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Abreu Wins Thriller at The Wolf Memorial, Becker Crowned Champion

CHICO, CA (8-22-14) - Tonights 25 lap 410 Sprint Car Main Event will go down in the record books as one of the most exciting races to ever happen at the Silver Dollar Speedway. Rico Abreu and Jonathan Allard absolutely waged war on each other in one of the closest, and most hard fought battles ever seen at the speedway with National Sprint Car and Midget Racing standout Rico Abreu coming out on top.

Bud Kaeding and Bud Walberg would lead the field down to the green flag. With Kaeding getting the jump and leading lap #1. Jonathan Allard would charge by Walberg on lap #1 as well before setting his sights on Kaeding. Allard would claim the lead from Kaeding in dominant fashion on lap #2. Allard would then pull away just a little from the field, until lap #6 when Rico Abreu got past Bud Kaeding for the 2nd spot and would begin to track down Allard. To put into writing the battle that Allard and Abreu had, does not do it justice. Both drivers threw sliders on each other, both drivers pulling wheelies down the straightaways. Neither driver giving an inch. All the while still racing each other clean enough to keep both cars on the track. Abreu passed Allard about 5 times in turn one only to get passed back down the back straightaway. Finally on lap #13 Abreu was scored the leader at the start/finish line. Jonathan Allard though would power back by him to lead the next lap. The two continued to battle side by side until the final lap when it was all decided. Jonathan and Rico drove side by side into turns one and two with Allard on the inside, and Abreu on the outside. They banged wheels as they tore side by side down the backstraight. Into turns three and four Allard went low, Abreu went to the top shelf. Allard tried to slide up in front of Abreu, but Rico Abreu was not to be denied. Abreu drove around the outside of Jonathan Allard coming down the front straightaway, pulling a massive wheelstand across the finish line to pick up the extremely hard fought and popular victory in the 2nd Annual Tyler Wolf Memorial Race. Bud Kaeding would hang on to finish in the third position. With Andy Forsberg and Andy Gregg rounding out the top five finishers.

Meanwhile, the battle for the 410 Sprint Car Track Championship was just as crazy. Sean Becker took an eight point lead into tonights action, over Mason Moore. In qualifying Becker turned the 2nd fastest lap. Bumping his points lead up to eleven points over Moore. Disaster would strike for Becker though, during Heat Race competition when Sean jumped the cushion in turn two and flipped violently. Sean was ok, but a lot of work was needed on the car. Meanwhile, Mason Moore won his heat race and cut the points lead to only a six point advantage for Becker. It took the help of Beckers entire crew, plus all of the crews around Beckers Menne Motorsports #75 trailer to get the car repaired and back on track for the A-Main. Sean had a long road ahead of him though as he was starting extremely deep in the field while Moore was starting close to the front. When the green flag dropped on the main event Mason Moore quickly jumped up to the third position while Becker didnt make up any ground. It looked as though Mason Moore was going to steal the championship away from Becker. That is until a Yellow Flag on lap four, when disaster struck again, but this time for the #22 of Mason Moore. Mason came to a stop on the backstraight, and had to be pushed to the work area to diagnose an issue under the hood of his race car. When he got to the work area it was all bad news. Mason's car was only running on four cylinders due to a broken heim on the throttle. Thus ending Mason's night and all chances at winning the championship. Once Moore's car was pushed back to the trailer, it was official, Sean Becker became the 2014 Silver Dollar Speedway Track Champion. Sean's third championship in a row and fourth overall at the Silver Dollar Speedway.

Michael Ing and Rowdy McClenon also had a battle of their own going on for the David Tarter Rookie of the Year Award. It was a hard fought battle between the two drivers. Ultimately though it was young Michael Ing who picked up Rookie of the Year honors. Ing who drove the Ing Excavating #21m missed one race early in the year and was still able to come back and win Rookie of the Year. Both he and Rowdy McClenon have learned and improved greatly this year and will definitely be threats to win in the years to come.

There was a lot of bonus money on the line tonight. Lap Money went out to the drivers who ran in the top three during the main event. Jonathan Allard took home $350 courtesy of Mancamp Motorsports and Chuck Wolf. He also took home a beautiful Fast Time Award Plaque donated by Justin Grant, for setting Fast Time tonight with a time of 11.624. Bud Walberg collected $100 for being the 8th Fastest Qualifier thanks to Roger & Lynda Otten. Brad Bumgarner, Bud Walberg, and Mason Moore each won their Heat Races and each took home $100 from ART Speed Equipment, 10 Gallons of fuel from Withrows Motorsports, and two sleeves of tearoffs courtesy of Kevin Sharrah Designs. Mason Moore was also given the $200 Tough Luck Award thanks to Kyle Duran, Gary Thomas, and Mike Funkhouser. Sean Becker took home the Hard Charger Award of $450 thanks to David Ing and Dennis Swope. He also was presented with a beautiful Hard Charger Plaque donated by Justin Grant. The top five finishers in the Sprint Car Maint Event each earned an extra $100 courtesy of Kyle Larson Racing. $3,500 in bonus money was handed out tonight. Thank you to all that donated. Everyone who purchased a lap, thank you. None of this would have been possible without you.

The 2nd Annual Tyler Wolf Memorial will be one to remember forever. Tyler would not have wanted it any other way. We thank you all for coming out and supporting the Silver Dollar Speedway in 2014. We hope to see you all at the Gold Cup Race of Champions in two weeks.

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