Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
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PRESS RELEASE, PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY, PLACERVILLE, CA FROM THE OFFICE OF JOHN PADJEN MOTORSPORTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2008 MEDIA CONTACT: BILL SULLIVAN: [email protected] Sacramento’s Croft denies Robinson in with first Placerville win in championship opener PLACERVILLE, CA – Midway into the feature event, it looked as if it was going to be a Cinderella story at Placerville Speedway Saturday night as former champion David Robinson Jr. of Foresthill led the feature event in his first appearance at the foothill speedway in two years. But it was Sacramento’s Willie Croft who played the role of the evil stepmother with a late race past that cost Robinson a heroic return and put Croft in victory lane at Placerville for the first time in his racing career. “Robinson was running strong out here tonight, he is definitely back,” said Croft. “But it’s been two years since he ran here and I wasn’t going to let him comeback that easy. We have to make him earn that first win again.” Croft is a former Silver Dollar Speedway Mini-Gold Cup champion, which has spent the majority of his career racing at the famed quarter-mile in Chico. Over the past couple of seasons he has competed in various events at Placerville Speedway and has always put on strong performances. Saturday night was by far Croft’s strongest performance, however, as the victory marked his first ever win at the famed 43 year old quarter mile dirt track on the El Dorado County Fairground. “This is a first for me, said Croft. “I have always run well here but we never managed to pull of a win at this place. I just really don’t know what to say. Brian Cannon came aboard as my crew chief this year and I am grateful for that, the car was great. I really am at a loss for words other than that.” Croft started the feature event on the pole position and watched Robinson charge into the lead with the waving of the green flag. While Robinson distanced himself from the field early, Croft was busy holding off the challenges of Colby Wiesz of Colfax who started fourth along with Andy Forsberg of Auburn and Placerville’s own Jimmy Trulli. With Robinson far out in front, the battle for the next four positions was furious as Croft maintained the bridesmaid position with Wiesz, Forsberg and Trulli slugging out behind him. Forsberg would eventually drop out of the battle when he colliding with a spinning Matt Petty and rolled over on the front stretch. The roll-over was Forsberg’s fourth such incident in three straight races, earning him his second consecutive hard luck award sponsored by the Cold Springs Community Church of Placerville. In the final laps of the race, Croft set his sights on Robinson and closed in when the leaders reached lapped traffic. When Robinson chose to go high to work his way through the back markers, Croft went low and stole the lead he would never relinquish. At the checkered flag Croft was followed by Robinson, Wiesz and Trulli. Placerville’s Scott Russell charged from the 10^th position to finish fifth ahead of Placerville’s James Sweeney, who started in 11^th. In the Pro Stock division, Dan Brown Jr. of Nevada City returned to victory lane. The winningest driver of the division last season, Brown started on the outside of the front row beside Camino resident Del Tremblay. In the early laps Brown battled with Tremblay and Jeff Arbogast for the top position. With eight laps complete Arbogast retired to the pit area, allowing Tremblay to advance but a flat front tire would slow him late in the race and permit Dennis Ahart of Cameron Park to overtake second place. At the checkered flag it was Brown with the win followed by Ahart, Tremblay, Ray Trimble of Auburn and Forryst Carnett of Placerville. “This is a great way to start of the season, I really want to thank my dad and my whole family for all their hard work building this new car over the winter,” said Brown. “I just wish we could get our car count back up in this division. Regardless of that, everyone in the class are great drivers and its great to race with them.” In the Pure Stock division, Tom Grady Sr. of El Dorado normally brings a number of family members to the track with him each week. Saturday, his mother was at home caring for his father who is recovering from surgery and he went solo to the race track. On this given night, he managed to lead every lap of the 20-lap feature event to score the win. “My parents are my biggest fans, said Grady. “But tonight I came out here by myself and wouldn’t you know it, this is the night I win. It feels great to start the year like this. Hopefully I can do it again on a night they make it back out here.” A number of Pure Stock drivers and speedway staff members returned to Placerville with a heavy heart Saturday night as it was the first event since the loss of division patriarch Terry Scher of Pollock Pines, a dear friend to the local auto racing community who lost his battle with cancer at the end of January. Saturday, the evening started with a flagpole dedication and a special memorial lap featuring Terry’s son, Heath, longtime crew chief Ken Vogle Jr. and team member Brian Stevens taking to the track. Following a victory in his heat race, Heath Scher challenged Grady in the first laps of the feature and then Stevens followed suit. When the checkered flag waved Stevens finished second followed by Scher with a top three finish, a great tribute in itself on this difficult night for the team. Chris Curtiss of Placerville finished in fourth followed by Scotty Grunert of Woodland. The Nor Cal Dwarf Car feature event was a wild one on Saturday. Mike Grenert of Travis AFB led the early laps of the race being challenged by Daniel Weger of Grass Valley. On the 15^th lap lapped traffic held up Grenert and Weger, resulting in Ballico’s Brett Barstow taking the lead. Barstow went on the take the win with Brian Quilty finishing in second followed by Kevin Bender, Patrick Weger and Neil Stinson. “That was pretty crazy out there tonight,” said Barstow. “I don’t really know how I didn’t get caught up in it. I was just in the right place at the right time I guess. This place is fun, we always like racing at Placerville. Its racy and the fans are great.” Next Saturday, April 5 point racing continues with “Allied Auto Repair Club” night at Placerville Speedway. On this night, and additional $500 will be awarded to the winner of the sprint car feature event, making it worth a total of $2000. Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Midget Lites will complete the program.