This message was edited on
September 29, 2009 at
02:23:37 PM by Gary Thomas
Photo's courtesy http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
Sean Becker wins 5th main event of Civil War season to cap second consecutive series championship
By Gary Thomas
Placerville, CA – September 29, 2009…With the Civil War title wrapped up entering the night at the Placerville Speedway this past Saturday veteran sprint car driver Sean Becker focused on one thing and that was to win his fifth series main event of the season.
The Oroville racer proceeded to not disappoint as he took the lead from good friend Kyle Hirst on lap 11 and withstood a final lap challenge from former Civil War champ Mike Henry to tally his fifth A-main victory of the season with the traveling 360 tour and put an exclamation point on his second straight championship. It also marked the ninth overall win of the year for the former King of California and Silver Dollar Speedway titlist.
Driving the Robinson Engineering, Cherry St. Mini Storage, A.R.T. Enterprise, Scott Miller owned No. 2sb sprinter Becker dominated the California Sprint Car Civil War Series season and in 14-starts accumulated five feature wins, nine top-five finishes, 11 top-tens and four fast time efforts. "This has just been a great year for us and it's been a lot fun to be able to drive for this team because the communication is so great," Becker said. "Everyone gets along really well and every time I hit the track I know that I'm going to have a good car under me. This team is the real reason for our success and the accomplishments we've had the last couple years and I just try to point the car in the right direction."
Entering the weekend with an insurmountable 104-point lead in the Civil War standings Becker was certain to be a lock in becoming a back-to-back champion as he headed to the Ocean Speedway on Friday night for the penultimate event of the season with the series. After qualifying third quickest in the 41-car field to begin the night the "Shark" lined-up from the inside of the second row in the main event, but didn't wait long to move into second after just a couple of laps. Becker then closed in on leader Mike Henry as traffic came into play and made his move on lap nine slipping underneath the No. 18 sprint car to take the top spot away.
Slicing and dicing their way through traffic the two drivers then ran nose-to-tail among the lappers until Henry was able to get under Becker on lap 15 in the exact same spot to move back to the point. Finding himself in second once again Becker stayed "up on the wheel" and charged back around Henry the next lap by to re-take command of the race, but disaster struck in the first and second corners when the rear-end came around and resulted in him spinning to a stop. He would restart and began making his way back forward though the pack, until getting into another spin to put an end to the night with just four laps remaining in the race.
On Saturday evening Becker headed to the Placerville Speedway for the final night of the California Sprint Car Civil War Series season and qualified strong yet again by turning the second quickest lap of the 28-entrants on hand. He then started from the pole position in the main event and settled into second early on behind leader Kyle Hirst. Fighting through a number of caution and red flag periods the 28-year-old veteran kept at it and would close in on Hirst with 10 laps down and then carve his way around the youngster on lap 11 to move into the lead.
Once out in front Becker was untouchable and the only thing seemingly able to slow him down was the inordinate amount of stoppages, which totaled an amazing 14 for the 30-lap contest. A green-white-checkered restart was seen with 28 laps down and it resulted in the only challenge he was forced to deal with as Mike Henry made a final lap charge, but Becker, known for his smoothness and consistency, hit his marks on the final set of corners and crossed under the flagstand for victory. "With the way Friday went it's great to come out here and get another win tonight," Becker said. "The track got real tough late in the race and with one slip-up Mike could have got me so hopefully the fans got a good show at the end."
18th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals up next:
Next up for Becker and the Scott Miller Racing No. 2sb team will be this weekend's 18th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals at the Silver Dollar Speedway. In his most recent 360 start at the track the "Shark" raced to victory in the Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational and also picked-up another Civil War win at the quarter-mile during the annual Fair Race on Memorial Day weekend. Becker's career best finish at the Fall Nationals came in 2003 when he finished sixth in the 40-lap finale and he'll look to put his name towards the front of the pack this weekend during the $6,000 to win event.
"Chico has always been a great track to me and the Fall Nationals is a race I'd definitely like to get on my resume," said the 2005 track champion. "I just can't fully express to everyone how lucky I am to be a part of the 2sb team and I can't thank them enough for not only keeping me racing, but making us so competitive every week at any track. I have to thank all of our sponsors, as well as give special thanks to Jim Riolo, Scooter Lambert, Riolo Race Engines, my car owner Scott Miller and everyone who supports us. Hopefully the momentum from this past weekend will carry into the Fall Nationals and we can get this car up front and have a good finish."
More info on the Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals can be found at http://www.silverdollarspeedway.com
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Oroville's Sean Becker concluded the California Sprint Car Civil War Series season in style this past Saturday by racing to his fifth main event win of the season with the traveling circuit to finish off his second consecutive championship. Becker ended the Civil War season with a 95-point edge over second in points Brett Rollag.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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Becker this year also finished fifth in the Feather Falls Casino weekly 410 standings at the Silver Dollar Speedway, while competing in 11 of the 13 events aboard the Steve Harris Racing, Brian Sperry No. 51 sprint car. Becker picked up one victory and seven top-five finishes in the weekly series and is shown here getting around the SDS bullring during the Gold Cup Race of Champions, where be brought home a ninth place finish in the World of Outlaw sanctioned event.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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