Mason Moore drives Friends & Family Racing sprinter to $5000 victory at Mark Forni Classic Saturday night in Placerville
By Gary Thomas
Placerville, CA – July 19, 2010…Following a season filled with various tough luck and issues hampering his chances at getting into victory lane Princeton, California’s Mason Moore put it all behind him on Saturday night and raced to the biggest triumph of his young sprint car career by claiming victory at Placerville Speedway’s Mark Forni Classic.
The win was Moore’s very first at the Placerville Speedway and was awarded with a handsome $5,000 for his efforts behind the wheel of the Friends & Family Racing, Roseville Precision, Levin’s Auto Supply No. x1 A.R.T. sprinter. It also marked his very first triumph since joining the Alan Bradway/Steve Tuccelli owned team in late 2008.
“This whole team really deserves the win and I’m definitely glad we could get our first one on Mark Forni night because I can’t think of a better way to do it,” said Moore. “I just love racing for the F&F guys and can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me the last couple years. We’ve been really fast all year long and to finally get on the front stretch was a great feeling.”
The 19-year-old driver began the evening on Saturday by going out last in the qualifying order and with a drying track timed in 10th fastest overall, before finishing third in his heat race to transfer into the main event. The luck of the draw then found Moore on the pole for the 25-lap feature and when the green flag waved he jumped into the lead and looked to pull away from the field.
With lapped traffic approaching Moore proceeded to methodically pick his way through the slower cars and keep the rest of the field at bay aboard the expertly prepared NOS Energy Drink, Red Line Oil, CRV Carbon Solutions No. x1 mount. As the race wound down the youngster continued to hit his marks on the high-banked red clay quarter-mile and held off all challengers to record the $5000 victory and also earn his third career sprint car victory.
"I was a little worried in traffic that Herman Klein might find something on top and get around me, but I knew the bottom was better so I stuck there and it paid off,” commented Moore. “My guys gave me a great race car like they have been all year long so I have to give a big thanks to all of them. It was also great to have the Forni family there to share the victory with and it was really nice meeting them all."
Team co-owner Tuccelli also shared his thoughts following the race. "I am so proud of Mason and this entire team here tonight, this is just incredible," said Tuccelli in a track press release. "Last year was tough for all of us but we have always believed that we have one of the best drivers in the sport in Mason, we believed in him from the start and now you can see why. He did an outstanding job tonight, this whole team did."
Moore will now look to take the momentum into this weekend with a double-header of action on deck starting this Friday night at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, where he will climb back aboard his family-owned Rolling Hills Casino, Moore Insurance Services No. 22 sprinter. During his most recent start at the quarter-mile track the Princeton, CA driver brought home a runner up finish to Sean Becker in the feature and this Friday will be in search of his first win of the year at the track.
Then on Saturday Moore will return to the seat of the F&F Racing machine for the eighth round of competition with the California Sprint Car Civil War Series, which will be held at the Petaluma Speedway. Going into the night the former series Rookie of the Year ranks fourth in the standings, 21-markers back of current leader Andy Forsberg, with the busiest stretch of the season coming up over the next few weeks.
For more info on Mason Moore and the Friends & Family Racing team log onto http://www.fnfracing.com
Driving the Friends & Family Racing No. x1 A.R.T. sprinter Princeton, CA's Mason Moore scored the biggest victory of his career on Saturday night at Placerville Speedway's $5,000-to-win Mark Forni Classic. Photo by Steve Lamothe of http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
- Gary Thomas on Jul 19, 2010
- Article Date: 7/19/2010