4/22/2018
Silver Dollar Speedway
Linder Scores Historic Win at Chico
Silver Dollar Speedway
Phone: (530) 350-7275
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Garen Linder Wins For Oregon
Chico, CA (April 20, 2018) …. Garen Linder accomplished something that had not been seen at Silver Dollar Speedway in over 24 years. Linder, a resident from Central Point, OR, held off Auburn’s Andy Forsberg to win a thrilling and action packed 25-lap winged 360 sprint car main event. Not only was it his first career win at Chico but he becomes the first driver originally from Oregon to win a race at Silver Dollar Speedway since Greg Brown’s victory on October 23, 1993. “We won Chico. This is a dream come true,� said Linder on his Facebook page.
The second point show at Chico saw 33 sprint car drivers attend the event. Obviously, Linder was the focus point for the night, but the Pacific Northwest was well represented by Quilcene, Washington’s J.J. Hickle and Medford, Oregon’s Jake Wheeler. Hickle turned the nights fastest lap in qualifying 12.743. At some point during the main event all three drivers led at least one lap. Wheeler led the first 12 circuits. Hickle then took the lead. Next it was Linder’s turn to swap the lead with Hickle. In a four-lap span, each driver led a different lap. Linder was finally able to control the event on lap 19.
The turning point of the race happened on lap 15 when Forsberg was going for second and entered turn one on the bottom of the speedway. Forsberg hit a large rut that had developed throughout the night and this upset his car. The No. 92 spun backwards and stopped. At this point we all thought his night was done. But Forsberg restarted and never gave up. Forsberg began to charge around the top and passing cars with ease. On lap 22 he cleared Hickle and closed in on Linder. The final lap was classic as Linder stumbled a bit off turn two and Forsberg got a big run to the bottom going into three. Forsberg tried to hug the pole, but his tires began to spin, and Linder drove back by on the outside for the historical win. Hickle held on to finish third. Sean Becker got rolling near the end of the race and finished fourth. After leading a good amount of laps Wheeler drifted back to a fifth-place finish.
Seth Nunes won the 12-lap B main event. He was followed by Brent Bjork, Jake Haulot and Cody Fendley. Mason Moore won the first heat race. Michael Kofoid grabbed the top spot in heat two. Linder won the third heat. Kenny Allen got the win in heat four.
Ten was a magical number for Brian Cooper tonight. The IMCA Sport Mod stand out started 10th in the main event and by lap 10 he was leading the race. Cooper led the final 10 laps to secure the popular win. Cooper once again reminded us all that he is one of the best to get behind the wheel of a sport mod. Opening night winner Andrew Peckham was just as good. He won his heat race and then started 11th. Peckham got to second on lap 12 but by then was too far behind to catch Cooper. Brent Curran was another hard charging car. He started behind both Cooper and Peckham and he too charged towards the front. Curran ended up third. Matt Micheli led the first nine laps of the event. Micheli has been fast this season and ended up finishing fourth. Justin Foux has been a consistent top runner and did an excellent job to finish fifth. Jimmy Ford was fast in wining heat two. Tyler Rodgers drove the top side like a boss to win the third heat race.
The Earl’s Plumbing Hobby Stocks feature event was fun to watch. Kyle Cheney led the first few laps until Nick Vidovich assumed the lead on lap five. On lap 10 Kyle Allen charged into the lead. Allen started ninth. Soon Allen was having to hold off Jeremy Langenderfer. The close competition and fast cars continue to provide a great night of racing in the Hobby Stock division. Allen was able to win the race and pick up his second career win at Chico. Langenderfer finished second. Cheney drove back to finish third. Vidovich came home fourth and Mel Beyers was fifth. Allen won the first heat race. Langenderfer grabbed the win in heat two.
Chico’s Phil Marino picked up his 62nd career main event win at Chico during the Street Stock main event. What made the win special was that Marino started in the last position, eleventh. It took him 17 laps to get to the top spot. Clinton Earl led the first lap. Corey Hall then jumped up to the top spot. On Lap five Shawn Smith took over the lead. Smith led until lap 16. The racing the final few laps were great between Earl, Leif Berglund and Corey Hall. While Marino got the win, Earl came home second followed by Berglund. However, following the race both Earl and Berglund didn’t go to tech and were penalized. Smith was credited with second place. Ken Micheli was third. Hall earned a fourth-place finish and Gary Newman was fifth. Hall and Smith each won their heat race.
Brent Steck led the first 14 laps of the wingless main event. Tony Richards made his move and took the lead away on lap 15. Richards then extended his lead and won the main event. Steck held on to finish second. Ron LaPlant rebounded from a rough start to finish third. Richards swept the night by winning the eight-lap heat race.
Full results here https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1512908
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