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B-main contact ends night early for Tony Gualda at Sprint Car Challenge Tour opener
By Gary Thomas
Antioch, CA – April 4, 2017…Taking to the Antioch Speedway for the first time in his career Hollister, CA’s Tony Gualda looked to be on way to running the alphabet last Saturday, until final corner contact dashed his hopes of getting into the A-main.
Opening night for the new Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Abreu Vineyards brought a stout 58-car field to the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds based Antioch Speedway. The evening was a practical who’s who of Sprint Car racing in the Golden State, as teams opened the inaugural campaign.
Getting his feet wet early on during the Antioch debut Gualda timed in 34th overall and eighth fastest in his heat race group. Lining up eighth in the final heat race he was able to fight forward to finish fifth, two spots out of a transfer, putting the Tony Gualda Motorsports No. 7m into the second C-main. The 17-year-old then went on to claim victory in C-main number two, which placed him into the Finley Farms B-main.
Starting way back in 18th Gualda methodically worked his way forward on the tricky one-third mile clay oval. Just past the midway point in the 12-lapper he sliced his way under Colby Copeland to grab the seventh and final transfer spot. Going into the final turns however, his hopes of making the feature came to an end, when contact from the side resulted in both he and Copeland flipping into the third corner. He was officially scored 12th as the race came to an end.
“It definitely wasn’t how we wanted the night to end and it left us pretty disappointed,” Gualda commented. “On the positive note though it was great rebound after qualifying to win the second C-main and then climb from the rear of the B-main to very nearly transfer into the feature. I felt like I learned a lot as the night went on and I can’t thank my team enough for their support. We pretty much did everything possible to run the alphabet, but that’s how racing goes sometimes.”
Gualda will take this weekend off, before resuming action at the Placerville Speedway on April 15 for round two of the Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Abreu Vineyards season. “I’m really looking forward to Placerville next week with the Sprint Car Challenge Tour,” he said. “Placerville Speedway is one of my favorite tracks and with the turnout for the opening SCCT race I think it has everyone pretty excited. Hopefully we can have a solid night and come away with a good finish.”
Tony Gualda Motorsports would like to thank PT Shocks, Smitty Boys Racing, C&M Motorsports, Pit Stop USA, Autoworks, Hollister Auto Parts, Joe Hamilton Racing, PYW Racing and Fastenal for their support in 2017.
Antioch Speedway Quick Recap April 1-
Qualified (Overall 34th/ 8th in group five), Heat Race (8th), C-main two (1st) B-main (12th)
Upcoming Races-
Saturday April 15: Placerville Speedway - Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Abreu Vineyards (TGM 7m)
Friday April 21: Thunderbowl Raceway - Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Abreu Vineyards (C&M 7c)
Saturday April 22: Placerville Speedway - Thompson’s Auto Group Sprint Cars (C&M 7C)
Saturday April 29: Petaluma Speedway - Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Abreu Vineyards (TGM 7m)
Website:
To learn more about Tony Gualda log onto www.tonygualdamotorsports.com
Social Spotlight-
Follow Tony Gualda on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tonygualda99
GT Promotions-
GT Promotions is a media company focusing on public relations & social media managing for motorsports venues, series, race teams and more. Since 2006 we have worked with numerous clients to boost exposure through our various channels. To inquire about becoming a part of the GT Promotions team simply email [email protected] & to keep up with our work follow https://twitter.com/garythomasGT
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