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Tyler Walker Back To Old Form at Chico

CHICO, CA (8-5-16) - Los Angeles driver Tyler Walker thrilled the fans at Silver Dollar Speedway with a triumphant win during the 25-lap winged sprint car 360 main event on Friday night. Walker, making his first start at Chico driving the famed Tri-C #3c, was up on the wheel all night and served notice that this team could be finally gelling at the right time. Walker relentlessly pounded the top of the track and passed the likes of Sean Becker and Andy Forsberg on his way to the win.

Justyn Cox was the driver to beat for the first part of the main event. Cox powered around front row starting Kirt Organ and comfortably extended his lead over the rest of the field. Unfortunately for Cox his night went south while going into turn three on lap 16 resulted in his car getting up and over the cushion and he drifted helplessly off the race track. Cox came to a stop out by the water truck. During Cox's misfortune, Brian Boswell and Eddie Lewis crashed; sending Boswell upside and a red flag was needed.

The ensuing restart saw Organ pacing the field to the green flag. Walker restarted in fourth but wouldn't stay there long. He motored around the top three by using the high side to his liking. By the next lap Walker had taken the lead. Becker was able to pass Organ for second and as the laps winded down, he closed on Walker for the lead. Slower cars played a factor in Walker's inability to extend his lead. The final lap was exciting as Becker made a last ditch effort to clear a slower car while racing Walker for the win. At the finish line Walker barely beat Becker for the win. Forsberg was solid all night and finished third. Organ has continues to impress and picked up a fourth place finish. Rookie Kalib Henry rounded out the top five.

Becker earned the fast time award by posting an 11.821. Gary Paulson was a pleasant surprise and won the opening eight lap heat race. Walker and Forsberg were victorious in the second and third heat races. A total of 21 sprint cars attended the race.

Starting in the eighth spot, Brian Cooper worked his way up into the lead with just two laps to go and led the final circuit to get the popular win. Cooper is as good as they get and was impressive in the way he passed Shane Devolder for the win. Devolder led for the majority of the race and should be commended for his great finish. The racing in the IMCA Sport Mod division is as good as it gets. Damian Merritt did a nice job holding off Phillip Shelby and Howard Law. Point leader Todd Cooper rebounded from his involvement in an on track skirmish on lap 10 and charged back to an eighth place finish. Shelby and Keith Foux each won their respective heat races. Sixteen solid drivers competed during point race #13. Special thanks to Automaxx drivers Brian and Todd Cooper for the donation of the bmx bikes for the kids.

Phillip Shelby dominated the 20 lap street stock feature. Kevin Lesch and Shawn Smith each tried their best to close in but neither were able to do so. Brent Lawrence came into the night with a one point lead over Smith. Lawrence suffered a heat race failure and struggled to finish in the seventh position. With his issues, Smith will now be the new point leader. Richard Workman rebounded from a nasty flip the week prior and finished in fourth. Gary Newman won the first heat race and finished fifth in the main event. Cameron Hammett won the second heat.

Brad Ray did the impossible. Ray beat Brian Compton to win the race shortened hobby stock main event. With one lap to go, the race was halted when the right rear tire of Cy Cooper fell off that resulted in his car doing a series of flips in turn four. Cooper was uninjured. With just three cars remaining the officials decided to cancel the final lap. Ray won the event. For Compton it had to be a letdown after winning the previous five races at Chico. James West won the first heat while Cooper won the second heat. The main event was also halted when West crashed into the turn four wall and bent some of the crash fence above it.

Racing resumes August 19th with the annual tribute to Tyler Wolf.

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