[i By Bill Sullivan/Sullivan Images Media]
[b PLACERVILLE, CA (3-27-10)] – Over the past two season's Penngrove's Alissa Geving has competed on a number of different racetracks in California, North Carolina and Oklahoma. In her young successful racing career one of her more challenging tracks has always been the high banked Placerville Speedway bullring. After Saturday's Golden State Challenge Series opener, 18-year-old Geving sees the red clay bullring in a different light then before.
"This place just hasn't been good to me in the past," said Geving. "We would come here with high hopes of just finishing a main event without incident and just couldn't seem to get the job done. Tonight we finally got to the checkered flag and picked up a top ten at Placerville. This place is a lot of fun once you get a little used to it."
Geving was one of 22 cars in competition for the event for the Golden State Challenge Series, California's premier series for 410 cubic inch powered winged sprint cars. For Geving, limited sponsorship funds and her busy schedule in the Civil War Series and her home track of Petaluma Speedway allows for little time to compete in the tour with the likes of Brent Kaeding, Jonathan Allard and Jason Statler. If Saturday's drive into the top ten is any indication of Geving's ability to run with California's big dogs the Kings of California surely will be seeing more of her in the future.
"I love running this series," said Geving. "I would love to run this tour fulltime but it's a lot of traveling and we just don't have those kind of resources to field a 410 fulltime right now. But any chance I get to race with these guys during the year I'm surely taking it."
Saturday night Geving drove her Tillet Tool-Matt Cordeiro Enterprises-Pit Stop USA to the 15th position in qualifying with a 10:602 second lap on the quarter-mile. In the third 10-lap heat race of the evening the two time Petaluma Speedway All Pro Champion finished fifth and then set her sights on the 30-lap feature event.
In the feature race Geving lined up deep in the field, on the inside of the eighth row with Zach Zimmerly on the outside of her. With the waving of the green flag she took the reigns of an ill handeling car, still extremely tight as the heavily soaked track had still not completely come in to match the set up on the car.
Midway through the race it was apparent that the track had adjusted well to the set up of Geving's #3x Maxim as she began to rally through the field. Despite a scary moment that took her up the backstretch hill and broke a shock, she continued to press forward with her determination to garner that official Placerville Speedway finish that has eluded the team for some time.
When the checkered flag waved Geving came across the line in the ninth finishing position. While it wasn't a victory, for Geving it felt like a season long championship as she finally shed the Placerville Speedway "monkey" from her back.
"The car was really good tonight, it was a little tight at first but I knew it would improve as the track came in a little more and it did," she said. "The back hill deal was kinda scary, I was thinking for a minute maybe I wasn't going to get that finish I wanted so bad but I was able to keep it on the track and got the job done."
Prior to Saturday's race, Geving met a number of area race fans and Placerville residents in Historic Downtown Placerville at RPM Photo Gallery and Executive Barber Studio. Geving was invited to an autograph session by are photographer and artist Phil Hamilton who supports Placerville Speedway with man special events such as this.
"I really want to thank Phil for inviting me to his place on Saturday," said Geving. "It was great meeting a lot of the fans and kids in downtown Placerville. I really appreciate him giving me that opportunity to do that."
Following Saturday's GSC event, Geving will now focus on the 2010 All Pro Series Championship at Petaluma Speedway which begins this Saturday, April 3rd at the track now bannered the "Wine Country's Center of Speed." Geving will chase a third consecutive title at the North Bay track where she could join David Lindt. Jr. as just the second driver to win three such titles.
Chicko Motorsports would like to thank their dedicated marketing partners including, Tillett Tool, Matt Cordeiro Enterprises, Pit Stop USA, and Auto Repairs Unlimited. Additional sponsors include K&N Filters, Napa Auto Parts, Flowmaster Mufflers, Allstar Performance, Santa Rosa Auto Parts, A1A Performance Muffler,Jeremy's Chair Repair, Afex Graphics, Simpson Racing Products, 21st Century Health Club, Butler Specialtys, Vanlare Steering Repair, Pro Shocks, ALC Machine, JW Web Design and Sullivan Images Media Specialties.
To learn more about Alissa Geving or her Chicko Motorsports Team can learn more at their website at www.chick-o-motorsports.com. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact team owner Gary Geving at: gary3x@yahoo.com.
[i This press release is a production of Sullivan Images Media, www.sullivanimages.net, for Chicko Motorsports 2010.]
- Bill Sullivan on Mar 28, 2010
- Article Date: 3/28/2010