by: Troy Hennig
CHICO, CA – (May 2, 2014)…Chico resident Kyle Hirst benefitted from a late race accident that involved then race leader Andy Gregg to capture his 15th career sprint car main event win at Chico. With the win, Hirst won $2,000 and is now tied with Tim Green and Bill Durham on the all-time wins list. Driving the Roth Motorsports #83jr, Hirst was ecstatic in victory lane as he climbed to the top of his roll cage and saluted the crowd. Other winners on the night included Tim Sherman Jr., Howard Law and Ryan McDaniel.
Enterprise Rent a Car and JP’s Paint and Body Works along with Frys Metal were the presenting partners for Tri Counties Bank point race #6. The crowd was entertained with close racing and numerous give-a-ways from the sponsors of the night.
Andy Gregg led the opening lap of the sprint car main event. In fact, Gregg led the first 24 laps and seemed destined to win the race. However, as he received the white flag he seemed to get stuck on the bottom of the track and didn’t have a good angle of penetration going into turn one. Above Gregg was Cory Eliason, who was about to go a lap down. Gregg pinched his car and there seemed to be some contact. It was enough to send Gregg around in a spin and bring the Miller Fortune #53 to a stop. Hirst became the new leader on the ensuing restart and led the final two laps to get the popular win. Chico’s Jonathan Allard started tenth and ran up to finish in the third spot. Rico Abreu finished fourth while John Michael Bunch started eleventh and finished fifth.
BJ Martin won the 10 lap B main followed by Bunch, Brent Kaeding and Eliason. Abreu, Willie Croft, Roger Crockett and Bud Walberg all were heat race winners. Bud Kaeding turned the quickest lap in qualifying with a 12.154.
The Perma Zyme wingless sprint series saw seven drivers enter the nights racing action. Crowd favorite Tim Sherman Jr. cruised to an impressive victory over local standout Don Emery. It was a great to watch Sherman wheel his car around the quarter-mile track. Local wheelman Dustin Thompson started sixth and ran up to a third place finish. Nathan Johnson brought the #e85 home fourth. Evan Scroggins started fifth and was credited with a fifth place finish. Johnny Burns won the eight lap heat race.
Ryan McDaniel won his third main event of the season at Silver Dollar Speedway in grand fashion. McDaniel passed defending champion Duane Cleveland late in the race to secure the popular win. Cleveland and McDaniel put on one of the best races of the night as the two champions put on a great show. It was a pleasure to watch those two drivers showcase their driving abilities. Randy McDaniel joined the battle late in the race but then Dustin Massey passed McDaniel and finished third. James Hite continues to put together good finishes and came home fifth. Ryan swept the nights racing action by capturing the eight lap heat race.
Howard Law won the 20-lap mini stock main event. Law held off a charging James Foster to get the win. Foster started in the third spot. Law started on the outside front row. Jimmy Ford had a nice run and finished third. Kyle Cheney came home in the fourth spot and Shaun Merritt was fifth. Merritt drove a strong race and won the eight lap heat race.
Racing continues this Friday night, May 9th, with point race #7. Riebes Auto Parts and AKB of Paradise will be the presenting sponsors. Five divisions of cars will converge at the speedway on Friday night.