7/21/2010
Sprint Source
Strange advances in standings with 9th place finish in Forni Classic; MRP up next
[i By Bill Sullivan/Sullivan Images Media]
[b ELK GROVE, CA (7-17-10)] – Elk Grove's Billy Strange ended the night on a positive note last Saturday at Placerville Speedway. After two weeks of fighting ignition woes as well as damage from an accident, Strange scored his third top ten finish of the season in the most prestigious race of the season, the Mark Forni Classic.
"This was a really important race at Placerville, to the racers, the fans and the community. It was an honor to qualify for it and to finish as good as we did," said Strange. "We raced in a very talented field Saturday night, I was happy to come home with a top ten."
To compete in the Mark Forni Classic, a driver had to enter a minimum of six Placerville Speedway events during the year. With 10 starts to his name prior to Saturday, Strange was more than qualified to compete in this race that paid an outstanding $5000 to the winner in honor of late community icon and El Dorado County Fairboard member Mark D. Forni.
With 25 cars on the roster for the night, Strange went out for qualifying and timed in with the 16th fastest lap of the night. He drove the #28x sprint car to a lap time of 11:185 seconds on the quarter-mile clay oval.
In heat race competition, Strange finished second to Chico hot shoe Stephen Allard which secured his starting spot in the 25-lap feature event later in the program. With his success in the preliminary events, Strange avoided the grueling semi-main event mid way through the program.
Starting in the 14th position, Strange was well aware that he would need to find a medium between aggression and patience to work his way to the front of the field when the green flag flew. In an event where the victory is more than double of that of a regular Saturday night each and every driver is willing to take a little more risk to get to the front but often times being conservative in the early stages of the event can pay off in the end.
Within three laps of the race, Strange worked his way up to the ninth position. On the 17th lap he drove as high as the eighth place position where he remained for much of the event, holding off the challenges of former champion Mike Henry. It wasn't until the final lap of the race when Henry slipped by and stole the position, placing Strange ninth at the checkered flag.
Strange advanced to 11th in the overall point standings at Placerville Speedway with his ninth place finish. He has three top ten finishes in the Red Hawk Championship series and three heat race victories. This Saturday night Strange will return to the Golden State Challenge Series at Marysville Raceway Park. On July 31st he plans on racing in the Tribute to Al Hinds $3000 to win Civil War at Placerville Speedway and will be appearing at the giant pre-event race fan bbq, car show and concert at Family Auto Center in Shingle Springs at 10 a.m.
Strange Motorsports has a number of marketing partners that they are thankful for. Among their supporters are QWK Racing Components, ART Enterprises, Rex Hutchison Racing Engines, Kevin Sharrah Designs, Swepco Lubricants, Pronol Race Fuels, MotoWear International, America's Tire, High Country Painting and Amerikote.
. To learn more about Billy Strange visit his official website at www.billystrangejr.com.
Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
