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(Photo courtesy Bryan Lugo)
Tarlton & Son, Inc. Sprint Cars Flex Muscles over Busy Racing Weekend
By Gary Costa
Watsonville, CA – Bakersfield, CA (July 17-18, 2009) – The Tarlton & Son, Inc. Sprint Cars would have a busy racing weekend scheduled. Tommy Tarlton would race at Ocean Speedway on Friday with the Wing and Non-Wing pilots, Peter Murphy and Michael Faccinto competing with the West Coast 360 Sprint Car Series at Bakersfield Speedway.
To say that Tommy Tarlton put on a show at Ocean Speedway last Friday night would be a huge understatement. The Easton driver was exciting and on the hammer the whole night, as the GLR Investments 360 Sprint Car Series went to war against the traveling Civil War Series. Tarlton who is currently the only repeat winner in the GLR series, made a huge jump in the point standings, and now is in striking distance of Brent Kaeding for the top spot sitting only 9 tallies back.
Tarlton smashed the Tarlton & Son, Inc. No 21 around the speedway for qualifying turning in an 11.850. His time was quick enough for third position out of the 38 cars that took time and also led all of his GLR Investments combatants in qualifications. In his heat race Tarlton would line up sixth on the grid. With only four cars being transferring into the main event, Tarlton got his elbows up and charged forward at the drop of the green flag. Tarlton chased Brent Kaeding to the checkers finishing a solid second.
Tarlton would line up sixth again in the 30 lap feature event next to Civil War points leader Sean Becker. It was go time when the green flag waved and Tarlton immediately began his charge. Tarlton would go where only Eagles dare to fly in the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Shark powered Maxim. In the waning laps of the event, Becker, Tarlton and Kaeding were making the fans in attendance pump their fists in the air, as they played a high speed dice game on the ¼-mile surface. On the white flag lap, Tarlton was able to get by Becker who was having a tire go flat, and both Kaeding and Tarlton charged together off of Turn 2. Kaeding pulled a wheelie and both drivers didn't lift as they entered Turn 3. Tarlton had the momentum on the top of the racetrack and charged off of the corner to an exciting second place finish.
"What a race! They don't come much better than that. I sure hope the fans enjoyed it," said Tarlton. "The guys had the car fast all night long. I'm just having a blast running this year. I want to thank everyone on my team, and all of our sponsors. If it wasn't for all of them, none of this would be possible."
Peter Murphy and Michael Faccinto would compete with the West Coast 360 Non-Wing Sprint Cars at Bakersfield Speedway in Tarlton & Son, Inc., Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino twin No. 21's. At 5:30pm, it was a sweltering 110 degrees. With 18 cars in attendance, Murphy won his heat race with Faccinto finishing fourth.
When the green flag waved for racing action to begin, Murphy and Faccinto quickly began their charge forward on the slick surface. In the latter stages of the feature veteran driver Davey Pombo and Murphy began to swap positions. While the battle was heating up for the top positions, Faccinto moved into third place. With five laps to go, Pombo was trying to make his move on Murphy, but Murphy would hold off his friend for his fifth Non-Wing win of the season. Faccinto crossed the line in third for a very successful weekend for Tarlton Motorsports.
"I finally got a win for Brian (Healey). I've been trying to get one for him since he passed away," Murphy said. "I was pretty emotional when I climbed out of the car. The guys did a great job as usual, and it feels great to get one here. Davey (Pombo) drove a great race and he was right there."
Peter Murphy will be back in action this Saturday at Santa Maria Speedway in the Tarlton & Son, Inc. No. 21 Maxim to do battle with the West Coast 360 Non-Wing Sprint Car Series.
Tarlton Motorsports efforts are supported by: The Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Ridgeline Framing, Shark Racing Engines, Matt & Glass, M & S Motorsports, Sharp Insurance, McLellan Equipment, Elite Racing, BG Products, Pro Signs, VMAC, Kaeding Performance, Pro Shocks, Sander Engineering, Astro Titanium, Simpson, BR Motorsports, Willwood, and BRMS.
Be sure to follow Tarlton Motorsports on the web at www.tarltonandson.com
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