Marysville, CA — (May 30, 2015) — It was five years in the making for Chico’s Brad Bumgarner who earned a hard fought 25-lap sprint car main event win Saturday night at Marysville Raceway. Saturday’s triumph was his second career winged 410 sprint car main event win. His previous victory took place at Silver Dollar Speedway in 2010. “I am blessed to have my grandparents, parents, wife, brothers and my kids stick behind me all these years,” said Bumgarner in victory lane. “I’m just so lucky to get to do what I love every weekend. This sprint car win means so much to me.”
Bumgarner netted the win and deserves all the credit. It had to be nerve racking for the driver who was so desperate for a win. He had his entire clan of Bumgarner family members and friends watching him. His friend Roger Otten had sworn off shaving his beard until Bumgarner won a main event. Otten was in attendance and did get his “Santa Clause” beard shaved off. Entering tonight’s event Bumgarner knew that this was a golden opportunity for him to get back into victory lane.
Yet, up to lap 12 he wasn’t even the fastest driver on the track. That honor belonged to Rowdy McClenon of Anderson. McClenon led the first 12 laps with ease and at one point had amassed a huge lead over Bumgarner. Yet, a mechanical failure would end his night. McClenon’s left rear tire came off unexpectedly while he was sliding through turns three and four. This caused his car to dig into the track and flip over on its side. McClenon’s night was done but he did receive a ton of applause for his effort during the race. If McClenon could have held on, it would have been his first career 410 sprint car win.
On the ensuing restart Brandon Dozier was in the runner up spot. Up front Bumgarner brought the field very slow into turn one. Dozier tried to capitalize and pass Bumgarner on the inside. Unfortunately Dozier miss judged just how slow Bumgarner was going and the two made contact. Dozier suffered damage to his car and the next lap went to the pit area.
The two hard chargers of the night were Redding’s Keith Bloom and Colfax champion Colby Wiesz. Bloom started in the 11th spot and charged up to second late in the race. In fact, if Bloom didn’t suffer through motor issues during qualifying and his heat race, he might have started further towards the front of the main event. Wiesz rolled off the grid in 14th and worked his way up to third. Wiesz was the highest finishing 360 sprint car driver of the night and received a nice bonus from promoter Dennis Gage. Billy Butler continues to shine at Marysville and ran strong all night. His fourth place finish was a testament to his tenacity on the track. Butler also picked up his first fast award of the season at Marysville. His fast lap was a 13.220. Mike Monahan rolled up to a fifth place finish. Monahan deserves credit due to his love and dedication to Marysville Raceway.
Oroville’s Heath Hall and McClenon each were victorious in their heat race events. A total of 16 sprint cars competed during point race #6.
Feature:
1. 88 – Brad Bumgarner
2. 19 – Keith Bloom
3. 21 – Colby Wiesz
4. 57 – Billy Butler
5. 49 – Mike Monahan
6. 6W – Billy Wallace
7. 16 – Jimmy Steward
8. 7B – Brent Dothage
9. 28P – Jeremy Phillips Jr.
10. 95 – Brandon Dozier
11. 13 – Rowdy McClenon
12. 14H – Heath Hall
13. 21X – Michael Ing
14. 22X – Gary Burdick
15. 97 – Cortney Dozier