This message was edited on
September 29, 2008 at
12:17:47 PM by Gary Thomas
Strong Local Contenders Ready For Fall Nationals
by: Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 9-28-08)...The 17th Annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals will draw many out of area contenders for the $6,000 winners share on Saturday night. Yet, local drivers will be ready to defend their turf. The charge will be led by local driving champions Jonathan Allard of Chico and Oroville's Sean Becker and this year's Silver Dollar Speedway Champion driver Andy Forsberg of Auburn. Both Allard and Becker won the most prestigious traveling sprint car championships this year. Allard won his second King of California while it was Becker winning his first Civil War 360 championship. Forsberg won the competitive Friday night track championship in the 410 sprint car division.
The 17th Annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals is a three night event. The first night of racing begins on October 2 and concludes on October 4. Over 80 drivers are expected to enter this years race. Thursday and Friday night are preliminary events while Saturday night features main events only. On Saturday night, the main event will be 40-laps and $6,000 to win.
Grandstand gates open at 5 pm with racing scheduled to start at 6:30. Thursday and Friday night general adult admission is $15.00, juniors $11.00 and children $5.00. On Saturday night, general adult admission is $20.00 with juniors $11.00 and children $5.00.
Thursday and Friday night's racing program will included qualifying, heat races and main events. Each race will offer points to drivers. Each driver only qualifies on one of the two nights. Saturday nights main events are started straight up from drivers preliminary points on Thursday or Friday night with the highest points getting automatic bids to start in the feature event. MotoWear will also add a $200 gift certificate to each nights fast time driver.
Chico's Jonathan Allard has won a lot of big races in his career at Silver Dollar Speedway. However, missing from his resume is a Fall Nationals title. “It's one of the races that has alluded us for whatever reason,” said Allard. “It would be a nice way to end out racing season at Chico this year.” Allard ended the King of California season by celebrating on the front straight as the series champion. He would like to end this weekend in the same way. Allard is coming off a fifth place finish last year at this race.
Oroville's Sean Becker has been the most dominant 360 sprint car driver this season. Becker won his first Civil War championship last Saturday in Placerville and heads into Chico with big momentum. “It's a great feeling to win the Civil War championship but nothing would beat it if we could cash in on Saturday night and win the Fall Nationals,” said Becker. He looks to improve from last year's 13th place finish in the B main. “We definitely want to make the main this year and hopefully contend for the win.” Becker also finished second to Forsberg this year on the Friday night 410 series.
Auburn's Andy Forsberg locked up his second driving championship at Silver Dollar Speedway in late August. Last year he finished third in the main event at the Fall Nationals. Unlike Allard and Becker, Forsberg has felt the thrill of winning a Fall Nationals title in 2006. “That still ranks up there as one of my biggest wins,” said Forsberg. He has been the brightest star this decade in the Civil War 360 series, winning four titles in eight years. “We have had a good and bad year,” said Forsberg. “We won the Chico track title and will finish in the top five of Civil War but we really want to solidify our year with a big win like the Fall Nationals.”
2007 Silver Dollar Speedway track champion Stephen Allard is also ready to compete. Allard is fresh off a 360 win at Kings Speedway in Hanford. Allard will drive the DD Customs #4. Other locals looking for a shot at the title include Loomis driver Kyle Hirst, Princeton's Mason Moore and Elk Grove's Kyle Larson.
More information can be found at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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