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ROSE AND SWANSON SNARE “JOHN PADJEN
CLASSIC” GOLD AT CHICO
SACRAMENTO,
CALIFORNIA (March 12, 2011) – The inaugural race for the USAC Western Classic Racing Series at
Silver Dollar Speedway, dubbed the “John Padjen Classic”, saw Bill Rose win in
the Sprint Car division with Kody Swanson winning a thrilling Midget race that
was co-sanctioned by the Bay Cities Racing Association.
A solid
crowd braved cold temperatures to honor retired promoter John Padjen with 29
Sprint Cars and 21 Midgets in the pit area.The event marked the return of USAC Sprint Car events to the Chico, CA quarter-mile oval for the first
time since 1996.A mix of both 360 and
410 cubic inch Sprint Cars competed with a mix of each running at the front
throughout the night.
Rose, from Plainfield, IN, started alongside Jim Richardson
for the 30 lap Sprint Car feature that started 27 cars.A violent flip on the opening lap slowed
action when Todd Miller, Jr. made contact with Kyle Hirst.Miller’s car climbed 10 feet in the air, and Hirst
had to head to the pits forcing him to the rear of the field.On the restart, Orangevale’s Matt Sherman also got upside down
in turn two.
Finally the
event got underway with Rose taking the lead from Richardson.2010 USAC National Driver’s Champion Bryan Clauson began to tear through
the field from sixth on the grid.On lap
seven, Jason York came to a stop in turn two to draw a caution.
Rose led to
lap 21 before Clauson took over the lead in a wild battle down the backstretch.
On lap 22, Clauson attempted to split a
pair of lapped cars, but the Noblesville, IN resident made contact with Jerry
Kobza.Clauson spun and his rear hooked
up with Kobza’s rear.Clauson was
dragged backwards down the front stretch before they came to a stop.
Clauson was
unable to refire, and Rose reassumed the lead over Roseville’s Colby Copeland, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, and Hirst.
Rose
persevered through a series of a late race restarts to fend off Hirst and
Copeland for the $2,000 victory.Forsberg
finished fourth while 13-time King of the West champion Brent Kaeding came home
fifth driving for Alan Kaiser.Copeland,
18, plans to contend for the USAC Western Classic Racing Series title in 2011
and was making only his fourth career non-wing start.
Clauson set
a new track record with a qualifying time of 13.566 seconds.Heat race wins went to Clauson, Forsberg,
Folsom’s Jerry Kobza, and Hirst.
The Kaeding
Performance Award for the first non-transfer car was not to be awarded due to
the semi-main not being held.USAC
officials elected to award the $50 gift certificate to Todd Miller, Jr.
following his accident.
The USAC
Western Midget feature, co-sanctioned by BCRA, brought down the house with one
of the closest finishes in recent memory.
Hometown
favorite Dillon Silverman led the field to green in his Eco-Tec powered Midget
and fended off challenges to lead the first five laps.Kingsburg’s Kody Swanson, who finished third
in the 2010 USAC Silver Crown points, moved his TOYOTA to the top spot on lap five.
Clauson,
who grabbed the track record in the Midgets as well with a 14.498 second lap,
charged from tenth on the grid.Swanson encountered
lapped traffic late in the race and his lead quickly evaporated.
Coming
through to the checkered flag, Clauson made a wide bid on the outside for the
victory eventually falling short by only a few inches.The crowd roared in approval as Swanson was
announced as the winner.The young
California-born drivers will be racing together throughout 2011 as each will be
running on a regular basis in all
three USAC national series.
Scott
Pierovich, Shannon McQueen, and Tanner Swanson rounded out the top-five.Heat race wins went to Clauson, Prickett, and
Streeter.
The USAC
Western Classic Racing Series will now switch gears as the traditional Sprint
Car series will race on pavement for its next four races.The pavement swing will kick off on April 2nd
with the Gerhardt Classic at Madera Speedway.More than 20 cars are expected to be in attendance including Gerhardt’s
grandson Cody Gerhardt who is racing for the pavement division championship.
More
information on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series is available on Facebook
at keywords “USAC Western Classic Racing Series”.The United States Auto Club is online at www.usacracing.comThe USAC Western States is available at www.usacwesternstates.com with contact information and the
latest news.
The USAC
Western Classic Racing Series is brought to you by: Amsoil, Hoosier Tires West,
and Kaeding Performance.
www.stevenblakesley.com
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