(Chico, CA 4-11-08)...Princeton driver Mason Moore scored his first career
sprint car 410 main event win Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway. The second
year driver lived up to his nickname “Primetime” and led all 25-laps to win
the first annual Bill Brownell Memorial race. By winning the race Moore won the
biggest pay day on a Friday night race in recent memory. Moore's victory earned
him a $3,000 pay day. The Moore Insurance Services/Mike Clarke prepared #22 was
flawless all night. Moore held off both Allard brothers and a charging Brent
Kaeding to get the popular win. “This was just the perfect night,” said
Moore in victory lane. “There are a lot of people to thank for getting me to
this spot tonight.”
Terry Schank Jr. won the 20-lap wingless sprint feature event. “Things have
been going real good for us the past two weeks,” said Schank Jr. referencing
to his back to back wins at Chico on Friday night. Dave Duste Jr. took the lead
at the half way point of the dirt modified 15-lap main event. He went on to hold
off Mike Sohnrey for the victory. A total of 62 cars entered point race number
two of the Feather Falls Casino Friday night championship series. The nights
sponsors were Chico Custom Cycles and Pro Pool Tile Cleaning.
The main attraction of the night was the return of track legend Shane Scott.
The former seven-time track champion was returning to the cockpit for a one
night only performance. Scott was racing in honor of his friend Bill Brownell.
Scott did not disappoint the packed grandstands. The highlight of the night was
Scott not only leading the third heat race but winning in dominating fashion.
After the race Scott thrilled the crowd with an old-fashioned wheelie. Even
though Scott is closer to the age of 50, than 20, he still has that desire and
passion to not only win races but entertain the crowd. Many of the young drivers
at Chico could learn a lot from the showman ship that Scott possesses. Many of
our local drivers question why Scott is still so popular even after six years of
retirement. But if they were watching last night, they could learn a lot about
why he is still so beloved by his fans at Chico.
Moore led from the start of the green flag. Outside front row starter Andy
Gregg fell into the second spot. Stephen Allard started third but soon moved
around Gregg for the second spot. His younger brother Jonathan started fifth but
soon moved into the third spot and began to challenge Stephen for second. On lap
three Kevin Sharrah was pushed into the front straight wall. His car needed to
be towed away. Racing continued with Moore leading. At first it seemed like a
matter of time until one of the veteran Allard brothers would get by Moore. But
to his credit, Moore kept his cool and committed to the bottom. He rolled around
the bottom to perfection. At times he would pull away from both Allard brothers.
Things were going to heat up on lap 10 when Moore caught to back of the pack. As
Moore began to dice it up with slower cars the yellow came out when Kyle Hirst
spun in turn three. On the restart Robbie Whitchurch went for a tumble in turn
two. He was joined by Jason York and Johnny Gray. The next restart saw Jonathan
pass Stephen for second. A surprise driver on this night was Brent Kaeding who
came up to drive the Dan Menne owned #75. Kaeding started in the 12th spot but
moved into fourth on lap 11. Once again the leaders were catching up to the rear
of the field. Moore benefited again from a caution on lap 19 when Willie Croft
clipped a white tire and spun through the infield. A yellow was thrown and the
field was bunched back up. This cleared up the race track and for Mason Moore it
must of looked like heaven. As long as he kept his car on the bottom and stayed
true to his line the race was his. The final six laps rolled off without
incident and Moore crossed the line as the winner. A happy crew ran to his car
and celebrated while many of his friends and family belted out their approval
from the stands. Stephen Allard finished second and Kaeding moved into the third
spot. Jonathan Allard ran fourth and Sean Becker was fifth.
Terry Schank Jr. started on the pole of the 20-lap main event. It was
apparent from the start he was the driver to beat. Schank Jr. drives one of the
best prepared wingless spec sprints on the West Coast. Tonight the driver and
team were on their game. Taylor Simas tried his best to give Schank Jr. a
challenge. Simas closed in on the open wheel veteran and at one point was
side-by-side at the flag stand while the two were racing slower cars. Schank Jr.
was able to hold his line and take the lead coming out of turn two. Billy
Wallace was the other challenger who might of had something for the leader. Yet,
Wallace ran out of laps and actually at the end passed Simas for second. Keith
Bloom ran a solid race to finish fourth while Mason Myers finished a solid
fifth.
The dirt modified main event provided the best racing and passing on the
night. Eddy Lewis jumped out to the early lead. Tom Caniff then moved around
Lewis and led the for the next few laps. Starting in the fifth spot was Dave
Duste Jr. He methodically moved through the field and soon was challenging for
the lead. Duste Jr. passed Caniff for the lead at the half-way point of the main
event. Duste Jr. then began to take off hide from the rest of the field. Mike
Sohnrey was the only driver to stay in striking distance of the leader. Sohnrey
was never able to get within three or four car lengths of the leader. Duste Jr.
led the final laps to win the 15-lap dirt modified main event. Matt Murphy
finished in the second spot. Tom Purcell moved into a third place finish. Caniff
fell back to a fifth place finish after leading for a bit. Defending track
champion Richard Papenhausen suffered through a tough night. He was involved in
two yellows and was disqualified from the event.
Full results are available at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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