Becker wins 5k at Placerville

PRESS RELEASE
PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY, PLACERVILLE, CA.
FROM THE OFFICE OF HANDY RACING PROMOTIONS INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT: BILL SULLIVAN: sullivanimages@sbcglobal.net           
 
 
 
Becker becomes first two time winner of the $5000 Forni Classic
 
Tilford breaks Bartlett’s win streak; Lightfoot back in victory lane after six years
 
Media Release from Handy Racing Promotions, Inc.
 
PLACERVILLE, CA – Saturday night Placerville Speedway hosted the richest night of racing with the $5000 to win Mark Forni Classic. When the checkered flag waved, Sacramento’s Sean Becker became the first ever repeat winner of this very special night of racing during the Red Hawk Casino season at the ASA Sanctioned dirt track on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
            “This is really a special race here and we did it again,�?? said Becker, after celebrating in victory lane with car owner Scott Miller and his crew. “Last year when I won this race I got to meet Mark Forni’s family. He was a very special man to this track and this community and it is an honor to win this race for the second year in a row.�??
            Saturday’s race drew 32 entries in the winged sprint car division. Placerville’s Jimmy Trulli started on the pole of the 30-lap feature event. At the green flag Trulli took the lead with Auburn’s Andy Forsberg moving into second place and the two began racing close for the lead. On the eighth lap they both got too close when Trulli slid slightly sideways in the first and second turn and Forsberg made contact as he drove into the lead.
            Trulli restarted at the rear of the field for the restart as Forsberg took the lead and began working his way into lapped traffic. With 14-laps down, Forsberg veered to avoid a slower lapped car in the first turn and launched off the track with a series of flips before landing in the safety fence.
            Once Forsberg’s badly damaged machine was removed from the fence, Kyle Hirst of Loomis assumed the lead and became prey for the Becker in the 16-lap hunt to the finish. With 24 laps complete Becker traveled through the second turn and entered the backstretch to pass Hirst for the lead he would never relinquish all the way to the checkered flag.
            At the Carl’s Junior finish line Becker was followed by Hirst. Eighth place starter Bobby McMahan of Elk Grove finished in third followed by Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove who was the McDonald’s Hard Charger of the night, passing 10 cars. Roger Crockett of Medford rounded out the top five.
            In the Pure Stock division, point leader Heather Bartlett’s win streak of four races came to an end courtesy of former champion Tom Tilford of Citrus Heights. For weeks Tilford and Bartlett have raced door to door in one of the most highly contested battles for the division championship.
            The longest win streak in the Pure Stock division at Placerville is four events, held by Tilford. That record was in jeopardy Saturday as Bartlett was eyeing a fifth consecutive win.
            “I didn’t want to see someone make it to five in a row and take that record away,�?? said Tilford. “It feels like forever since I have won at this place. I have a lot of people thank, especially my brother Jon who has put so much time into the car. He even surprised me with a new body last week. Everyone on this crew puts a lot of time into the deal and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to do his.�??
            Tilford and Ms. Bartlett started side by side on the front row of Saturday’s 15 lap race. Tilford used the momentum from the high line to power ahead of Bartlett on the opening lap. Throughout the race Bartlett looked to the inside of Tilford in the turns but was unable to match the former track champion in the speed and momentum he was maintaining from the high side of the track.
            At the finish line it was Tilford followed by Bartlett, Rick Grunert finished third. Jason Englund was the McDonald’s Hardcharger with a fourth place finish followed John Hollowhornbear.
            In the Limited Late Model-Pro Stock division, Mike Lightfoot of Placerville returned to victory lane after a six year dry spell. Lightfoot charged into the lead on the opening lap as he took the high line around Placerville’s Walt Carmichael who was aboard the Bryan Carnett owned #1 car for the second time this year.
            Following the pass, Carmichael peeked below Lightfoot a handful times in an attempt to redeem the top position but had his hands full with Jay Norton of Shingle Springs, point leader Jerry Bartlett of Yuba City and Dan Brown Jr. of Nevada City all hot on his tail. 
            Norton went to the low side with Bartlett in tow on the front stretch to pass Carmichael along with Brown. Once into the top four the battle between Bartlett and Brown heated up with Brown overtaking Bartlett for third place to steal the McDonald’s Hard Charger award for the night.
            “Its been six years since I have stood here,�?? said Lightfoot in Carl’s Jr. victory lane. “This is a special win tonight as I have a new baby girl still in the hospital. It felt like old times out here racing with Walt Carmichael again.�??
            In the visiting Nor-Cal Dwarf Car feature event, caution flags plagued the feature event and shortened it to 15-laps. Dangerous Dan Weger of Grass Valley drove to the victory where he earned an extra $200 bonus from race fan and supporter Rod Engberson of the skipperpartys.net. Weger was followed by Jeremy Blackshire, Ryan Winter, Brett Barstow and Patrick Wegar.
            Next Saturday, the 2009 Red Hawk Casino Championship season continues at Placerville Speedway with point race 12 featuring sprint cars, Pure Stocks, Limited Late Models and the visiting Capital City Midgets. Gates will open at 5 p.m. Additional upcoming dates will be Wednesday, July 22 as the Civil War Series returns for Wild Winged Wednesday II. Check www.placervillespeedway.com for all the details of these coming events. Information on Placerville Speedway can also be followed using twitter and face book, simply search keyword “Placerville Speedway.�??