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What a Night at Chico
by Troy Hennig

Friday, June 20, 2008 Results
Qualifying Wingless Sprints Dirt Modifieds Street Stocks

Young Keith Bloom win third feature of the season. JPM Photo by GraphX Designs

CHICO, CA (6-20-08) - It was a refreshing Friday night of racing at Silver Dollar Speedway. Three divisions entertained the crowd with close racing and action packed thrills. The fans were also treated to various give aways courtesy of Skyway Tool Center and Angie's Poker Club both in Chico. The racing on the speedway was exciting to say the least. Keith Bloom Jr. won the wingless main event. It was his third win this year and he extended his points lead. Bloom Jr. pocketed $1,000 for the win. Mike Sohnrey won the Diamond Truss Co. Dirt Modified tour main event. He received extra money from papasbeefjerky.com for the win. The biggest fan participation of the night belonged to driver Heather Bartlett. Bartlett won the 20-lap street stock main event in front of over 150 special family members and friends on hand to root her on. It was nice to see the excitement from both the crowd and the drivers during tonight's racing action.

There were 22 non-wing sprints in attendance for Skyway Tool Center night. During this night of racing the top six in points were automatically allowed to race in a special seven-lap Dash for Tools. Winning the race was Taylor Simas who won an impact gun from Skyway Tools valued at over $400. All competitors in the dash received something for the efforts. The main event started with Keith Bloom Jr. on the pole. He jumped out to the early lead but was being challenged by Cody Myers. On lap two Mason Myers stopped in turn two and brought out the yellow. On the restart Myers passed Bloom for the lead. However, on the next lap Bloom Jr. took the lead back. It was a spot he would never give up even though Myers was right there. “I could feel someone (Myers) bumping my rear end but I just kept the car straight and held him off,” said Bloom Jr. in victory lane. Late in the race Kody Smith charged past Myers for second. It was Smith's best finish to date. Myers ran third followed by Billy Wallace and Jimmy Pettit. Everyone in the top five received extra money from Skyway Tools. Without the 410 sprint cars the non-wing sprints were able to qualify one at a time tonight. Billy Wallace was the only driver in the 13-second bracket. He officially timed in at a 13.907. The all-time mark is 13.541 held by Terry Schank Jr. Wallace, R.C. Smith and Mitch Miller all were winners in the heat race. Miller took a nasty tumble off turn four in the main event but quickly climbed from the car and walked away.

Mike Sohnery wins an action packed Dirt Modified Feature. JPM Photo by GraphX Designs

Bill Pearson led the first few laps of dirt modified racing. The 20-lap main event had 17 cars make the start. Richard Papenhausen started third but on lap three passed Pearson for the lead. A yellow was needed a lap later when Darin Ruley spun. Papenhausen was the class of the field for the next seven laps until disaster struck. On lap 10 Papenhausen spun in turn three and was just about cleared from oncoming cars until Pearson came by and there was contact. Both cars were damaged and left the track. The top two were knocked out of the lead. Both did return after the wreck. Papenhausen actually brought out another caution late in the race and his night ended. Pearson came back to finish sixth. Sohnrey inherited the lead with Mark Abouzeid right on his bumper. Abouzeid looked low and high to pass Sohnrey but was never able to get it done. On lap 17 Abouzeid's right rear tire went flat. He tried to continue after a restart but the car pushed up the track too bad and he ended up pulling off. Moving into second was Todd Aylward. It was his best finish at Chico. Third spot went to John Abbott. Randy McDaniel finished fourth and Darin Ruley was fifth. Abouzeid and McDaniel won the eight lap heat races tonight.

Heather Bartlett won the Street Stocks feature. JPM Photo by GraphX Designs

Jake Vantol led the first lap of the street main event. The real story of the race was Scott Rogers. Coming into tonight Rogers had a 16- point lead over Heather Bartlett for the championship. Rogers blew up his high powered Ford engine on lap three and was done for the night. He finished 12th. Jeff Olschowka passed Vantol on lap four and became the new leader. Yet, everyone was watching Heather Bartlett. She moved through the field and on lap eight closed in on Olschowka for the lead. Going in to turn three Bartlett was on the bottom and Olschowka on the outside. An old fashion drag race into turn three and the two bumped slightly as they set their cars. Olschowka got the worst of it and fell back to fourth. To his credit he raced his way back to second place finish. Bartlett went on to lead the final 10 laps and racked up her first win of the year. One of her sponsors in Angie's Poker Club and it was their night at the track. Bartlett will receive extra money for the win as will the top four from the main event. “It was the perfect night,” said Bartlett in victory lane. She was surrounded by nearly 50 people on the front stretch for the victory lane photos. Mike Slightom finished in the third spot. Dudley Burrows ran in the fourth spot and Joe Longmire finished fifth. The top two point drivers Rogers and Bartlett were winners in heat race action.