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Photos by http://www.GraphXDesigns.com
Zack West finishes off Chico point season with 11th place run on Championship Night
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – August 22, 2008…Returning to the track for the first time in a few weeks, Chico’s Zack West looked to get things ready for the upcoming Gold Cup Race of Champions and battled for an 11th place finish on Friday night during the final 410 event of the Feathers Falls Casino point season.
A very strong field of 30 drivers was on hand for the finale of the Silver Dollar Speedway 410 weekly year and fortunately for West he was able to make something out of a night that started off rather tough. The big night of action was supported by a number of different companies including Napa Auto Parts, Cherry St. Mini Storage, Coca-Cola and AAA Insurance.
With the solid field of cars at the event it made qualifying a key and unfortunately for the 18 year-old, a broken front stop left him with issues that caused the left front frame rail to drag on the ground during time trials. Despite the car having visible handling problems West was able to complete his two laps, but it left him 28th in rundown.
Putting the qualifying problems behind him West came back for his heat race and lined-up in the eighth position aboard the Franklin Construction, Ing Excavation No. 14. The Chico racer proceeded to move forward to score a fifth place finish in a stacked heat that also included veterans Tim Kaeding, Sean Becker and Kyle Hirst. It then put West into the evening’s B-main where he started from the 10th position in the 12 lap contest.
With the track remaining fast it made starts critical and West able to do a good job as he moved forward to get up to fifth after a couple laps had been completed. He found a clean smooth line where the car worked good and tried his hardest to catch up to fellow youngster Colby Copeland for the transfer spot, but came up just short at the checkered flag.
A bit of good luck then shined down on the team as another driver was unable to compete in the main event and with West being the first alternate for the feature, it gave the Community Construction, Pace Supply JEI a starting spot in the 25 lap championship night main event. Starting from the dead last West had a quick car, but unfortunately went a lap down to leader Tim Kaeding just before a big pileup occurred on the 18th circuit.
As a lap car West was virtually as fast as the leaders, but by being a lap down he wasn’t able to get chance at working his way forward to improve his position in the finishing order and was scored 11th in the final rundown. West’s father Mark was pleased with the night after how it started out. “We’re happy with the results because the night could have been much worse with the problems in qualifying,” he said. “The car was pretty good in the main event and Zack did a nice job behind the wheel. Losing a lap before that big wreck really hurt us, but tonight has given us some confidence so we’re looking forward to having some fun at the Gold Cup.”
With the Feather Falls Casino weekly season in the books West will now turn his attention to the upcoming 55th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions, which kicks off on Wednesday September 3 with the annual Civil War/Wingless Sprint Invitational. After the Wednesday event the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series will invade the Silver Dollar Speedway for three action packed nights of racing, which will be culminated in the 40 lap $50,000 to win A-main event.
West and the We st-ing Racing team are scheduled to compete during the opening prelim night on Thursday and the 18 year-old is looking forward to hitting the track. “I can’t wait for Gold Cup and am really anticipating our qualifying night,” West said. “The Gold Cup is one of the biggest sprint car events on the planet and we’re looking forward to being a part of it.” Last season 103 drivers competed at the Gold Cup Race of Champions and it saw West win the D-main, before finishing 11th in the C-main on Saturday night during his very first attempt at the event.
For more information on 18 year-old Zack West log onto http://www.zackwest.com
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Next up for Zack West will be the 55th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions where he'll be running against the best sprint car drivers in the country aboard the Franklin Construction, Butler Built Performance No. 14
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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