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Forsberg wins big on “Allied Auto Club Night” at Placerville Speedway
Racing returns in four days for “Wild Winged Wednesday” Civil War event
by Bill Sullivan

Saturday, April 5, 2008 Results
Qualifying Pacific Sprints Pro Stocks Pure Stocks Midget Lites

Andy Forsberg keeps it off his lid for the first time this season to capture a huge $2000 pay day. JPM Photo by Donna Peter

PLACERVILLE, CA (4-5-08) - After three straight weeks of damaging crashes and failing to finish a race, Auburn’s Andy Forsberg returned to his “Mr. Excitement” ways on Saturday night during “Allied Auto Repair Club” Night at Placerville Speedway. The second point race of the season paid $2000 to the feature winner, courtesy of a bonus sponsored by the local do it yourself auto repair facility.

“Normally I’d be really excited to be standing here winning a race like this,” said Forsberg. “But I think I am more excited about the fact I actually finished a race for the first time this year and didn’t flip. I really want to thank Allied Auto Repair Club for sponsoring tonight’s race, if you need to repair your car in Placerville they are definitely the place to go because they support racing and we need to support them.”

Forsberg originally took to the track on Saturday in the fourth starting position. On the first attempt at the start, the original front row of Jackson’s Matt Petty and David Robinson Jr. of Foresthill were penalized for a poor start and put to the rear of the field by Director of Competition Mike Andreeta. The adjusted line up placed Greg DeCaires of Elk Grove on the pole with Forsberg on the outside.

At the waving of the green, Forsberg launched off the high side of the track and took a considerable lead. Ten laps later the former Placerville and defending Civil War Champion was joined by his local arch rival, Andy Gregg of Placerville. Gregg, who clocked fast time in qualifying for the second straight week, closed in on Forsberg lap after lap, especially when as the leader approached lapped traffic, which was repeatedly following by a yellow flag nearly every time in the event.

“I lucked out on the yellows tonight, “ said Forsberg. “Because I am going to tell you something, Andy Gregg is going to be hard to beat at this place this year. That team has everything together and he was coming tonight. I didn’t need any more opportunities to make a mistake or he would have got me.”

In the final laps, Gregg closed within a car length of Forsberg to finish second in the event. Colby Wiesz of Colfax finished third ahead of Croft and DeCaires. A total of 33 cars were in competition Saturday, many of which were preparing for the upcoming Civil War Series opener this Wednesday, April 9.

Dan Brown Jr. (5x), Jeff Arbogast (88), James Boss (007). JPM Photo by Donna Peter

In the Pro Stock division, Dan Brown Jr. of Nevada City scored his second straight victory of the year. Brown started in the third position and followed Cameron Park’s Dennis Ahart and Jeff Arbogast of Auburn to the green flag.

Tom Grady Sr. (10t) and Rick Grunert (14). JPM Photo by Donna Peter

With 15 laps down, Ahart slid sideways for a moment in the second turn and allowed Arbogast to take the lead. Four laps later Brown muscled his way beneath Arbogast to steal the lead and the victory. Arbogast finished in second followed by Ahart, Forryst Carnett of Placerville and Dennis Armstrong of El Dorado.

The Pure Stock division also had a repeat winner Saturday, Tom Grady Sr. of El Dorado. Last weekend Grady posted his first win at the speedway all by himself, his mother and father were not in attendance and he went racing by his lonesome and ended up winning the feature event.

Saturday, Grady repeated the feat with his family in the stands once again. Starting deep in the field, Grady sliced and diced his way through the field and closed in on early leader Brian Stevens of Pollock Pines by the 12 lap mark. With 14 laps complete Grady passed for the lead in turns three and four and maintained that lead all the way to the checkered flag where he was followed by Stevens, Kevin Wirth of Garden Valley, Jason Englund of Citrus Heights and Matt Tilford of Folsom.

“I’ve been trying to do this for a long time and its finally going good,” said Grady. “I’m glad I was able to do it again with my family here, I know they are excited.”

The three track regulars were joined Saturday by the Midget Lites of the Bay Cities Racing Association. In the guest division, Brian Corso of Ripon won the feature event followed by Doug Hunting of Elk Grove and Marshall Sexton of Ceres.

Racing continues at Placerville Speedway this WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH with the Civil War Sprint Cars competing in “Wild Winged Wednesday.” The grandstands will open at 5 p.m. followed by qualifying at 6:30. For further information visit www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com