From Peterson Media
A very frustrating trip to the West Coast for Paul McMahan came to a close on Saturday night in Chico, CA as contact sent McMahan’s machine upside down, and left the Nashville, TN driver banged up.
“I am extremely thankful for all of the people and companies that work so hard to enhance our safety equipment,” Paul McMahan said. “Though I am okay, I am still extremely sore and don’t feel that it is right to climb back in a car so soon.”
With McMahan taking time off to heal up, Destiny Motorsports has named Kokomo, IN driver, Parker Price-Miller as the substitute driver for McMahan.
“I am excited for Parker Price-Miller,” McMahan said. “He is a great kid with a ton of talent, and I think he will represent us well while I recover.”
Following some mechanical woes at the Skagit Speedway in Alger, WA, McMahan and the Destiny Motorsports team would check in at the Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, OR on Wednesday night.
Timing the MonDak Portables/Ft. Union Supply and Trading/Rick Rogers Construction entry in 11th fastest in time trials, McMahan would work his way into the all important Dash where a sixth place finish would place him in the third row for the 30-lap feature event.
With the track rapidly changing on this night, McMahan and company would struggle a bit as they fought to stay inside the Top-10. In the closing laps, McMahan would lose a couple positions and finish in the 11th spot.
Heading to the Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday and night for the 63rd Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions, McMahan would time in ninth fastest in his qualifying flight.
Finishing fifth in his heat race, McMahan would line up in the 18th spot for the 30-lap feature event. Working his way forward in the race’s opening laps, McMahan’s bad luck out west would continue as he would become involved in a wreck on a lap 11 restart and end his night.
Looking to end his West Coast swing on a high note, McMahan would get off to a nice start as he would time in 11th fastest and go on to win his heat race. Moving into the Dash, McMahan would pick up the win and find himself on the pole for the 63rd Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions.
Getting out to the early lead, McMahan would feel pressure from Rico Abreu. Able to keep Abreu at bay for a couple of laps, McMahan would fall to the second spot on the sixth lap. Chasing after Abreu, the leaders would find themselves in traffic and it would allow Daryn Pittman to close in on McMahan.
On the 12th lap, McMahan would fall back to third as he found himself battling with Andy Forsberg and Austen Wheatley for position.
A string of cautions in the second half of the 40-lap race would set up some wild double file restarts that would see McMahan continue to hold court inside the Top-5.
A restart on the 36th lap would prove detrimental for McMahan and company as contact with another car sent McMahan’s entry into the front stretch wall and send him end-over-end.
Though he climbed out on his own power, McMahan complained of some pain in his back and neck and was taken in for further observation, where all tests came back negative though McMahan is still extremely sore.
“We had a really good run going on Saturday night, and I hate it for this team,” McMahan said. “It is a bummer to sit these next few races out, but I just do not feel that it is best to be in a car. Thank you to everyone for the tweets, texts, and calls, and thank you to my car owners and crew guys for all they do for me.”
Destiny Motorsports would like to thank MonDak Portables, Ft. Union Supply and Trading, Rick Rogers Construction, Maxim Chassis, Boss Signs and Graphics, Driver Websites, Petersen Media, FK Rod Ends, Walker Performance Filtration, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Simpson Race Products, Keizer Wheels, DMI, Red Devil Brakes, Champion Oil, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Astro Titanium, and Hoosier Tire for their continued support.