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Mason Moore Wins First Career Main at Chico
By: Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 4-11-08)...Princeton driver Mason Moore scored his first career sprint car 410 main event win Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway. The second year driver lived up to his nickname “Primetime” and led all 25-laps to win the first annual Bill Brownell Memorial race. By winning the race Moore won the biggest pay day on a Friday night race in recent memory. Moore's victory earned him a $3,000 pay day. The Moore Insurance Services/Mike Clarke prepared #22 was flawless all night. Moore held off both Allard brothers and a charging Brent Kaeding to get the popular win. “This was just the perfect night,” said Moore in victory lane. “There are a lot of people to thank for getting me to this spot tonight.”
Terry Schank Jr. won the 20-lap wingless sprint feature event. “Things have been going real good for us the past two weeks,” said Schank Jr. referencing to his back to back wins at Chico on Friday night. Dave Duste Jr. took the lead at the half way point of the dirt modified 15-lap main event. He went on to hold off Mike Sohnrey for the victory. A total of 62 cars entered point race number two of the Feather Falls Casino Friday night championship series. The nights sponsors were Chico Custom Cycles and Pro Pool Tile Cleaning.
The main attraction of the night was the return of track legend Shane Scott. The former seven-time track champion was returning to the cockpit for a one night only performance. Scott was racing in honor of his friend Bill Brownell. Scott did not disappoint the packed grandstands. The highlight of the night was Scott not only leading the third heat race but winning in dominating fashion. After the race Scott thrilled the crowd with an old-fashioned wheelie. Even though Scott is closer to the age of 50, than 20, he still has that desire and passion to not only win races but entertain the crowd. Many of the young drivers at Chico could learn a lot from the showman ship that Scott possesses. Many of our local drivers question why Scott is still so popular even after six years of retirement. But if they were watching last night, they could learn a lot about why he is still so beloved by his fans at Chico.
Moore led from the start of the green flag. Outside front row starter Andy Gregg fell into the second spot. Stephen Allard started third but soon moved around Gregg for the second spot. His younger brother Jonathan started fifth but soon moved into the third spot and began to challenge Stephen for second. On lap three Kevin Sharrah was pushed into the front straight wall. His car needed to be towed away. Racing continued with Moore leading. At first it seemed like a matter of time until one of the veteran Allard brothers would get by Moore. But to his credit, Moore kept his cool and committed to the bottom. He rolled around the bottom to perfection. At times he would pull away from both Allard brothers. Things were going to heat up on lap 10 when Moore caught to back of the pack. As Moore began to dice it up with slower cars the yellow came out when Kyle Hirst spun in turn three. On the restart Robbie Whitchurch went for a tumble in turn two. He was joined by Jason York and Johnny Gray. The next restart saw Jonathan pass Stephen for second. A surprise driver on this night was Brent Kaeding who came up to drive the Dan Menne owned #75. Kaeding started in the 12th spot but moved into fourth on lap 11. Once again the leaders were catching up to the rear of the field. Moore benefited again from a caution on lap 19 when Willie Croft clipped a white tire and spun through the infield. A yellow was thrown and the field was bunched back up. This cleared up the race track and for Mason Moore it must of looked like heaven. As long as he kept his car on the bottom and stayed true to his line the race was his. The final six laps rolled off without incident and Moore crossed the line as the winner. A happy crew ran to his car and celebrated while many of his friends and family belted out their approval from the stands. Stephen Allard finished second and Kaeding moved into the third spot. Jonathan Allard ran fourth and Sean Becker was fifth.
Terry Schank Jr. started on the pole of the 20-lap main event. It was apparent from the start he was the driver to beat. Schank Jr. drives one of the best prepared wingless spec sprints on the West Coast. Tonight the driver and team were on their game. Taylor Simas tried his best to give Schank Jr. a challenge. Simas closed in on the open wheel veteran and at one point was side-by-side at the flag stand while the two were racing slower cars. Schank Jr. was able to hold his line and take the lead coming out of turn two. Billy Wallace was the other challenger who might of had something for the leader. Yet, Wallace ran out of laps and actually at the end passed Simas for second. Keith Bloom ran a solid race to finish fourth while Mason Myers finished a solid fifth.
The dirt modified main event provided the best racing and passing on the night. Eddy Lewis jumped out to the early lead. Tom Caniff then moved around Lewis and led the for the next few laps. Starting in the fifth spot was Dave Duste Jr. He methodically moved through the field and soon was challenging for the lead. Duste Jr. passed Caniff for the lead at the half-way point of the main event. Duste Jr. then began to take off hide from the rest of the field. Mike Sohnrey was the only driver to stay in striking distance of the leader. Sohnrey was never able to get within three or four car lengths of the leader. Duste Jr. led the final laps to win the 15-lap dirt modified main event. Matt Murphy finished in the second spot. Tom Purcell moved into a third place finish. Caniff fell back to a fifth place finish after leading for a bit. Defending track champion Richard Papenhausen suffered through a tough night. He was involved in two yellows and was disqualified from the event.
Full results are available at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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