From The
Grandstand
by Ron Rodda
May 16, 2007
Lincoln, CA ~ The 2nd weekend of May was all Chico and two nights at Silver Dollar
Speedway, the reason being a regular Friday night point show followed by the big David
Bradway Jr. Memorial race. The weekend provided two dramatic nights of high-banked
entertainment with large fields, great weather, and a very
successful Golden State Challenge series debut for a 14 year old.
When Golden State run Chico on Saturday, their Friday point show field is always larger
and what was, I believe, a track record car count graced the first night when 39 winged
sprints were joined by 24 nonwing spec sprints and 10 modifieds. Jonathan Allard set quick
time, a seemingly regular thing for the younger Allard brother, and the usual group of
prelims filled the 20-car main. Allard's 11.965 came as the 30th car out.
Inverting six put Stephen Allard and Australia based Trevor Green on the front row. Green
grabbed the lead, followed by S. Allard and J. Allard due to his great initial effort off
of turn 2. Two reds and 4 yellows got in the way with a tip over by Kyle Hirst on lap 6
being the first.
Ronnie Day (1) and Ric McCormick (9) were at Chico Friday
When J. Allard's steering broke Sean Becker moved to 3rd and used the top of the first set
of turns to driver past S. Allard for 2nd as the race was in its final stages. Green's
apparent drive to a win ended when he impacted the turn 4 tractor tire coming to the white
flag and damaged his front end. Green managed to hold the lead until turn 3, somehow
driving his 11AU entry still, but slid into the infield and found some more tractor tires.
Becker took advantage yet again and won the main ahead of Brad Sweet who made a late race
pass on the top of turn 2 to leave S. Allard 3rd.
Greg DeCaires had a new car at the Friday Chico show
The spec sprints inverted two off of their heat finishes and had a remarkable main
themselves. Former wing driver, Sparky Howard, led for 9 of their 20 laps while 18th
starting Darrell Hanestad moved steadily frontward. Entering turn 3 on lap 10, Hanestad
swept under Howard for the winning pass and led the last 11 laps for the win. Howard
finished 2nd and last week's winner, Brandon Davis, took 3rd.
The spec sprints were back to last year's antics during the B main when nobody was staged
so the five transfers became the first five cars to appear and the race was not run. Given
the curfew and car count, there was no time to sit waiting and the division needs to be
ready when called. Nine cars were possible for the B main and the main winner, Hanestad,
was the 3rd car out for the B main so he got a transfer by being ready and won the main
later.
One of the most exciting drivers to watch this season, whether a 360 or 410 race, has been
20-year-old Brandon Wimmer. A lifelong resident of Fairmont IN, Wimmer first raced karts
at age five on dirt ovals, collecting around 70 wins before moving into mini sprints at
age 13. His first mini sprint win came at Camden IN and his two-year career in that
division saw about 10 wins.
When 15 Wimmer moved into full size sprints, beginning this phase of his career at
Talladega Dirt Track. His grandfather, Tom Wimmer, had previously fielded cars for such
notables as Jeff Swindell, Joe Gaerte, and Greg Hodnett and provided the equipment for
Brandon to get started. His first win came at Zanesville OH at Muskingum County Speedway,
one of 7 wins to date. Three of those wins have been this year in the Golden State.
Brandon Wimmer with his 1K ride
This year's team formed when Rod Tiner called him to race in the 2006 Trophy Cup, a
venture that led to this year's team being created. Wimmer likes the larger tracks that
offer more room but lists two smaller ovals among his three favorites of Kokomo,
Bloomington, and Eldora.
Residing in Sloughouse, he gets back to the Hoosier state about twice a month and stays
busy working both on the car and on his business administration degree through Indiana
Wesleyan University. He raced nonwing once at Gas City and, although the experience was
fine, he prefers the higher speed of winged racing.
The team is not running for points at any track or series, instead preferring to pick and
choose where to race. He will be in CA until the end of July before focusing on the
Knoxville Nationals and following the Outlaw tour the rest of their season.
The following night's GSC event drew 47 cars and displayed the best set of heats I have
ever enjoyed at Chico. The track has a low and high groove and more passing in the first
heat alone was enjoyed than what a fast, tacky track would have produced in all 4 heats
combined. The action was absolutely fantastic and it was unfortunate that the track took
rubber later and the A main was far less racy.
Willie Croft took another turn at fast time with his 12.460 about a half second slower
than the night prior. Brad Sweet, Sean Becker, and Colby Wiesz won heats from their row 3
assignments and Brandon Wimmer probably would have made it four but troubles put him in a
loaded C main and first year winged driver, Evan Suggs, won the 4th heat. Suggs has had
success in nonwing ventures and is rapidly adjusting to the winged side.
The GSC format puts finishers 9 on back into the C main so an amazing lineup had both
Allard brothers, Wimmer, Jason Statler, Ricky Fauver, former track champion John Gray as
examples of a talent laden C main. With the last lap not raced due to a yellow checker,
Wimmer and S. Allard transferred and Statler's team was not happy a final restart was not
held. J. Allard broke again, a rear end part this time, to end his frustrating weekend.
The dash, an activity I don't appreciate, raced the top 8 that had made a heat transfer
and Brent Kaeding won over Ronnie Day so those two veterans would fill the front row.
Joined by the other 8 heat transfers plus six out of the B main, the 22 car field was set
for 40 laps and $4000 to win, plus $100 per lap to be spread over the top 3.
Brent Kaeding led all 40 laps to win over Brad Sweet and Andy Forsberg in a race that had
some moments but was anti-climatic when compared to the amazing heat race entertainment.
Brent, off of the pole, had some pressure at times from Sweet, coming from outside row 2,
while Forsberg kept plugging along for 3rd from his 8th starting spot. Traffic added some
drama but Sweet getting a nose under Kaeding a bit was as far as it would go towards a
pass. By leading all 40 laps, Kaeding's win was a $6000 outing.
The story behind the weekend was provided by 14-year-old Kyle Larson
from Elk Grove. The very talented outlaw kart racer moved into winged sprints this year,
running the David Vertullo owned entry, and had 3 nights at Placerville in his diary.
Friday was his first time on the Silver Dollar clay, running a 360 vs. the larger engines
and he drove smoothly, running 7th in his heat and B main.
Saturday things turned out differently and fans that were not aware of the young driver
are now. Still running 50 cubic inches less than almost everyone else, Larson qualified
26th quick to just miss the inversion. Starting 7th in his heat, Larson finished an
amazing 2nd with luck helping when J. Allard and Statler were DNF's, and the young driver
was locked in to a GSC main his first time running the series.
In the main Kyle ran 40 smooth laps, avoiding all the tangles and superbly holding his
line to earn a 9th place spot from his 18th starting spot. He drives with patience and
maturity far beyond his years and obviously adapted well to the Chico clay. His success
added to an already thrilling weekend of great racing at Silver Dollar.
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