From Brad Kennedy
Placerville, CA — (July 9, 2016) — A total of 49 race cars entered Placerville Speedway for round 12 of the Red Hawk Casino Championship Season.
17 Thompson’s Auto Group winged 360 Sprints Cars were ready for action for the 25 lap feature. Mike Benson was on the pole, coming off his victory just 5 days earlier in the Fourth of July event. Four-time and defending track champion Greg DeCaires started outside the first row. However, before the race even started, the current points leader Mason Moore had to pit with technical woes. He joined the rear of the field before racing got underway, starting 16th on the grid. Benson got the initial jump on DeCaires at the start, looking for his second consecutive victory.
Coming to complete the third lap, two Placerville natives Jimmy Trulli and Andy Gregg made contact, sending Gregg’s number 16 into a spin on the front stretch with a left front flat.
As racing resumed, Benson continued to lead over Decaires and Trulli, when fifth place runner Jake Morgan spun in turn four collecting Sean Becker who then flipped violently. Fortunately, Becker was uninjured.
On the ensuing restart, DeCaires drove by Benson in turns one and two to take the lead. Shortly thereafter, 14-year old Michael Kofoid moved by Benson for second.
After Bobby Butler brought out the caution on lap 13, Michael Kofoid took advantage of a restart, passing DeCaires for the lead. However, DeCaires crossed over and retook the spot exiting turn 4. Kofoid returned the favor with a crossover of his own exiting turn 2 and began to stretch his lead.
Kofoid had a sizable lead when Matt Barber stopped off the edge in turn two with 22 laps completed in the main.
Kofoid drove away from DeCaires on the final restart to score the victory and become the youngest winner in the 51 year history of Placerville Speedway.
“I’m speechless. Not sure what to say other than I made the slider stick, and I beat DeCaires here in Placerville,” an elated Kofoid said before dedicating the win to his Grandfather.
Kofoid’s victory came over Decaires, Moore, Benson, and Morgan who rallied back to fifth. Heat race wins went to Jimmy Trulli and Morgan, while the ADCO Driveline and Exhaust Quick Time Award went to Kofoid earlier in the night. In addition, Kofoid’s victory from the 11th starting spot earned the youngster the AL Driveline Hard Charger bonus.