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Photos by http://www.GraphXDesigns.com
Team 292 Inc. driver Andy Forsberg locks up Chico title as tough luck takes away possible good run for Willie Croft
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – August 24, 2008…Competing in a stacked championship finale at the Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday night Auburn’s Andy Forsberg was able to score a fifth place finish and it was good enough wrap up his second career 410 sprint car track championship.
Team 292 Inc. competitors Forsberg and Willie Croft went into the final Feather Falls Casino 410 point race of the season looking to make sure everything is good to go for the upcoming Gold Cup of Champions, which is coming in less than two weeks. The night of racing marked Croft’s first 410 start at the Silver Dollar Speedway since July 5 and the speed was there, but unfortunately the luck wasn’t with him on this night as he was involved in a multiple car wreck that put him out of the running in the main event.
The evening started off well for Croft as he qualified sixth fastest in the 30 car field aboard the Holey Smokes BBQ, GH Plumbing, LRB Manufacturing No. 29. A fourth place finish in his heat race then transferred him into the main event where he started from the outside of the second row. A fast track surface was prevalent all night and “Double Down” battled it out among the top five drivers in the feature during the early stages.
Croft was involved in an exciting battle with Kyle Hirst, Jonathan Allard, Colby Wiesz and more as the laps ticked down, but just as the intensity was heating up it all came to a crashing halt on lap 18. The driver running in the second spot had got together with a lap car and sat sideways in turn two, which created a chain reaction crash that ended with the A.R.T. Enterprise No. 29 getting upside down and putting a tough end to the race.
Forsberg came into the night clinging to a nine point lead over Sean Becker in the Feather Falls Casino point standings and looked for a consistent event to bring home his second track title. “Mr. Excitement” was on his game in qualifying however, as charged the A & A Stepping Stone, Basalite Concrete No. 92 around the speedway in 11.676 seconds to score third quick behind Tyler Walker and Jonathan Allard.
The Auburn racer then finished fourth in his heat race to transfer into the feature where he lined-up on the outside of the third row. Forsberg knew that getting a solid finish was all he needed to lock up the title and when point rival Becker went out of the race on lap 18; it assured him of the championship. The final handful of laps were run off and the four-time Civil War Series champ crossed under the checkered flag in the fifth position to secure the second 410 sprint car title of his career.
Forsberg talked at length on the front stretch about how much the championship means to him. “It feels great to get another title here in Chico because it’s always nice to add to your resume,” he said. “Point racing can get a little tough sometimes because you don’t want to take too many risks that could hurt your chances at the overall picture, so it’s nice to finally get this locked up. I have to thank my whole crew, our sponsors, the fans and I want to dedicate this championship to my father Richard because without him I wouldn’t even be around racing.”
Forsberg was also very humble about racing with Becker during the season. “I have to thank Sean Becker for another great battle this year and it was a pleasure to race with him on a weekly basis,” he commented. “Sean is one of the most polite and respectful guys to race with and it’s hard to race against him because he’s such a good guy. Sometimes it can be easier to run against guys you don’t like because it gives you that extra bit of motivation, but that’s not the case with Sean and I just want to thank him for a great year of racing,” Forsberg concluded.
Team 292 Inc. and Forsberg then headed to the Placerville Speedway on Saturday and brought home a third place finish in the main event during the No. 92 team’s final 360 race prior to the Gold Cup Invitational on Wednesday September 3 at the Silver Dollar Speedway.
More news and info on Team 2nine2 Inc. drivers Andy Forsberg and Willie Croft can be found at http://williecroft.com/front.html and http://aamotorsports.net/
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Andy Forsberg drove the A&A Stepping Stone, Wilkie Masonry, GP Development No. 92 to a 5th place finish on Friday night to claim his second career Silver Dollar Speedway track championship
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