton Smith bring out the yellow when he slowed on the front straight. Steve Fletcher Jr. spun on the ensuing restart in turn one. The hardest flip of the night happened to BJ Martin. Coming out of turn four Martin’s car hooked up on the tacky surface, pulled a major wheelie and then catapulted over before coming to an abrupt stop. Martin needed some attention from the paramedics but eventually climbed out from the car under his own power.
On lap nine Billy Wallace moved into the second spot. On lap 12 the final caution of the night was needed and this bunched up the field. With the time curfew looming, the race was shortened to 15 laps. Smith was able to stay focused and lead the final three laps even under heavy pressure from Wallace. “This win means a lot to me and my family,” said Smith. “The track was real fast and I just found the top side to my liking tonight.” Wallace finished in the second spot and Terry Schank Jr. finished in the third spot. Jay Youngman and Brett Youngman rounded out the top five.
Chico’s Mitch Miller won the first heat race. Jay Youngman got the win in heat two. Smith was able to sweep the night with the win in the third heat.
Full results are available on-line at www.silverdollarspeedway.com
Silver Cup Night 1….1, Andy Forsberg. 2, Roger Crockett. 3, Robbie Whitchurch. 4, Mike Henry. 5, Dean Freitas. 6, Steven Tiner. 7, John-Michael Bunch. 8, Brad Bumgarner. 9, Mason Moore. 10, Brad Furr. 11, Mike Melwicks. 12, Justyn Cox. 13, Brett Rollag. 14, Mitch Olson. 15, Brock Lemley. 16, Herman Klein. 17, Craig Swim. 18, Sean Becker. 19, Logan Forler. 20, Brett Miller. 21, Willie Croft. 22, Colby Weisz.