Untitled Document

Golden State Challenge

"King of California" Series

Round 3

Meyers Becomes Third Different Winner in Golden State By: Troy Hennig (Chico, CA 4-06-02)…Jason Meyers becomes the third different winner in as many events during the Golden State Challenge King of California sprint car series at Silver Dollar Speedway on Saturday night. Meyers, who is back home in California after a two year stint traveling with the World of Outlaws, scored his second career main event victory at Chico. The Don Berry Construction / Dave Meyers Construction / Maxim Chassis looked comfortable in the 30 lap main event on a track that was dry slick and caused a lot of problems throughout the race. “I have never been so happy to see a checkered flag,” said Meyers. “It seemed like we ran 150 laps tonight,” said Meyers, referring to the numerous laps ran under caution.

Brent Kaeding looked to make it three main event wins in a row at Chico when he piloted his Al’s Roofing Supply #69 into the lead on lap one. Kaeding, the master of the Chico surface, found tonight’s track a little more challenging than on most nights but was still able to hold off pole position starter Steve Ferhman. Meyers quickly attacked Kaeding’s lead and before long it was Meyers who made the pass around Kaeding. Numerous yellow flags were needed throughout the early part of the race resulting in a lap eight red flag for fuel, however, when racing did resume, the action was fierce and competitive.

Once the green flag stayed out Meyers began to catch the slower back markers and that’s were he shined. Meyers was able to slice and dice his way through the traffic that at one point saw him have a five lapped car cushion, ahead of then second place Brent Kaeding.

It was another Kaeding that caught the crowd’s attention. Tim, who started 15th on the night, was quickly moving his way towards the front. Chasing him to the front was Roger Crockett, who too, started deep in the field in the 17th spot. Crockett was able to move up to the sixth spot and unable to keep up with Kaeding. Tim moved up into the fourth position on lap 18 and began to now work on the top three. His next move placed him ahead of Kevin Pylant. Then Tim caught up to Brent, who was camouflaged in a mess of lapped cars that sat in front of him. Coming out of four, Brent smoked the tires, allowing Tim to sneak under him for second place. It would be the final position he gained but a heck of a charge from the two-time track champion. “I hope you guys enjoyed that one because I sure did,” Kaeding said in his post race interview. “I don’t like starting that far back but we had this Wright One Construction / Compton Shakers #35 rock-n-rolling here tonight.”

Up front Meyers was on a roll too. He led the final green flag laps for the decisive win. Meyers was fast all night and looks poised to continue his winning ways as the series travels to Thunderbowl Speedway in Tulare next week. “We still hope to get back on the road someday but for now we’ll enjoy this victory and money,” said Meyers in victory lane.

Brent then was challenged by Pylant for the third spot as the laps ran down, but held on for his second top five finish of the year. “I want to congratulate Jason for a great drive,” said Kaeding. “We struggled a little bit tonight but we’re still back on the podium where it counts.” Pylant finished a season best fourth place while the nights fast time qualifier Peter Murphy finished in fifth, a season best for him too. Murphy got the biggest reaction from the crowd during an early interview. By setting fast time and making it through his heat race, Murphy was able to draw the inversion pill which now has a 16 draw in the mix. Murphy explained how he felt about the new 16 pill, “ I don’t much like this new 16 pill, I mean these guys are so fast now a days and there’s no way you can win starting that far back.” He later said, “I think they out to take that pill and stick it where the sun don’t shine, maybe they’re trying to make the racing better but I think a trophy dash might be the better solution.”

The 12 lap B Main event was won by Chico’s Stephen Allard. Following Allard was Doug Lippincott and Jason Statler. Three heat races were needed and in the first race it was Billy Wallace holding off Meyers and Murphy. In heat two, Crockett beat Bud Walberg and Mike Faria to the finish line. The final ten lap heat was won by Tim Kaeding followed by Jonathan Allard and Brent Kaeding. Murphy started the night off with the quickest lap and the only driver in the twelve second bracket with a 12. 691.

Results Golden State Challenge: 4-06-02

Fast Time: Peter Murphy: 12.691

Heat 1: Billy Wallace, Jason Meyers, Murphy, Brian Coehlo, Steve Ferhman.

Heat 2: Roger Crockett, Bud Walberg, Mike Faria, Andy Forsberg, Jason York

Heat 3: Tim Kaeding, Jonathan Allard, Brent Kaeding, Tommy Tarlton, Kevin Pylant

B Main: Stephen Allard, Doug Lippincott, Jason Statler, Eric Rossi, Garret Ishii, Danny Ochs, Chris Scott, Stuart Krum, Jeff Hallieb, Jerry Bonnema

A Main: Meyers, T. Kaeding, B. Kaeding, Pylant, Murphy, Crockett, J. Allard, Coehlo, Rossi, Ferhman, Lippincott, Walberg, Ochs, Wallace, Statler

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