From Troy Hennig
Roseville’s Sean Becker holds a 30-point advantage over Sacramento’s Willie Croft heading into this Friday night, June 28th, point race #10 presented by Riebes Auto Parts and Cherry St. Mini Storage. The 30-point margin is the largest point difference at this point of the season in over 14 years. “We haven’t necessarily had the wins this year at Chico but we have been super consistent and it shows in the points,” said Becker. The third place driver in points is Auburns Andy Forsberg, sum 54-points behind Becker. Forsberg’s demise happened during a heat race earlier this year when he crashed and was not physically able to start that night’s main event. Chico’s Brad Bumgarner is fourth in points and right on the heels of Forsberg. Bumgarner is coming off a second place finish last. Anderson’s Keith Bloom rounds out the top five and trails Bumgarner by only seven-points. Joining the high powered mudslinging sprint car cars are dirt modifieds, street stocks, hobby stocks and mini stocks.
Becker could be in a run for this money this Friday night with the surplus of out of town King of the West competitors stopping at Chico before heading to Placerville Speedway on the following night. Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, Chico’s Jonathan Allard and Grass Valley’s Jason Statler are all scheduled to appear. Add to the mix of strong local drivers including Bud Walberg, Jason York, Kevin Sharrah and Michael Tarter. In fact, Tarter will debut a newer motor filled with more horsepower this Friday night. The team tried to shake down the motor last week and work out some of the bugs. King of the West Director of Communications Gary Thomas is scheduled to co-announce this event.
Front grandstand gate opens at 6 PM. Adult general admission is $13.00, juniors and seniors $11.00 while kid are $6.00. Children five and under are free. Pit gate opens at 4 PM. For more information please call 530-350-7275 or visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com
For the last ten years Mike and Carol McCann of Ukiah have been one of the best supporters of the Silver Dollar Speedway. Not only have they supported the track but they have been Sean Becker’s biggest supporter over that same time span. Becker may have jumped from car to car over the years at Chico, yet, one thing has remained constant on the side of his sprint cars; Cherry St. Mini Storage.
Riebes Auto Parts will be on hand tonight to give-away lots of good automobile accessories. The four local Riebes Auto Parts stores include two in Chico, one in Paradise and one in Oroville. Riebes is also the official headquarters to purchase our July 4th tickets in advance. All four locations have ticket outlets.
Marysville’s Randy McDaniel leads the dirt modified points standings; however, McDaniel is non-committal on whether he will show up this Friday night or not. If not, this opens the door for Chico’s Richard Papenhausen, Yuba City’s Duane Cleveland and Petaluma’s Oreste Gonella to leave Friday night with the point lead.
Orland’s Jake Vantol holds a commanding lead in the street stock division but there is a rea battle for second on back. Only 12-points separate second place Richard Workman from fifth place Kevin Ward. Mark Newman and Shawn Smith sandwiched in the middle of this close clash.
Misty Castleberry has won the lone two mini stock main events this season. Preston Irvin sits 20-points behind her in second.
The Hobby Stocks make their fourth appearance of the season this Friday night. Sacramento’s Brian Compton leads Jared Flower by just six points.