By Bill Sullivan for Chicko Motorsports
PENNGROVE, CA (4-9 -11) – Two time Petaluma Speedway champion and former Civil War Series Rookie of the Year Alissa Geving of Penngrove, California began her quest for the 2011 Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Series Championship this past weekend at the track she calls home, Petaluma Speedway. When the final checkered flag flew on the grand opening of the competitive series, Geving capped her first race of the series with a top five finish and a strong start to the 14 race series that competes at six different tracks.
“It was great to come back and race at home again with the Civil War Series,” said Geving, driver of the Chicko Motorsports #3x sprint car that carries the support of Tillett Tool, Pit Stop USA and Matt Cordeiro Enterprises. “I’ve always loved racing with this series and we worked really well together as a team to make our first race a strong one. I want to thank everyone on my own crew and to everyone at Petaluma Speedway that worked really hard to get the season started.”
Back in 2008, Geving capped her first full season in the Civil War Series with a top five finish in the point standings and earned the coveted Rookie of the Year Award in the traveling tour. Her success in the Civil War Series was just one section of her successful racing resume early in her career which now includes a pair of track championships and a Rookie of the Year title at Petaluma Speedway along with a recent 14th place finish with the World of Outlaws at Calistoga Speedway.
After Saturday’s strong performance on the 3/8 mile track located on the Sonoma Marin County Fairground, Geving could very well be on her way towards title competition in the Civil War Series. To earn a crown in this campaign a driver must display a great deal of patience and consistency mixed with a competitive edge to contend. These are all qualities that the 19-year old lady racer who holds the record as the youngest female champion in the nation possesses.
On Saturday, a healthy field of 34 cars entered the race at Petaluma Speedway. By luck of the draw, Geving was the first driver to take to the track for qualifying. Scoring a 13:313 second lap, Geving set the bar for the program Saturday night and only eight drivers were able to do it faster. With the official ninth spot in the qualifying effort, the #3x sprint car would sit in a good position in the forthcoming heat races.
As she took to the track for the line up in the first race, Geving was greeted by the contingent of local fans that are excited to have her back racing locally after traveling for much of the 2010 racing season. She started third in the 10-lap preliminary race and drove her way to a second place finish at the checkered flag.
When the 30 lap feature event took to the track, the inversion placed Geving third on the grid amongst some of the toughest competitors in the series. Slicing and dicing her way through lapped traffic and using the fastest, smoothest line she could find around the track that is known as the wine country’s center of speed, Geving mixed it up with the best of the best. At the finish line she finished in fifth place behind fourth place runner and two time Civil War Champion Sean Becker, veteran Steven Tiner, the human highlight reel Geoff Ensign and the driver known as Mr. Excitement, Andy Forsberg, the defend series champion who won Saturday’s race.
“It was great racing with all of these drivers again, added Geving. “They are hands down some of the best teams to race with. They all have a ton of talent, skill and we all have great respect for one another. Sure, it would have been great to start the year off with a win at home but starting off with a top five in the Civil War is great.”
After Saturday’s opener, Geving is currently tied for the third position in the Civil War Series point standings with Becker. The tied duo is a total of six points behind point leader Andy Forsberg.
Geving carries the sponsorship of Tillett Tool of Santa Rosa along with the online superstore Pit Stop USA that is based in Petaluma and Napa’s Matt Cordeiro Enterprises a and Auto Repairs Unlimited with A1A Performance of Santa Rosa. Associate sponsors include Golden Gate Meat Company North, K&N Filters, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, R2C, Napa Auto Parts, Flowmaster Mufflers, Allstar Performance, Santa Rosa Auto Parts, Simpson Racing Products, 21st Century Health Club, , Pro Shocks, ALC Machine and JW Web Design.
To learn more about Alissa Geving visit her official website at www.chick-o-motorsports.com. Chicko Motorsports can also be found on facebook. Be sure to join Alissa Geving in the upcoming MS Walk talking place in Santa Rosa this Sunday, April 17th. Further information and the opportunity to make a pledge in her name are available on her website.