Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

"The Shark" takes bite out of Petaluma

By Gary Thomas

Petaluma, CA - May 26, 2007... Oroville’s Sean Becker continued his outstanding season Friday night at the Petaluma Speedway as he picked up his second Golden State Challenge Series win of the season and eighth of his career. With the win Becker has taken sole possession of ninth on the all-time GSC win list and has moved to within one win of tying Ronnie Day for eighth.

Becker came into the night second in points and started from the pole of the 30 lap feature by way of his dash win aboard the Fisher/Main Motorsports, Cherry St. Mini Storage, Rolling Hills Reality No. 35m. At the waving of the green flag, however, it was Gilroy’s Jon Maiwald jumping out into the lead. Maiwald started from the front row for the first time in his career and used the momentum from the high side to shoot into the top spot.

The 3/8 mile track had remained hooked up all night and the racing was fast and furious early on. As traffic hit around lap seven it gave Becker a chance to close in, as well as Sacramento’s Willie Croft who had joined the fray and made it a three car battle up front. Maiwald continued to lead in his RPM Painting & Design, Speedmart, NOS Energy Drink No. 6m, but Becker and Croft were coming fast. A few laps before the midway point Becker used a beautiful high side pass off turn two and claimed the lead from Maiwald. Croft followed suit in turn three that same lap and moved the Holey Smokes BBQ, LRB Manufacturing, BR Motorsports No. 29 into the runner-up spot. The first caution of the race occurred on lap 18 as Ronnie Day slowed to a stop on the backstretch. At this point Becker had a three lap car cushion over the rest of the field as his No. 35m machine was dialed in.

The only thing slowing Becker the rest of the race was a couple more cautions and a red flag as he cruised on to pick up the victory. "The Shark" has also won three track point races at Silver Dollar Speedway this season so added together with his GSC wins he’s now got five total so far in 2007. The 26 year-old Outlaw Kart graduate continues to be on fire this season and goes into the Calistoga Speedway weekend looking for his first ever win at the ½ mile.

Campbell’s Brent Kaeding made a late race charge around Croft and ended up second in the Al’s Roofing Supply, Kaeding Performance, Williams Roofing No. 69. BK has amazingly not finished outside the top two in GSC competition since March 24 and was also the night’s fastest qualifier. Croft hung on for a third place finish and in the process moved into third in points. "Double Down" had a strong run and gave Becker a couple looks for second early on in this race, but just couldn’t get the opening in traffic to make the pass.

The fastest car late in the race had to be the Williams Motorsports, GT Trends, K & N Filters No. 0 of Chico’s Jonathan Allard. The defending King of California started from the fifth row and was getting around the high side better than anybody as the laps wound down. Allard had closed in on Croft & Kaeding with less than five laps left, but on lap 27 a red flag came out for Mark Workentine who had tripped over a spun car. After going back green he wasn’t able to make up any more ground and had to settle for a fourth place finish. Still it was the best run Allard has had with GSC in many weeks. Rounding out the top five was the Tom Rolfe Trucking, DF Rios Construction, Pheasant Run Shopping Center No. 10 of San Jose’s Jason Statler. "The Big Guy" started fourth and brought home his first top five finish since opening night in Chico.

Chico’s Brett Miller brought home a sixth place finish aboard the Care Free Pools No. 1x. The 17 year-old started off the night by qualifying second quick, his best career effort with the series. Maiwald slipped back to seventh by the finish but it was still the best night of his GSC career as he qualified well, finished second in the dash and led the first A-main laps of his career. Scotts Valley’s Evan Suggs turned in an eighth place finish aboard the Riley Collins Body Shop No. 33e. Suggs is getting quicker each week and showing great improvement as he has started to get the hang of driving a winged sprint car.

When available, full results will be at http://www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com

The Golden State Challenge Series now heads for two straight night’s of action at the Calistoga Speedway ½ mile dirt track. Tonight’s event will be the Salute to Walter T. Ross and tomorrow is the 24^th annual Tribute to Gary Patterson.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Sean Becker goes into the Calistoga weekend second in points. Photo by Johns Racing Photos

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Way to point out that Jon led the first 13 laps. You spend too much propin your press release customers.

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Jealous stu?

no, just wanna read a race report that tells the story.

Not at Stoga CW?

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dang! Just went and looked Robbie and the Petaluma results still arent posted. Oh and the schedule page is missing the links for the Tulare results which are on the results page. Not bitching, just pointing it out.

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Well uh, did you read the release? This is just part of it.

"Maiwald slipped back to seventh by the finish but it was still the best night of his GSC career as he qualified well, finished second in the dash and led the first A-main laps of his career."

Sorry dude but at least be at the race to make a comment like that.

It was a good run for Jon the first half of the race and you can definitely see the improvement week by week.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com