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Tanner Thorson Wows Crowd for First Career Victory

CHICO, CA (4-3-15) - Tanner Thorson began his racing career at the ripe age of 4 and a half years old behind the wheel of an Outlaw Kart. It was then that his family knew he would grow up to be something special. Tanner has won some of the biggest Midget and Outlaw Kart races in the United States over the past couple of seasons. Including driving through the field to finish third in the 2015 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Heading into the evening though Tanner had only 5 Winged Sprint Car Starts, and had only made 2 Main Events including a 2nd place finish with the World of Outlaws during the Mini Gold Cup. In just his third career main event Tanner would pick up the crowd pleasing victory aboard the Richie Rich & The Tin Pimp Customs, Abreu Vineyards #88x machine. Also picking up victories during Point Race #2 were Phil Marino in the Street Stocks, Brian Cooper in the Hobby Stocks, Ryan McDaniel in the Ltd. Late Model, and James Foster in the Mini Stock. Tanner Thorson beat some of the best Sprint Car Drivers on the West Coast to pick up the win from his inside row two starting spot. Prior to the Green Flag dropping for the Main Event, Andy Forsberg, who was scheduled to start 2nd outside Pole Sitter Keith Bloom, would exit the track and would not return. This is the third season in a row that Forsberg has had gremlins bite him early in the year at Silver Dollar.

On the start Keith Bloom would grab the early lead over Sean Becker and Tanner Thorson. Bloom would control the lead until Lap 8 when Tanner Thorson made his way into the lead. Jonathan Allard would charge into the 2nd Position on Lap 15 and begin his attack on Thorson for the lead. At one point Allard would drive to the outside of Thorson on the front straight. The two would bang wheels and Thorson was able to hold the advantage. At the line Tanner Thorson picked up the Victory followed by Jonathan Allard in 2nd, Keith Bloom had a solid run in the Chuck Wolf Sand & Gravel #19 finishing in the 3rd position, while Sean Becker and Brad Bumgarner rounded out the top five.

Brad Bumgarner and Andy Forsberg would each pick up their respective Heat Race wins. While Kyle Hirst set Fast Time on the night with a lap of 11.851 the only driver to reach the Eleven second bracket.

The Street Stock Main Event saw a familiar face in Victory Lane once again as Phil �The Thrill� Marino picked up his 66th win since 1999 at the Silver Dollar Speedway. Chris Warner put on a show after wrecking early on in the race and starting at the rear of the field he passed everyone except Marino. He was slowly reeling him in for the lead but just ran out of laps and had to settle for 2nd. Clinton Earl had a great showing in his brand new car by rounding out the Podium in the 3rd position. One of the scarier moments of the evening came when Eddie Hammett rolled his #83 street stock three times down the front straightaway. Hammett was able to climb out of the car on his own. Though visibly shaken, he would be just fine. Eddie Hammett and Brent Lawrence each picked up their respective Heat Race Wins.

The Ltd. Late Model Main was another round in the never ending battle between Ryan McDaniel and Duane Cleveland. Those two always seem to have Magnets in their cars because they are always door to door. Cleveland would lead the early part of the race. He would see problems though in turns three and four as he couldnt get his car through the bumps as well as McDaniel. Ryan would take the lead midrace and the two would continue to wage war on each other until Cleveland finally lost it in turn four and spun to a stop. Ryan McDaniel continued on to win. He was followed across the line in 2nd by David Newquist. While Chris Compton had a solid effort finishing in the 3rd and final Podium position.

The Hobby Stock Main Event was a show of the Cooper Family. The family brought four beautiful Hobby Stocks to the track and showed a ton of speed all night. In the end it was Brian Cooper who would pick up the victory over past champion Brian Compton. Paradise, CA driver David Pierce led a lot of the Main Event only to come up two spots shy in the 3rd position. Todd and Brian Cooper each picked up their respective Heat Race Victories.

James Foster picked up the highly contested victory over Kyle Cheney. Cheney and Ford battled door to door for many laps in the main event with Foster eventually picking up the popular victory. Kyle Cheney crossed the line in the 2nd position while Jimmy Ford would finish in the 3rd spot.

Thank you all for joining us for Point Race #2 presented by Chuck Patterson Dodge. We will take a week of here at the Speedway as the Monster Trucks invade the Fairgrounds next weekend. We will be back in action with Point Race #3 presented by Chuck Patterson Dodge on Friday April 17th. For ticket information and our schedule of events please visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

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