By Troy Hennig
Chico, CA (May 13, 2016)…Chico’s Jonathan Allard scored his 68th career win at Silver Dollar Speedway Friday night during the 9th Annual Bill Brownell Memorial. The win marked Allard’s first win of 2016 at his home track. With the win, Allard became the ninth different winner of the Brownell Memorial. “It’s been a rough start to the year but I am thankful my car owners and crew have stuck behind me,” said Allard.
Allard led all 25-laps to secure the popular win. Sean Becker crossed the line in second. Andy Forsberg started 8th and drove up to a third place finish. The night’s fastest qualifier was Kyle Hirst and he finished in the fourth spot. Seth Nunes was the highest finishing rookie and come home in the fifth spot. Mason Moore and his team completed a motor swap in time to get him a chance at starting the 25-lap main event. Moore raced his way up to a sixth place finish.
Orland’s Tony Richards captured his second win in a row at Silver Dollar Speedway. For the second time he also held off Terry Schank Jr. for the win. On lap 14, Schank took the lead for less than a lap. Richards drove back by Schank for the lead. The crowd was treated to an incredible wingless spec sprint main event. Barry Pries Jr. continued his strong finishes and grabbed the third spot. Give credit to Don Emery for his fourth place finish. Emery was solid all night. Angelique Bell rounded out the top five.
Phillip Shelby had a remarkable night. He won his eight lap IMCA Sport Modified heat race that seemed to catapult his confidence in winning the 20 lap feature event. Shelby was a good as I’ve seen him at Chico. He stayed cool, calm and collected in holding off one of the sports best driver/team combinations in Brian Cooper. Cooper should be commended for driving up through the field after he had spun out early in the race. The same could be said for his brother Todd. The other Cooper spun too and then proceeded to charge his way back up through the field also. Todd wound up finishing third. Mike Merritt has been solid all season and finished fourth. After struggling in his heat race and the better part of the main event, Mark Abouzeid worked his way up to a fifth place finish. Once again, this division brought 20 competitors and close tight knit racing that is gaining in popularity.
Chris Storey fulfilled a storybook like night. Storey won the winged economy sprint car main event. It was his first win ever at any form of competitive racing. Before the race even started Wyatt Brown and Mike Sayre made contact causing damage to both race cars. Mike Ficklin came home second but was over five seconds behind Storey at the finish.
Rescue, CA driver Ken Clifford won the Vintage Hardtop main event.
Full results can be found at http://www.silverdollarspeedway.com/