This message was edited on
April 12, 2008 at
01:44:28 PM by Gary Thomas
Photos by Graph X Designs
Mason Moore wins 1st career main event at Bill Brownell Memorial
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – April 11, 2008…Competing in one of the biggest Silver Dollar Speedway point races in recent memory, Princeton’s Mason Moore remained calm, cool and collected in the main event to lead all 25 laps and pick up his first career sprint car victory. The youngster had to fend off multiple veterans in the feature and did a great job as he never bobbled and ran a smooth, consistent 25 laps to score the $3,000 top prize.
The evening marked the second point event of the season at the Chico track, but this event was much more special as it marked the inaugural Bill Brownell night and paid $3,000 to win the main event. “This was the perfect night to come out and win our first race,” Moore said in victory lane. “I just have to thank my whole family and team and also all of our sponsors for supporting us.”
The first ever Bill Brownell night saw 34 winged sprinters sign in at the Silver Dollar Speedway back gate and Moore began the event by qualifying a solid ninth fastest aboard the Rolling Hills Casino, Moore Insurance Services, Withrow Motorsports No. 22. He then started outside row two in his heat race and held off the strong challenges from Kyle Hirst over the final couple laps to finish fourth and transfer into the A-main event.
With a few higher qualified drivers not making it through their heat races, coupled with fast timer Willie Croft pulling the number six pill for the inversion, the driver known as “Primetime” then found himself on the pole of the talent laden 25 lap feature. With the track surface drying out considerably by main event time, it was a great shot for Moore and he didn’t disappoint as he shot into the lead at the waving of the green flag.
Early on it was apparent that crew chief Mike Clarke and the team put a great set-up in the NOS Energy Drink, theskipperpartys.net No. 22 and Moore hit his marks each and every lap. At some points in the main event he had defending track champion Stephen Allard right on his back bumper, but the 17 year-old didn’t let it phase him as he drove his own race. Traffic came into play at one point and it allowed Allard to close, but Moore continued to hit his marks and never faltered.
With the checkered flag in his sights the crowd came to their feet as Moore crossed the stripe to win the $3,000 top prize and score his very first winged sprint car main event win. After going to the scales Moore was pushed back onto the front stretch and was greeted by a lot of very happy friends and family in victory lane. When asked about the nerves of being out front with all the big names behind him, Moore commented that he had to block all of that out.
“Even with all those guys behind me I just had to focus on running my own race and it’s awesome to come out here on Bill Brownell night and get a win,” the driver of the Selover’s Body & Paint, Platinum Powder Coating, Napa Auto Parts No. 22 said. To make things more special the drivers that finished behind him in the top five were Stephen Allard, Brent Kaeding, Jonathan Allard and Andy Forsberg, all former track champions or Golden State Challenge champs.
Also competing during the night in Moore’s back-up machine was former 7-time Silver Dollar Speedway track champ Shane Scott. The living legend won his heat race in grand fashion and finished 16th in the main event during this one night only chance to see him back in action. The night as a whole was very special for the Moore Motorsports team and one that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
The racing action will continue tonight however, as Mason Moore and the No. 22 team will head for the Petaluma Speedway for the second round of action with the traveling California Civil War 360 Series.
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