This message was edited on
March 09, 2008 at
10:39:38 PM by Gary Thomas
Andy Gregg brings home 8th place finish at 22nd Mini Gold Cup
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – March 8, 2008…Placerville, CA’s Andy Gregg had one of the finest night’s of his Golden State Challenge Series career during Saturday’s Mini Gold Cup finale at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway. The 28 year-old began the night by qualifying very well and then backed it up with a solid top 10 finish in the 40 lap A-main.
Gregg is coming off a year that saw him finish third in Silver Dollar Speedway points and earn the “Most Improved Driver” award for the track. He also finished third in the California Civil War 360 Series points last year with a pair of wins with that series, as well a pair of victories in Placerville Speedway weekly action. Gregg also came very close to picking up a GSC Series win last March at his home track of Placerville, but contact on the last lap sent him upside down and out of the race after leading 29 of the 30 laps from the pole.
Going into the 22nd annual Mini Gold Cup at Silver Dollar Speedway Gregg looked to use the added experience of running at the track on a weekly basis last season. After missing the A-main on opening night, Gregg and the Guts Racing, Myers & Sons Drywall No. 16x team came back strong on Saturday and put together an impressive night of competition.
The Mini Gold Cup saw a total of 64 cars on hand for Saturday’s finale and Gregg was the very first car to hit the speedway for timed qualifications. “The Hurricane” cut a pair of very good laps and his best one of 12.008 put him second quickest overall, behind only Chico’s Jonathan Allard. Gregg’s qualifying skills at the ¼ mile clay oval have been very solid over the last year and with so many cars on hand Saturday night, it made it a very crucial part of the evening.
A 12th place finish in the heat race however, sent Gregg to the 12 lap B-main where he started from the pole. Showing that the heat race problems were behind him he promptly went out and walked away from the field early and withstood a late race challenge from San Jose’s Tim Kaeding to claim the semi victory. By winning the B-main Gregg got his qualifying time back behind the dash cars, which put him on the inside of row five for the Mini Gold Cup main event.
Running against of a number of traveling racers Gregg held his own among the top 10 all race long and after 40 intense laps of action he brought the BR Motorsports, Dale Miller Plumbing No. 16x home in the eighth position. Bringing home a top 10 finish with the kind of competition that was present is very impressive for the Placerville driver and definitely gives the whole team momentum heading into next weekend.
The next event for Andy Gregg and Guts Racing team will be next Saturday’s Civil War Series opener at the Placerville Speedway. Gregg will be focusing on taking home the Civil War title this season after finishing a career high in points last year. Over 45 cars are expected to be on hand at the high banked, red clay bullring in what should be an action packed night of racing.
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