Forsberg Notches Pit Stop USA Shootout; Terrell, Paul, & Chappa Also Victorious
By Devin Mayo and Rick Faeth
Pit Stop USA Shootout Round #2 was held Saturday, July 28th at Petaluma Speedway which brought out some of the best and fastest Wing 360 sprint cars in Northern California. It would be the second to last car in qualifying claiming fast time awards, which would go to “Mr. Excitement” Andy Forsberg with a time of 12.597. A two heat race format saw Chase Majdic and local favorite Bradley Terrell, who was running double duty; claim their heat races respectfully. After the redraw, it was Forsberg and Terrell who would lead the field with Terrell getting the early jump. He would look like to be the car to beat, but with 10 laps to go, the field would start to bunch up as Terrell was dealing with lap traffic. Forsberg and the Kirk Edison #101 of Klint Simpson would start to reel in the 3-time Petaluma Speedway Track Champion. Simpson and Forsberg would race side by side as Simpson would look to have the car to beat coming with 5 laps to go. Forsberg would snag the lead as Simpson and Terrell would both make contact going into turn 3, causing both to tangle. With 5 laps to go, Forsberg had the lead but had to hold off youngster Kalib Henry, 2017 track champion Geoff Ensign, Scott Parker, and David Lindt Jr. who rounded out the top 5.
The Pit Stop USA Spec Sprints made a return with a field of 15 cars. Fast time went to Terrell. Terrell and Shayna Silvia would claim their respective preliminary heats. Mathew Haulot and Dennis Furia lead the field to green with Haulot taking the early advantage. A yellow would reset the field but Terrell would get into the back of the leader, Haulot, causing him to do a 360 with the resulting contact with Brent Steck ending his race. Terrell and Haulot would both have to go to rear, giving the lead to Sylvia. Back to green Sylvia out-paced Casey McClain for the next dozen laps. All eyes in the grandstand shifted to Terrell who drove like a man possessed. On the 15th circuit Terrell displaced Sylvia for second as McClain found the low groove to his liking and blasted into the lead. With He would make a move around McClain and would pull away to make a five laps to go Terrell made a perfect high-side pass for an exciting comeback victory over McClain, Sylvia, Ryon Siverling, and Keith Calvino.
The General Hydroponic Dwarf Cars of the Redwood Dwarf Car Association supplied a great field of 22 cars. A three heat race format saw Marcus Hardina, Scooter Gomes, and Zack Albers win.. Miranda Chappa and Mark Hanson would start on the front row with Chappa taking the lead. Chappa and Hanson would battle for lead each restart but Chappa would not be denied. The always fast Dave Mosier would start making a charge through the field after missing his heat race, in which he had to start at the back of the field. He would make it up to Hanson who was battling for the lead until the pair made contact, resulting Hanson and Mosier both going to the rear. Mosier would eventually be black flagged for making contact with Hanson under yellow. That opened up the door for Matt Hagemann, John Peters, and the rest of the field. Hagemann would battle Chappa for the top spot but in the end, it wasn’t enough as Chappa would win the main event just as her right rear tire went down. Hagemann and Peters rounded out the podium.
The McLea’s Tire & Automotive IMCA Modifieds returned to the smooth hooked up Adobe 3/8th’s with Mitch Machado and Michael Paul Jr nabbing the pair of heat races. Tim Yaeger and Paul led the field to green but Paul would get around Yaeger for the lead. Paul would set sail as Michado made his charge to the front. Multiple restarts gave the field the chance to challenge Paul for the lead and Michado was able to mount a charge until the 2 eventually made contact down the front stretch causing Michado to spin. That opened up the door for Jeff Faulkner, Oreste Gonnella, and Yaeger to challenge Paul for the lead. With 5 laps remaining and Paul approaching traffic Gonnella reached for high gear in a desperate attempt to close the gap. His charge fell just short as Paul would glide across the Scott Erwin twin-checkers. Gonnella was second with Faulkner in the “show” position.
Petaluma Speedway is dark this upcoming weekend but will return to action on August 11th with the Pit Stop USA Wing 360’s, McLea’s Tire & Automotive IMCA Modifieds, Lumberjack Restaurant Super Stocks, and the General Hydroponic Dwarf Cars. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.petaluma-speedway.com
