By Bill Sullivan/ Sullivan Images Media
PETALUMA, CA (8-16-11) – The season is winding down and the championship points keep adding up for Penngrove’s Alissa Geving. After an incredible comeback last Saturday night at Petaluma Speedway, Geving is just two championship point races from her third Petaluma Speedway track championship.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s even close to being the end of the season but I guess that’s due to the rain outs we had in the spring,” said Geving. “Right now I have a nice healthy point lead and if we have a good night this Saturday we can pretty much rest assured we will win this championship. It’s been all the hard work of my crew and my sponsors this year, even racing locally is tough in this economy and I couldn’t be doing it without their support.”
Entering Saturday’s second to last point race on the lightning fast 3/8 mile oval nestled in the Sonoma-Marin County Fairgrounds, Geving holds an impressive 90 point lead in the winged 360 sprint car division over local driver Kirk Simpson. Once the title becomes clinched, it will be the third championship at the track both her father and grandfather were successful at. Additionally, the accolade will be another addition to the long list of accomplishments on the 19-year-old lady racer’s resume.
In addition to being the youngest female to clinch a sprint car championship in the nation, twice, Geving has garnered a number of titles in her career including Rookie of the year titles at Petaluma Speedway as well as the competitive Civil War Sprint Car Series and the Golden State Challenge King of California 410 sprint car series.
In one night of racing a driver can earn a maximum of 58 points at Petaluma Speedway. For Geving, the 2011 track title is still mathematically up for grabs between Simpson and herself. This Saturday night all it will take is another strong run to put the championship trophy in her sights one event prior to the end of the season.
“I haven’t really thought about the points that much all this season, I just try to focus on being competitive and race to win,” said Geving. “I’d like to get another win or two before the season is over and if you go there and race to win every week the points just take care of themselves. I’m not a driver that wants to be too conservative because I am worried about a point or two, if I have a chance to race for the win I’m always going to take that chance.”
Last Saturday night in Petaluma, Geving illustrated just how competitive she can be as she rallied back from an evening that had a rough and tumble start to take home a sixth place finish. With the fashion in which she was advancing through the field, it was evident that Geving had a top five car or better for the night. However, when the race was shortened due to the approaching curfew her rally was cut short by eight laps.
“I definitely was heading to the top five, maybe the top three even, “ said Geving. “But time and laps simply ran out. My crew did a great job fixing the car after qualifying to get me back out there. After qualifying I wasn’t too sure we were going to have such a good night.”
When Geving took to the track for qualifying, her Tillett Tool, A1A Muffler, Pit Stop USA #3X Maxim Sprint car caught a rut and sent her into a rollover which resulted in no time being recorded on the stopwatch. The crew quickly went to work on the car before heat races where Geving rolled across the line in the 5th position.
In the A feature was where Geving shined and gave her local fans an event to watch as she charged her way through the field. Starting all the way back in 18th, Geving advanced into the top ten by the sixth lap of the race and then moved into the sixth place position with 14 laps complete. Three laps later the checkered flag flew on the curfew shortened race and Geving finished just one notch out of the top five for the night.
In addition from being on the cusp of her third home track title, Geving is also currently 4th in the Civil War Series Championship point standings. She is only 67-points out of the lead. Geving has garnered four top five finishes and seven top ten placements in the Civil War Series. She has also won two preliminary heat races.
As she continues to compete in the Civil War Series and the Petaluma Speedway championship, Geving carries the sponsorship of Tillett Tool of Santa Rosa along with the online superstore Pit Stop USA that is based in Petaluma and Napa's Matt Cordeiro Enterprises a and Auto Repairs Unlimited with A1A Performance of Santa Rosa. Associate sponsors include Golden Gate Meat Company North, K&N Filters, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, R2C, Napa Auto Parts, Flowmaster Mufflers, Allstar Performance, Santa Rosa Auto Parts, Simpson Racing Products, 21st Century Health Club, Pro Shocks, ALC Machine and JW Web Design.
To learn more about Alissa Geving visit her official website at www.chick-o-motorsports.com. Chicko Motorsports can also be found on facebook.
- Bill Sullivan on Aug 20, 2011
- Article Date: 8/20/2011 by Bill Sullivan/Sullivan Images Media