CHICO, CA (9-6-06) - Vacaville resident Joey Magaruh will be the first to admit that the 2006 racing season has been one he would like to put behind him. After winning the weekly series championship at Placerville Speedway last season, Magaruh’s appearances have been far and few in his post championship year while he has searched for driving opportunities after parking his family owned operation.

TOP 10 RESULTS California Sprint Car Civil War Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational FINISH DRIVER START 1. Joey Magaruh (2) 2. Dan Menne (9) 3. Colby Wiesz (7) 4. Roger Crockett (5) 5. Korey Lovell (19) 6. Andy Forsberg (11) 7. Mark Hall (14) 8. Brad Sweet (4) 9. Jimmy Trulli (21) 10. Chuck Gurney Jr. (12) Complete Results | Qualifying

TOP 10 RESULTS Wingless Sprints Invitational FINISH DRIVER START 1. B.J. Martin (3) 2. Tony Richards (5) 3. Doug Brewer (11) 4. Dan Simpson (1) 5. Jay Youngman (8) 6. Darrell Hanestad (16) 7. Taylor Simas (14) 8. Bob Newberry (2) 9. Justin Funkhouser (13) 10. Terry Schank Jr. (6) Complete Results | Qualifying

Wednesday night the driver that has become a true ambassador of the sport, illustrating great sportsmanship and sincerity to his fans at every event, returned to his winning ways and joined a limited group of drivers that have duel victories to their name in the annual Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational at Silver Dollar Speedway. Driving for San Jose based Rick Williams, Magaruh opened the 53rd annual Gold Cup Race of Champions with his second straight victory in the event that paid $3500 to the winner this year including a $500 bonus from Cherry Street Storage.

“First of all I have to thank the good lord above for everything he has given me,” said Magaruh after climbing over the front stretch fence to shake the hands of several spectators. “This season has been such a struggle for me. After wrecking my car it has been tough to find a ride. I’m thankful that Rick Williams gave me this opportunity and we are really starting to click, I think we are a good combination.”

After locking a starting spot in the 30-lap feature event following a second place finish in his heat race, a ten car inversion in the MPD Racing Products pill draw put Magaruh on the outside of the front row for the start of money race. Mark Tabor Jr. of Reno Nevada started on the pole position. Tabor, who was the 32nd driver to originally qualify for this event, was elated when he drew the ten pill to determine the start of the feature event.

“I didn’t even expect to be at this race a couple weeks ago,” said Tabor. “We were back a couple positions in the point standings and went to Calistoga and a couple guys ahead of me didn’t show up so her we are. I’m looking forward to having a shot at this deal tonight, the track is great and I don’t have the opportunity to start up front like this too often.”

When the green flag flew, Magaruh was well aware that Tabor would be a man on a mission in the pole position and hammered the throttle of the Williams #6 from the outside of the front row into the lead. In the early laps, Magaruh was joined by fellow two-time event winner Roger Crockett who overtook Tabor for second place and began setting his sights on Magaruh for an opportunity at becoming the first three-time winner of the event.

Once in front, Magaruh maintained a steady low line around much of the track surface and held a lead over Crockett of several car lengths in an event that had its fair share of caution flags, so many that a red flag was thrown on the 12th circuit for drivers to re-fuel and apply tear-offs to their visors.

“I usually like to run without that many yellows,” added Magaruh. “I knew Roger was coming behind me and I think the yellows helped us a little bit tonight to keep us free of lapped traffic. The car was perfect but the track was fast for everyone and I knew I wasn’t just running away from them.”

Once the race was restarted after the red flag, the green flag saw Magaruh set the pace with Crockett in tow followed by Colby Wiesz of Colfax and Nevada’s Dan Menne while Brad Sweet of Indianapolis and point leader Andy Forsberg of Auburn shot into the top six to join the party.

In the closing laps, Menne worked his way ahead of Crockett for the second position and Wiesz followed suit on the final lap, taking third from Crockett who finished fourth ahead of Korey Lovell of Yuba City. Forsberg finished fifth ahead of Sweet, Placerville’s Jimmy Trulli and Chuck Gurney Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana.

“I didn’t have anything for Joey tonight,” said Menne, who competes at Silver Dollar weekly. “I gave it everything I had and I’m really happy with a second place to start this weekend off.”

In preliminary action on Wednesday, heat race wins were earned by Andy Gregg, Chad Riolo, Korey Lovell and Billy Wallace. Forsberg’s point lead was in jeopardy at the start of the B-feature until the former two-time series champion won the event and secured a start in the feature.

The Civil War Sprint Cars were joined on Wednesday night by the Joe Hunt Magnetos Spec Sprints who wrapped up their 2006 championship in the John Padjen Motorsports Silver Dollar-Placerville Speedway championship series. In this event B.J Martin of Orland won his first feature event of the year after taking the lead on the final lap from Tony Richards. Doug Brewer finished in the third position followed by Dan Simpson, Jay Youngman and Darrell Hanestad.

“It’s been a lot of fun racing in this series all year and working our way to this race,” said Martin. ‘This is my sons birthday so this is for him. We look forward to this race in the future and running the series next year.”

Wednesday’s event officially closed the championship season for the wingless sprint cars and Bob Newberry of Oakley became the 2006 division champion. Due to some miss-communication with officials in the pit area, Newberry did not report to the front stretch for comment but John Padjen Motorsports congratulates this driver on a season of great accomplishment.

In 2006 Newberry scored three feature wins, 12 top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes to clinch the series championship prior to the final event of the year. Newberry will headline the Wingless Nationals here in October.

The Civil War Series now head to Petaluma Speedway for the first event to take place there in several years this Saturday, September 16. For further information on this event visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.