[i By Bill Sullivan, Handy Racing Promotions Media Relations]
[b QUINCY, CA (6-19-10)] - The Hoosier Racing Tires Civil War Sprint Car Series made it's sole appearance of the year at American Valley Speedway on the Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy Saturday night. When the checkered flag waved at this scenic 3/8 mile dirt track, Steven Tiner of Visalia celebrated his first win of the year.
"I didn't even know I had won," said Tiner, who earned the win in lapped traffic of an event that went non stop from green flag to checkered flag. "I thought I was like fifth or fourth and I was happy with that. We got mixing it up in lapped traffic and I started so far back I really didn't know who the leader was."
Tiner started 12th in Saturday's 30-lap feature event. The youngest sprint car racer in the family so well known for its success in open wheel racing in California was one of few drivers that found some magic at the waving of the green flag to advance his way through the field.
When the green flag waved on Saturday night Justin Sanders led the field to the green flag with hometown favorite Jim Richardson starting on the outside of the front row. Richardson muscled off the outside starting position to take the lead from Sanders and remained out front for the first 20-laps of the race.
With no caution delays throughout the event lapped traffic quickly became a factor. On the 21st lap Sanders took advantage of the traffic and passed Richardson for the lead as he became caught up in the thicket of lapped cars, allowing both Sanders and Tiner to scoot to the front along with Stephen Allard.
"Everyone came up to me and asked me if I fell out of the seat tonight," said Richarsdson. "I could of raced for 100 laps. I just got caught behind some slower cars and didn't make the right decisions. Once those top three got by me I was racing Becker for the fourth spot. I could have squeezed him but that guy is running for a championship and I didn't want to ruin his chances. I take a top five in this series any day. I really want to thank all the wonderful fans in our area for coming out tonight and supporting sprint car racing."
Tiner held off Allard to the line while Sanders finished in the third positions. Before a cheering crowd, many of which were members of the well known Tiner family, Tiner celebrated his first win of the season and first career victory at the Quincy track.
"I have to thank my family for all their support, there's a lot of them up here tonight for this race," said Tiner. "Randy "Boo" Tiner even made it out to watch me tonight and I am really excited that they all got to see me win."
A total of 33 sprint cars turned out for Saturday's race. The car count was an all time record for the somewhat new American Valley Speedway and the management of the facility was very pleased with the strong showing. The event also featured a racer bbq sponsored by Mike and Juni Monahan of Superior Hydraulics and was a generous display of great hospitality for those that came up early for Friday night practice.
In preliminary action Saturday night Herman Klein led all 12 laps of the B-feature and lead Tiner across the line along with point leader Andy Forsberg. Andy Gregg finished in fourth place over Brad Bumgarner and David Silveria who all transferred into the 30-lap feature event.
Heat races were claimed by Mike Henry, Trent Canales, Colby Weisz and Jeremy Burt. In qualifying, Klein picked up the fastest lap of the night with a 16:541 second lap. Robbie Whitchurch was second with a 16:802 over Tiner who turned in a 16:830.
Following Saturday's event Forsberg continues to lead the point standings in the Civil War Series by a 14-point advantage over Henry and Klein. Mason Moore and Sean Becker rounds out the top five in the standings after five events.
The next round of the Civil War Series will be on Saturday, July 3rd at Petaluma Speedway for round 6. The series will then head to one of its highest paying regular events on Saturday, July 31 for the annual "Family Auto Center Tribute to Al Hinds" at Placerville Speedway. The July 31 event will pay $3000 to the winner and will wrap up an entire afternoon of racing activities in the community with a giant fan sprint car show at the area auto dealership along with live music and a barbecue.
Participants for the upcoming race car display are now being sought and teams wishing to participate should contact the track business office at (916) 969-7484 to rsvp or email bsullivan@handyracingpromotions.com to show your support to the longtime race sponsor.
For further information on this upcoming event visit or the Civil War Sprint Car Series visit www.civilwarsprints.com. The Civil War Series is managed by Handy Racing Promotions Inc. in cooperation with the participating tracks on the tour including Petaluma Speedway, Calistoga Speedway, Silver Dollar Speedway, American Valley Speedway and Ocean Speedway. Learn more about this exciting traveling series at their official website today.
- Bill Sullivan on Jun 21, 2010
- Article Date: 6/21/2010