7/24/2009
Silver Dollar Speedway
Walker Scores Seventh Win of Year
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] HRP Photo of Steve Cox[/caption]
CHICO, CA (7-24-09) -Â Los Angeles driver Tyler Walker thrilled the crowdat Silver Dollar Speedway with a hard fought win Friday night. Walker'swin now gives him seven wins on the year during the King of CaliforniaGolden State Challenge Series in 2009. That puts him one short of tyingthe all-time record at eight held by Tim Kaeding. It also markedWalker's 12th career win in the King of California placing him in a tiewith Jason Meyers and Kevin Pylant for sixth all-time. Walker's win waseven more impressive considering he tipped over in his heat race. Theteam thrashed to make repairs and to their credit was able to get himback out into the race. Walker took a damaged racecar and drove it intoa transfer spot. This not only allowed him to make the main event but italso gave him a spot in the dash. Jonathan Allard chased Walker most ofthe night and settled for the second spot. Evan Suggs enjoyed a careerbest third place finish at Chico. Thirty-one cars entered the 20th point race during the King of California Series.
At the start of the 30-lap main event Willie Croft and Brad Bumgarnercame to a stop in turn one. Bumgarner was starting outside the first rowand was hoping to make an impressive run tonight. Unfortunately it didnot work out for the driver. The next start saw Robbie Whitchurch cometo a stop in turn four. After the two stoppages the race would gonon-stop for the next 17 laps. During this time Kyle Larson was theleader. The rookie contender was in control of the event and once againwas super fast. However, Tyler Walker was coming. On lap eight he closedin on Larson. On lap nine Walker passed Larson for the lead. Larson wasable to stick with Walker during the next eight laps until the cautioncame out for Jason York. On the restart Jonathan Allard began to makehis presence known. Allard moved by Larson and grabbed the second spot.It set up a showdown between two of the best. For the final 12 laps Allard tried to make something happen and challenge Walker for the win.Evan Suggs moved around Larson on lap 21. Suggs then held off Larson torecord the podium finish. Walker never seemed to be rattled by Allard'sattempts and won the race by about a car-length over Allard. Larson hungon to finish fourth and Bobby McMahan ran in the fifth spot.
Kyle Hirst won the 12-lap B main event. Kyle Larson won the six-lap dashto earn him the right to start from the pole position. Mark Hall, Zack Zimmerly, Bobby McMahan and Sean Becker each won heat races. JonathanAllard won his eighth quick time of the year by turning a lap of 11.706.
Heather Bartlett won her third main event of the year at Chico with adominating performance. Bartlett is also the point leader in thedivision. Jake Vantol finished in the second spot. Bartlett held a sixsecond lead over Vantol at the finish line. Richard Workman finishedthird and had a spirited race with Joe Longmire. Longmire finishedfourth. Newcomer John Krehbeil finished fifth while Fritz Zanker wassixth. Vantol won the lone heat race.
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