From The Grandstand

by Ron Rodda
April 15, 2008


Lincoln, CA   The 2nd weekend of April produced fantastic weather and a teenage domination on the Northern California sprint car scene. The March rainout at Placerville for the Civil War opener for winged 360s started things off with a very rare midweek race in this state. Placerville hosted the series opener on a pleasant Wednesday evening and a decent crowd plus a 42 car field made for a successful evening.

Andy Forsberg set another fast time at 10.428, taking advantage of being the 2nd car out. However, being among the faster was not the ticket this night as 5 of the top 6 qualifiers did not transfer out of the heat. Some bent machinery in the preliminary races was just a token of what was to come once the 22 car field was set for the 30 lap main.

A 6 inversion put Brad Furr and James Sweeney on the front row for what was to be a main with no yellows, but a crunching 6 reds with a total of 8 cars getting upside down on the Placerville clay. Five cars going over in the first 6 laps would mean, at that rate, not enough finishers to fill the podium. Luckily, only 3 more were added to the total over the last 24 laps.

Sweeney got the good start to lead over David Robinson, Jr. until the driver known as Powerfeed drove under Sweeney into turn one on lap 6 to lead for some distance. Kyle Hirst, starting 10th, used a momentum pass via the top of turns 3 and 4 to sweep past Robinson and lead the last 10 laps for the win. Robinson held for 2nd and Forsberg was 3rd in the final analysis.

Two days later was the 2nd point race at Chico and an excellent field of 34 winged 410s was assisted by 19 nonwing spec sprints and 10 modifieds. Willie Croft was fast time, a 11.613 effort, and a quartet of heats plus the obligatory B main set a 20 car field for 25 laps.

A six inversion put Mason Moore and Andy Gregg on the front row. Moore, a 17 year old who trained in the outlaw kart tour, drove a perfect race to lead all 25 for his first ever sprint car win on a special night for Chico. The winner's share was a nice $3,000 as the evening was dedicated to Bill Brownell. This memorial event had been rained out March 28th and Moore's career first added to the special occasion.

Last year's track champion, Stephen Allard, is without a Chico ride but did fill the seat in the 35A car for a week and was 2nd initially until his brother, Jonathan Allard, drove past him on the bottom of turn 2. Stephen regained the spot in the same lower turn 2 area and finished 2nd ahead of 12th starting Brent Kaeding in the Dan Menne car.

The spec sprints were again dominated by Terry Schank, Jr. with his n nearly wire to wire run claiming his 2nd in a row at Chico. Billy Wallace was 2nd with a end of race pass of Taylor Simas who settled for 3rd. Simas did lead lap 11 until Schank used the top of turn 4 to regain the spot one lap later.

Saturday was the night for more youthful success, starting with Shane Golobic's win at Watsonville in the Golden State Challenge series. Driving the Joe Von Schriltz car, the teenager led all 30 laps after having earned the pole with a dash win. Von Schriltz was a sometimes competitor at the long gone but never forgotten San Jose Speedway at the fairgrounds in the big city.

More teenage noteworthy performances on Saturday occurred in Petaluma where Alissa Geving was fast time over a 40 car Civil War field. Sean Becker won the Petaluma main from the pole, a spot he gained when Kyle Hirst scratched with engine problems. Geving was 6th after winning the B main and yet another teenager, Kyle Larson was 3rd after battling David Robinson, Jr. for many laps. Willie Croft took 2nd at what was an unusually mild evening in Petaluma, normally a location whose temperature is ruled by the Pacific Ocean.

I was back in Placerville on Saturday as the combination of midgets, mini sprints, and spec sprints, all without wings, was the draw. The BCRA sanctioned midgets drew 21 cars, led by Robbie Flock in time trials with his 11.619 being about a second slower than the winged 360s turn on the quarter.

Their 25 lap main mirrored the evening as few flags other then green, white, and checker were needed and the five division show was done before 9:30. Travis Berryhill led the midget main for 9 laps before Flock took over for the remainder. Matt Streeter took 2nd with about 5 to go and Scott Pierovich was even later in grabbing the 3rd podium spot in the well raced show. Flock pressured Berryhill for several laps before the pass and Berryhill stayed with the midget veteran to keep the race very entertaining.

Only a dozen midget lites, or mini sprints, were on hand for the BCRA sanction and Doug Nunes claimed the win from 5th starting. Marshall Sexton and Cameron Beard were next across the line. Beard, the son of the late legendary racer Lloyd Beard, did not have his spec sprint finished to drive this night, plus his son, Zach, now has a mini sprint to keep the family busy. Zach was not in competition this night but served as crew chief for dad.

The spec sprints had 17 on hand and ran a finishing point/passing point format, then drew an inversion for their main. Keith Bloom, another teenage driver showing great talent in spec sprints, was high point after the heats, winning his 8 lap event from 7th starting, then drew an 8 pill. This put the veteran Darrell Hanestad, on the pole, a dangerous plan for anyone else who has aspirations about winning the man.

Hanestad led all the way with Bloom gaining 2nd before the midway point, a spot he maintained until the finish with Cody Myers finishing 3rd. Bloom was able to pressure Hanestad to make things interesting. Bloom, yet another winged kart competitor, is still in his teens and has become a top driver on the spec sprint scene.

It was a unique mix of youth and veteran success over the weekend, a story that will likely continue throughout the season on the Northern California sprint car scene.