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Photos by Johns Racing Photos
Team 292 Inc. competes at American Valley Speedway in Quincy
By Gary Thomas
Quincy, CA – June 24, 2008…After the inaugural weekend of competition last week in Chico and Calistoga, Team 292 Inc. headed for racing action in the beautiful Sierra town of Quincy this past Saturday night. The event marked the sixth point race of the season for the traveling California Civil War 360 Series and first ever at the American Valley Speedway.
Going into the event at the long and narrow 3/8 mile dirt oval Team 292 Inc. drivers Andy Forsberg and Willie Croft sat third and fifth in the point standings. Although this was the first Civil War Series visit to the American Valley Speedway, Croft ran at the track just last season and had success as he won the race, which was sanctioned by the Golden State Challenge 410 Series.
A solid field of 32 entrants signed in at the back gate and both Forsberg and Croft came out early in the qualifying order. Forsberg was able to cut a fastest lap of 15.961, placing the A & A Stepping Stone, Basalite Concrete No. 92 third quickest overall. Croft had been going through some motor issues early in the night and came out two cars later after Forsberg. The Sacramento racer drove the Holey Smokes BBQ, LRB Manufacturing No. 29 around the speedway in 16.316 seconds, which was good enough for 11th quick.
As luck would have it both drivers found themselves in the same heat race starting one after another. Croft lined-up fourth and was able to charge his way into the lead and never look back to pick up his second Civil War heat win of the year. Forsberg started from the outside of the third row and did a nice job to get up and finish in third, making him the highest qualified driver to transfer out of the heat races.
With the ten pill being drawn for the inversion however, it put Croft on the inside of row four and Forsberg outside row five. The initial start of the 30 lap feature saw a major pile-up occur in turn four and when the racing got back underway the next time, another one happened in turn two. This time Croft had nowhere to go and ended up flipping down the back stretch and severely damaging the BR Motorsports, Amerikote No. 29. Forsberg was also involved and backed into the turn two wall.
The damage was too much for Croft to continue and he was placed 22nd in the finish order, but Forsberg was able to head to the work area and get fixed in time for the restart. The Auburn driver battled forward on the treacherous track surface and was able to make it back up to fourth by the checkered flag in the GP Development, L & W Stone No. 92.
After the night of racing Forsberg has moved up to second in the Civil War point standings and is just 20 points back of leader Sean Becker. Croft dropped one spot to sixth in the points, but is just nine back of fifth place Herman Klein heading into the next Civil War event in Petaluma which will take place on July 5.
Next up for Team 292 Inc. will be this Friday night’s weekly point race at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Forsberg won the most recent 410 sprint car event at the track and will go into this weekend’s race holding a 22 point lead over Becker in the Feather Falls Casino point standings. Then on Saturday the team will head to the high-banked red-clay bullring of Placerville Speedway. More info on the events can be found at http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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