CHICO, CA (9-5-07) - The top 33 drivers in the traveling Civil War Sprint Car Civil War Race Series gathered at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico Wednesday night to open the 54th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions with the annual Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational event.

TOP 10 RESULTS California Sprint Car Civil War Pacific Sprint Cup Invitational FINISH DRIVER START 1. Colby Wiesz (2) 2. Jimmy Trulli (7) 3. Mason Moore (5) 4. Andy Forsberg (3) 5. Kyle Larson (4) 6. Greg DeCaries (9) 7. Scott Kinney (1) 8. Mark Hall (15) 9. Ricky Wondergem (11) 10. Mike Monahan (12) Complete Results | Qualifying

TOP 10 RESULTS Wingless Sprints Invitational FINISH DRIVER START 1. Brandon Davis (1) 2. Darrell Hanestad (7) 3. Matt Streeter (6) 4. Cody Myers (4) 5. Charlie Marrs (10) 6. Keith Bloom (12) 7. Cody Smith (9) 8. Jimmy Pettit (13) 9. Todd Miller (2) 10. Mason Myers (15) Complete Results | Qualifying

When the checkered flag waved on the 30-lap feature a new name was added to the list of winners of this prestigious race as Colby Wiesz of Colfax drove his FnF Racing #x1 to victory lane and steal the $3000 victory.

At the waving of the green flag pole sitter Scott Kinney of Citrus Heights took the immediate lead over second place starter Colby Wiesz of Colfax. For the first four laps of the race Kinney and Wiesz dueled for the lead, racing side by side several times, pulling wheelies out of the fourth turn and banging wheels on the front stretch until a red flag flew with 4 laps down. The caution period came when Placerville drivers Andy Gregg and Scott Russell collided and went upside down in turn four, collecting Billy Wallace of Grass Valley in the incident.

Once the race resumed all three drivers from the accident returned while Kinney resumed the lead. Kinney pulled to a lead of several car lengths by the fifth lap but Wiesz was rapidly closing in on the driver two laps later with Forsberg, Kyle Larson and Jimmy Trulli in his wake to complete the top five early in the race.

On the 11th lap Kinney approached lapped traffic which allowed both Wiesz and Forsberg to close in on the leader who struggled to get around Gregg in lapped traffic in the laps that followed. On the 14th lap Forsberg went to the high side and passed Wiesz for second place. One lap later Forsberg continued his high line around the track to overtake Kinney win a daring pass for the lead.

Once in front Forsberg continued his high stance on the track and worked his way into heavy lapped traffic until a yellow flag flew on the 19th lap when Brad Bumgarner of Chico spun in the second turn. The caution flag cleared the field in front of Forsberg for the restart with just 11-laps remaining in the race.

On the ensuing restart, Forsberg charged ahead while Wiesz worked the second position and Trulli overtook Kinney for the third position and Mason Moore of Princeton moved into the top four ahead of Kyle Larson.

With 23 laps complete Forsberg struck a large hole that had developed on the low side of turn four and it was Wiesz that capitalized on the error as he stole the lead. Forsberg attempted to rally back in the closing laps but drifted off turn four on lap 26 and fell to fourth in the event behind Wiesz, Trulli and Moore. Larson finished fifth ahead of Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove and Kinney.

“This is definitely a big win for us tonight, “ said Wiesz. “Early on I was pretty frustrated with Scott Kinney for that deal on the front stretch and I was thankful for the yellow flags because it allowed me to cool off a bit. Last week I gave one away to Forsberg at Chico and tonight he gave me the opportunity to make up for it. I just want to thank god for giving me the ability to do this every week and this whole team for all their efforts.”

In preliminary action Wednesday for the winged sprint cars, Herman Klein posted the fastest time of the night with a 12:124 second lap. Greg DeCaires was the second fastest driver with a 12:145 and Jimmy Trulli was third quick with a 12:161.

In heat racing, Richard Bailey won the opening preliminary event. Matt Petty took home the win in the second heat of the night. Andy Gregg drove to victory in the third heat race of the night. The fourth and final heat race of the night was claimed by Mark Hall.

The Civil War sprint cars were joined Wednesday night by the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Cars. This event featured the top 22 drivers in the series point standings and ultimately determined the 2007 Silver Dollar Speedway-Placerville Speedway co championship. Brandon Davis started on the pole of the 20-lap feature event and let from start to finish. Davis was challenged to the finish line by Darrell Hanestad. Matt Streeter entered the event just three points behind Davis for the championship. Streeter finished in the third position followed by Cody Myers, Charlie Marrs.

“I’m kind of at a loss for words right now about all this,” said Davis. “Tonight I was really stressed going into this deal with just a one point lead but everything went our way.”

In preliminary action for the wingless sprint cars Billy Wallace was the fastest qualifier of the night. Heat races were won by Cody Smith, Charlie Marrs and Jimmy Pettit. In the B-feature Mason Myers took the checkered flag followed by Taylor Simas; Tony Richards and Tyler Wolf. Look for a complete run down of the championship in this division in the coming week at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.

Racing continues at Silver Dollar Speedway for the next three days with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and the 54th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions. For additional information visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com.