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(Photo courtesy Bryan Lugo Photography)

Tyler Walker Scores 7^th GSC Win; Takes Points Lead Into Petaluma

By Gary Costa

Chico, CA (July 24-25, 2009) – Tyler Walker and the whole group from SC Motorsports, showed why they are considered one of the top Sprint Car teams in the country. This past weekend they would compete in a two day show at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA. The team is the series' feature event leaders with six wins in Golden State Challenge Series competition. They looked to add a couple of more victories before leaving the Chico grounds.

Friday night's Golden State Challenge Series Sprint car action kicked-off with the SC Motorsports, NMI Industrial Contractors No. 24 ripping around the speedway in qualifying turning an 11.799 lap which would time Walker in third, out of the 30 cars that took to the speedway.

In heat race action, Walker would shoot to the outside where contact was made with another car, and Walker would flip the JEI down the back straightaway. With the help from Jonathan Allard, Brent and Bud Kaeding and their crew, they managed to get Walker back out on the speedway where he would charge through the pack to finish second. In the dash, Walker went onto finish fourth.

On the initial start, outside front row starter Brad Bumgarner stopped on the racetrack, which moved up Walker to the outside front row position. When the green flag flew in the 30 lap feature, Walker would settle in the second place position, patiently waiting to attack. On the ninth lap, Walker would look to wrestle the lead away from race leader Kyle Larson, and both drivers would drag race down the front straightaway, and into Turn 1. Walker would never look back, and he went onto win his seventh GSC main event. The victory put Walker one win away from tying the all-time single season GSC win record set by Tim Kaeding with eight victories.

"Tyler is just driving the wheels off of the car. We have assembled one stout team. My goal is to win races. Every time that the car hits the track, my focus and goal is to get the most speed out of the car that I can, and keep Tyler comfortable," crew chief Lee Lindgren said. "It feels great to win our seventh feature event, but when I wake up the next morning, I'm already 110% focused on performing for Tyler and our team; looking for another win. The points will fall where they will – I want to win races."

Saturday night would be the 26th Annual Gary Patterson Memorial. Walker's evening started out by qualifying the powerful mount in the sixth spot out of the 28 cars that took time. In his heat race, the SC Motorsports Sprint Car went onto finish fourth, which would line him up eighth for the dash. The fans were on their feet pumping their fists in the air as Walker blew by four cars in one entertaining lap with him crossing the line in fourth.

Walker slid into his fourth starting position and was gunning for his second victory of the weekend. When the green flag flew, Walker charged into Turns 1 & 2; however he and another car made contact. With the ensuing contact, Walker stopped on the track and was sent to the tail end of the field. It was there that Walker who has no quit in him, put on a show for the fans, working his way through the pack in the Lee Lindgren wrenched machine. Walker was able to put the car anywhere that he wanted on the racetrack. "GP" would have been proud of Walker's driving prowess, as he eventually finished a hard fought and well deserved third place finish. Walker also will receive some extra cash from Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows for securing the most points during the two-day show at Chico.

"What a crazy weekend. Lee and the guys had this thing on a rail the whole weekend. I want to thank Jonathan, Brent, Bud, and everyone else who helped get our car back out after the flip," Walker said. "It just goes to show you that we are competitors out on the track, but when one of us needs something, we help each other out. We have three races to decide this championship, and I'm focused on doing the best that I can for Scott, Kathy (Chastain), and my team. Like I've said before, I really hope that the fans are enjoying the racing that we're putting on; I know that I am."

The SC Motorsports team will invade Petaluma Speedway this Saturday night. Walker will carry a slim seven point, point's lead over Jonathan Allard, and a mere 13 points over 13-time King of California Champion, Brent Kaeding who currently sits third in points. We scored our second win of the GSC season during our last visit there on April 18.

Follow Tyler Walker on the web at www.tylerwalker24.com

SC Motorsports appreciates support from: A Better Valley Crane, DREM Web Designs, Stainless Distributors, NIEMANN'S Auto Touch, Inc., VMAC Racing, YAK Graphics, Impact racing, Racing Optics, BR Motorsports, Snap On, Izzie's Body Shop, TriCo Welding Supplies, Weld Racing, TP Wings, ButlerBuilt, JEI and Shark Racing Engines.