By Bill Sullivan/Sullivan Images Media
ELK GROVE, CA – Although the results at the end of the night didn't show it, Elk Grove's Billy Strange Jr. is still reeling the effects of a recent solid run at Placerville Speedway and hoping to carry that momentum into one of the season's biggest races of the year this Saturday. Strange is one of a elite group of drivers eligible to compete in the annual Mark Forni Classic at Placerville Speedway.
The Mark Forni Classic is an invitational point race at Placerville Speedway that pays tribute to Mark Forni, who lost his life after a courageous battle with cancer at just 44 years of age. Forni was a longtime contributor to the local racing community and served on the El Dorado County Fairboard in his final years to continue his support of the local track he truly loved since he was a youngster growing up on the Forni homestead that still sits within walking distance of the speedway.
"The Forni Classic is probably one of if not the most prestigious races at Placerville all season," said Strange, who will be one of 23 drivers eligible to compete for the $5000 win. "It's not just because of the money, or who's won it before. The Forni race celebrates someone in the racing community and to Placerville its self. Anytime a race can be tagged with someone's name like Mark Forni, it means something more. It means something to the community, to the people that knew him and to the racing family he was a part of. That's what makes this race special. It reminds us of not only Mark Forni himself, but also the people that Mark Forni reminds us of."
As he enters the highest paying point race of the season at the track he calls home, Strange is coming off of a recent run at Placerville Speedway that illustrated one of his best performances of the season. Although the end result kept him just out of the top ten, the evening saw the #28x sprint car become a contender with some of the best drivers in the state.
Competing in with the Hoosier Tires California Sprint Car Civil War Race Series before the largest crowd of the year celebrating the Independence Day weekend at Placerville, Strange faced the adversity of a dry slick race track that was challenging to many. While other drivers were struggling as early as qualifying, Strange and his team found the perfect set up for the event that resulted in a checkered flag early in the night.
With 46 cars on the roster, Strange claimed the 17th position in qualifying with a fast lap of 11.362 seconds. Entering his heat race, the second generation driver was well aware he needed to finish in the top four to secure a starting spot in the 30-lap A feature without the chore of racing through a grueling semi-main event. Not only did Strange finish in the top four, he dominated the 10-lap qualifier from green flag to checkered to score his second Civil War heat race of the season.
"The car was just perfect for the heat race," said Strange. "Every year this is a thought race because we start early and the track dries out quick. I have to thank my crew for getting the car set up so well. It was good in the main too, we just went a little backwards and then had some bad luck at the end."
In the 30 lap feature event, Strange started third in the line up. Following the waving of the green flag he settled into the top five for several laps and shuffled further back throughout the event. With a pair of errors on restarts, Strange fell back as far as 15th in the field. As the race entered its waning laps he was charging back towards a top ten finish when he pushed his effort a little too far late in the race and spun out. In the end Strange finished 14th overall but was still smiling after race.
"We had a top ten car for sure, I think I could have gotten back into the top ten until I spun and brought out that last yellow," said Strange. "I pushed it two far trying to pass and it cost me. That combined with a couple of mistakes errors on the restarts set us back but we were still pretty happy with the way we ran for the night."
Strange is always looking for additional marketing partners for the 2011 racing season.. Among their current supporters are America's Tire Kevin Sharrah Designs, ART Enterprises, Swepco Lubricants, Pronol Race Fuels, High Country Painting and Amerikote. To learn more about Billy Strange or to contact them about sponsorship opportunities, visit his official website at www.billystrangejr.com.
- Bill Sullivan on Jul 13, 2011
- Article Date: 7/13/2011 by Bill Sullivan/Sullivan Images Media