SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (March 12, 2011) – The inaugural race for the USAC Western Classic Racing Series at Silver Dollar Speedway, dubbed the “John Padjen Classic”, saw Bill Rose win in the Sprint Car division with Kody Swanson winning a thrilling Midget race that was co-sanctioned by the Bay Cities Racing Association.
A solid crowd braved cold temperatures to honor retired promoter John Padjen with 29 Sprint Cars and 21 Midgets in the pit area. The event marked the return of USAC Sprint Car events to the Chico, CA quarter-mile oval for the first time since 1996. A mix of both 360 and 410 cubic inch Sprint Cars competed with a mix of each running at the front throughout the night.
Rose, from Plainfield, IN, started alongside Jim Richardson for the 30 lap Sprint Car feature that started 27 cars. A violent flip on the opening lap slowed action when Todd Miller, Jr. made contact with Kyle Hirst. Miller’s car climbed 10 feet in the air, and Hirst had to head to the pits forcing him to the rear of the field. On the restart, Orangevale’s Matt Sherman also got upside down in turn two.
Finally the event got underway with Rose taking the lead from Richardson. 2010 USAC National Driver’s Champion Bryan Clauson began to tear through the field from sixth on the grid. On lap seven, Jason York came to a stop in turn two to draw a caution.
Rose led to lap 21 before Clauson took over the lead in a wild battle down the backstretch. On lap 22, Clauson attempted to split a pair of lapped cars, but the Noblesville, IN resident made contact with Jerry Kobza. Clauson spun and his rear hooked up with Kobza’s rear. Clauson was dragged backwards down the front stretch before they came to a stop.
Clauson was unable to refire, and Rose reassumed the lead over Roseville’s Colby Copeland, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg, and Hirst.
Rose persevered through a series of a late race restarts to fend off Hirst and Copeland for the $2,000 victory. Forsberg finished fourth while 13-time King of the West champion Brent Kaeding came home fifth driving for Alan Kaiser. Copeland, 18, plans to contend for the USAC Western Classic Racing Series title in 2011 and was making only his fourth career non-wing start.
Clauson set a new track record with a qualifying time of 13.566 seconds. Heat race wins went to Clauson, Forsberg, Folsom’s Jerry Kobza, and Hirst.
The Kaeding Performance Award for the first non-transfer car was not to be awarded due to the semi-main not being held. USAC officials elected to award the $50 gift certificate to Todd Miller, Jr. following his accident.
The USAC Western Midget feature, co-sanctioned by BCRA, brought down the house with one of the closest finishes in recent memory.
Hometown favorite Dillon Silverman led the field to green in his Eco-Tec powered Midget and fended off challenges to lead the first five laps. Kingsburg’s Kody Swanson, who finished third in the 2010 USAC Silver Crown points, moved his TOYOTA to the top spot on lap five.
Clauson, who grabbed the track record in the Midgets as well with a 14.498 second lap, charged from tenth on the grid. Swanson encountered lapped traffic late in the race and his lead quickly evaporated.
Coming through to the checkered flag, Clauson made a wide bid on the outside for the victory eventually falling short by only a few inches. The crowd roared in approval as Swanson was announced as the winner. The young California-born drivers will be racing together throughout 2011 as each will be running on a regular basis in all three USAC national series.
Scott Pierovich, Shannon McQueen, and Tanner Swanson rounded out the top-five. Heat race wins went to Clauson, Prickett, and Streeter.
The USAC Western Classic Racing Series will now switch gears as the traditional Sprint Car series will race on pavement for its next four races. The pavement swing will kick off on April 2nd with the Gerhardt Classic at Madera Speedway. More than 20 cars are expected to be in attendance including Gerhardt’s grandson Cody Gerhardt who is racing for the pavement division championship.
More information on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series is available on Facebook at keywords “USAC Western Classic Racing Series”. The United States Auto Club is online at www.usacracing.com The USAC Western States is available at www.usacwesternstates.com with contact information and the latest news.
The USAC Western Classic Racing Series is brought to you by: Amsoil, Hoosier Tires West, and Kaeding Performance.
- Steven Blakesley on Mar 12, 2011
- Article Date: 3/12/2011