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Simas, Tilford, Pettit scores repeat wins; Streeter and Sneep take BCRA podium |
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PLACERVILLE, CA – Five different divisions came together for an action packed night of racing at Alan Padjen’s Placerville Speedway Saturday Night. With the sprint car divisions absent, action was still far from lackluster as three wingless open wheel divisions joined both of Placerville Speedway’s stock car divisions for the 14th Hoosier Tires-New Car Dealers of El Dorado County-Arnolds for Awards Championship event of the year. In the wingless sprint car division, Taylor Simas of Chico scored his second Placerville win of the year following an exiting wheel to wheel race with veteran driver Jimmy Pettit. In the Pure Stock division, Tom Tilford of Citrus Heights drove to his eighth victory of the year in 10 starts. Dan Brown of Nevada City won his 12th feature class while Matt Streeter of Galt took home the hardware in the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget feature and was joined on the BCRA podium with Jason Sneep of Newark, winner of the Midget Lite division. In the wingless sprint car feature event, the green flag flew and Pettit was quick to charge into the lead over pole sitter and series point leader Keith Bloom. Simas started on the inside of the second row and charged into second to challenge his Chico counterpart for the lead in an event that saw its share of red flags. The most serious incident took place on the back stretch when Mason Myers tumbled down the backstretch embankment collecting Jerry Kobza and finally, Jimmy Steward. Stewards colliding into Myers car head on as is fell to the ground, absorbing the impact in front of the roll cage. After being observed by paramedics, Steward was reportedly uninjured but shaken in the incident. Once green flag racing resumed, Pettit appeared to be on his way to a victory at the track where he has won his share of Pure Stock races several years ago. Simas, however, had a different view. Simas raced to the low side and the high side, pulling beside Pettit several times. On the 14th lap he passed for the lead in the fourth turn only to have a yellow flag recall his efforts. On the ensuing restart, Simas resumed his mission, darting high and low as he and Pettit put on one of the most exciting wingless performances of the season here. It was on the 15th lap when the battle reached its climax with Simas climbing the back stretch hill to gain the momentum to overtake Pettit for the lead. The two raced bumper to bumper for the remainder of the 20-lap feature event. “I had to do something to get back into the lead, after that yellow flag came out Jimmy knew what I was going to do,” said Simas. “So I set up a pass on the backstretch and I kind of ran out of room earlier then I expected back there but it worked. I loved racing with Jimmy tonight, this race was a lot of fun.” The Bay Cities Racing Association had a big day at Placerville Saturday with their annual Jack London Bash and Hall of Fame Picnic taking place earlier in the day. Under the lights, it was the open wheel master Matt Streeter putting on a near hall of fame performance as he drover his way to his first Placerville BCRA victory in the Midget Division. The event started with David Prickett taking the lead from the pole position until veteran driver Glenn Carson of Newark charged into the lead. Streeter was quick to enter the top three and began pressuring both drivers for the lead. With 13 laps down, Streeter overtook the lead in the second turn and down the backstretch, a lead he would never relinquish where he finished ahead of Carson, Prickett, John Sarale and Floyd Alvis. “I just have to thank everyone that helps me out with this car,” said Streeter. “All my sponsors, my crew, everyone. Without them I wouldn’t be doing this. This was a good race tonight, he gave me a fight for the lead and that makes it a great race.” Streeter was joined by Jason Sneep of the Midget Lite division. Sneep scored his first Placerville win and was followed across the line by point leader Doug Nunes, Dakota Albright, Justin Burton and Doug Hunting. For complete results and details of both BCRA divisions, visit www.bcraracing.com. In the Placerville Speedway Pure Stocks, Tom Tilford charged his way to his eighth win of the year and the track where he won the championship in 2006. Tilford has started 10 events this season, winning all but two of them in the year he considers a “part-time” racing effort. “We keep saying that this year, that we’re just racing part time,” said Tilford. “But the winning keeps us coming back. It’s that and all the great things that are happening at this track. The track itself has improved so much, Alan Padjen has really worked hard to make it better. The extra sponsorship nights this year that Bill Sullivan has put together and gotten us extra winnings. It all just keeps us coming back and it is really appreciated, not just by us but by all the drivers. It really makes a difference to us.” Tilford took the lead of Saturday’s race on the ninth lap, overtaking second place runner John Durrett and leader Rick Grunert all within two laps of each other. Once in front he drove uncontested to the checkered flag to win more feature events than any other driver this year. Durrett finished in second followed by Grunert and John Chapman. In the Pro Stock division, Dan Brown Jr. was celebrating two accomplishments. Brown won his 12th event of the year and had pretty much sealed the deal for his 2008 championship. More importantly, the former pure stock driver and second year pro stock pilot was celebrating his first winning night as a brand new dad after having a baby girl just last week, his first child. “I never thought I would have a year like this,” said Brown. “Twelve wins, wow. And this new dad thing is pretty cool. Tonight the car was great once again, thanks to my dad and the crew and the track was really fast for us as well.” Brown was followed across the line by Ray Trimble, Matt Davis, Dennis Armstrong and James Boss. Next Saturday night will kick off a big weekend at Placerville Speedway with “Morrison Concrete Kids Night” on Saturday night followed by the 35th Annual Hangtown Destruction Derby presented by the Placerville Police Officers Association on Sunday. For further information on these events check out www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com. |
