By Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 5-8-10)…Shane Stewart had never had the pleasure to either race or get to know the late Dave Bradway Jr. However, “Junior” would have been proud of how hard the Oklahoman drove Saturday night to win the 40-lap main event at the Silver Dollar Speedway. “I didn’t know him personally but I’ve heard a lot the story’s from Paul and the locals who talked about what a great guy he was and what he did for sprint car racing in this area,” said Stewart. By winning the 40-lap main event Stewart, driving the Paul Silva Rock Star Energy Drink #57, was guaranteed a $4,000 pay day. Add in the all the bonus lap money that is annually raised for the Bradway event and Stewart walked away over $5700 richer for his efforts.
Following Stewart was hot shoe Kyle Larson. The kid out of Elk Grove drove the wheels off the Stadelhofer #99 and in the final few laps he closed on Stewart. Yet, in the end he was not quite able to get close enough for a chance to pass Stewart. Larson will earn an extra $880 for being in the top three during most the of the main event. Campbell’s Bud Kaeding provided the most excitement when it came to passing cars. Kaeding started in the 13th position and passed 10 cars on his way to the third place finish. For his driving ability Kaeding pocketed the $500 bonus for Hard Charger Award presented by DES Inc.
Chico’s Jonathan Allard won the 6-lap dash that enabled him to start from the pole position of the 40-lap main event. The four-time champion of the Bradway put himself in the position to become the only five-time champ of the event. Allard would go on to lead 10 of the first 11 laps. Shane Stewart passed Allard on lap 12. Allard stayed in the second spot and shadowed Stewart for the next 20 laps. The battle was fierce. It Stewart went high then Allard went low. It was a pleasure to watch these two champions go at it on a perfectly prepared race track. On lap 32 Allard passed Stewart at the start finish line and was awarded the leader of that lap. However, by the time the two came back around Stewart was in the lead again. Allard continued to charge but things went soar on lap 34. Allard went to the top of the track going into turns one and two. For the previous 15 laps he would hit his marks and power on through. Unfortunately for him on this lap he missed it just by a little bit. By doing so he spun the Morrie and Katie Williams #0 off the edge of the track. He did a smart thing. He kept his car going and came back onto the track in the fourth spot. Most drivers would of stopped to bring out a yellow. Allard went on to finish in the fourth spot. Even with the disappointment he still had a good night. He earned bonus money for fast time. It was the third Bradway in a row that he had posted the quick time award. He also won an extra $1240 in bonus lap money during the main event.
Two drivers that stayed in the hunt all night were Brent Kaeding and Jason Statler. Statler’s night was anything but smooth. His heat race was a disaster. Two times he was collected in accidents that were not his fault. Both time he drove back to the work area so his crew could make repairs. They did a wonderful job but he still finished fifth and earned him a trip to the B main. During the B main event he finished second and that gave him a transfer into the feature. Statler started in the 11th spot. He methodically picked his way past other drivers and scored a fifth place finish. For Kaeding he in a dog fight for most of the night. The four-time champion of the event was never able to crack into the top five but still hovered around the sixth spot most of the night. Earlier in the night Brent did a memorial lap for one of his biggest race fans Harry Howard from Lake Tahoe who passed away. His wife was in the stands tonight and I’m sure it was an emotional experience.
Only the top six were on the lead lap after the 40-lap main event. It proved to show how fast Stewart was. Seventh place went to Kyle Hirst. This was a special weekend as Hirst was driving the Vertullo prepared tribute car to DuWayne Starr’s #18. The team should be proud of their effort. Evan Suggs started in the 14th spot. He moved up to finish in the eighth spot and battled all night for his top ten finish. Sean Becker had to battle back from being involved in an early yellow to finish in the ninth spot. Silver Dollar Speedway’s defending champ Bobby McMahan rounded out the top ten.
A scary crash involving many cars happened at the start of the feature. Pat Harvey took the biggest brunt of the crash and flipped violently into the front grand stand wall. His car was beat up and so was the sixty-something year old veteran. He was shaken when he emerged from the car but walked back to the ambulance under his own power. Andy Gregg’s car was also pinned up in the fence area right next to the flag stand. He was also unable to continue.
Willie Croft won the 12-lap B main event. For the win he also racked up some bonus lap money. He led all of the 12-laps and earned an extra $600 for the win.
Placerville petting zoo owner Andy Gregg won the first heat race. Since 2003 the good folks at HoservilleCA have put together a winner’s package for the heat race’s. Gregg and the other three winner’s will receive a free right rear tire and tear-offs. Brett Miller, Jason York and Kyle Larson were all gracious in their victory lane interviews and thanked the HoservilleCA people. Fast Track Wings were also very involved. They gave a Top Wing to fast time qualifier Jonathan Allard. The heat race winners also received nose wings. The winner of the main event, Shane Stewart, won a complete front axle. Other contingencies for the drivers included 12 five gallon fuel jugs, 6 ½ gallons jugs of Dirt Solutions. Handy Racing Promotions added the extra $1000 for the win. Thanks is also given to the Durica family for all their hard work.
Full results available at www.silverdollarspeedway.com